The following are the essential actions and information for this week.
1. COVID-19 Rising – All Clergy and Chairperson of Trustees and Church Council
COVID-19 is spiking with more than 100,000 cases nationwide and 2,000 cases in NJ each day. A vaccine is coming, and it is projected that its effect will not have a wide impact prior to the summer of 2021. GNJ’s goal continues to be zero spread of the virus through United Methodist activities. To all our churches, state guidelines are changing weekly, so please monitor and follow all state and CDC guidelines and use caution while operating your church buildings and congregating for church activities.
2. Bishop’s Days on the Region – All Clergy and Laity
Starting Thursday, Bishop Schol will be meeting via Zoom with all clergy and laity to listen and understand about the state of the church and share information about GNJ mission and priorities. Clergy will meet from 9:00 a.m. on the following dates:
Southern Region | Nov. 12
Central Region | Dec. 2
Northern Region | Nov. 19
Laity will meet on the following dates:
Nov. 19, 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 3, 9:00 a.m.
3. 2020 Shared Ministry – Clergy, Finance Chairpersons and Treasurers
We do more together than an individual congregation can do alone. We do it through mission, support of our ministries in GNJ, support of GNJ congregations that are going through a challenge, and during the pandemic we have already assisted our congregations with more than $1 million of support. Why? Because you are so generous through shared ministry giving. Shared ministry includes support for colleges and universities and United Methodist student scholarships including the Black College Fund that helps to develop tomorrow’s leaders and the Interdenominational Cooperation Fund that allows us to celebrate the presence and work of Jesus Christ among other Christian fellowships throughout the world. Each of the seven funds serves as a vital part of what we do. Each church’s contribution to these funds goes toward making a difference as a whole. In the midst of the pandemic, GNJ congregations have been very generous. Thank you. Let’s work to finish the end of the year with a heart of generosity and gratitude. Many of our congregations have elected not to take the shared ministry holiday and are paying 100% of 2020 shared ministry apportionment. Thank you. More info here.
2021 Shared Ministry – Finance Chairpersons and Treasurers
As you prepare your 2021 budget, the revised 2021 Shared Ministry calculation for your church that aligns with the new budget passed at Annual Conference may be accessed on the GNJ website here.
4. Nominations to the GNJ Boards, Agencies and Committees – All Clergy and Laity
The Nomination Committee strives to recruit gifted people to be elected by the Annual Conference so that the ministries of our connectional church can be effectively carried out and disciples of Jesus Christ are made for the transformation of the world. We encourage you to submit a nomination by the deadline of Nov. 15. The application for nominations can be found here. Reporting inactive members can be done here.
5. Veterans Day is Nov. 11 – All Clergy and Laity
Tomorrow we recognize the more than 18 million veterans in the United States. We thank you for your courage, determination and dedication. Of that total, there are more than 183,000 Native American veterans living today. To commemorate the day, the National Museum of the American Indian will open the new National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The moment will be marked with a short virtual message to honor the service and sacrifice of Native American veterans and their families. The message will be on both the museum’s website and its YouTube channel.
Thank you for your ministry. You are a blessing to GNJ and your community.
In Christ,
GNJ Leadership
Quick links to items in this email:
COVID-19 Resources
Bishop’s Days on the Region:
Clergy: Southern Region | Nov. 12, 9:00 a.m. | Central Region | Dec. 2, 9:00 a.m. |Northern Region | Nov. 19, 9:00 a.m.
Laity: Nov. 19, 7:00 p.m. | Dec. 3, 9:00 a.m.
2020 Shared Ministry
2021 Shared Ministry
Nominations
Museum’s website