NJ justice coalition honors Bishop Schol for moral leadership

A faith-based, grassroots coalition of advocates for justice and equality in New Jersey, honored Bishop John Schol as Moral Leader of the Year at its annual awards ceremony Dec. 15 in Ewing, N.J. Building One New Jersey is “devoted to the idea that everyone who lives here has a stake in the economic and social wellbeing of our region.”

While honoring seven other leaders in government, education, civil rights and organized labor, the group recognized Bishop Schol for “his many years of service and social activism and for the righteous pursuit of power for the cause of justice through faith in action.”

He was credited for his “prophetic leadership” and contributions to the work of desegregating New Jersey’s public school system. While New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the U.S., its schools are also among the most racially segregated in the nation.

Bishop Schol said his leadership for justice and ending racism is because of a great organization and leaders in The United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. He also shared a story of how his parents’ values of diversity, inclusion and equity have had a lasting impact on his life.

A number of GNJ conference leaders attended the ceremony, including:

• former GNJ District Superintendent and now Bishop Héctor Burgos-Núñez and his wife Jazelis Adorno-Burgos;
• the Rev. Venessa Wilson, Chairperson of Religion and Race;
• Carolyn Pendleton, Chairperson of the Committee on Episcopacy;
• the Revs. Sang Won Doh, Jana Purkis Brash and William Williams III, District Superintendents;
• Regional Directors Sammy Arroyo, Gina Yeske and Kate Monahan;
• Disaster Recovery Coordinator Andrea Wren-Hardin;
• Staff members Jay Kim and Nicola Mulligan;
• Good Shepherd UMC Lay Leader Patricia Love;
• the Rev. Jack Johnson, Coordinator of the New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders; and

Bishop Schol’s wife Beverly and son the Rev. Mark Schol also attended, along with EPA District Superintendent the Rev. Andrew Foster III and his wife the Rev. Lorraine Foster.