September 2015 Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council

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1 September 2015 Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council Sponsored by Community Access Unlimited

2 About the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council Our Mission The Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council works to facilitate regular interfaith meetings in order to make way for the building of bonds within the interfaith community. Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council Steering Committee Members Pastor E. Crawford Chair Ebenezer AME Rahway Sidney Blanchard Executive Director of CAU Pastor D. Brown First Baptist Church Elizabeth Pastor H. Bryant Townley Presbyterian Church Union Kevin E. Caldwell Community Church of GOD Plainfield Pastor Carmine Pernini Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Rahway Pastor D. Ford St. Matthew Baptist Church Roselle Pastor K. Joseph CEA Church of God Elizabeth Pastor Mertz First United Methodist Church Westfield Don Moore Islam Mosque Elizabeth Michelle Mobley Director of Youth Service Residential Sis. Evelyn Rolon Mount Teman AME Church Roderick Spearman CAU Consultant Elder Arthur Skip Winters Cranford Presbyterian Church We respect the inclusion and welcoming of others regardless of faith, race or disability. We strive to be proactive on social issues. Our Goals To grow the network of faith-based organizations in Union County Encourage representatives from all faiths to join the Interfaith Coordinated Council including those of Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic, and other faiths To be engaged in: 1. Community Building within faith-based organizations and the general Union County population. 2. The advancement of Social Justice. 3. The intentional inclusion of others regardless of gender, faith, race. Be active in activities that are inclusive and community building Our Objectives Sponsor regular engagement opportunities that facilitate the building of bonds within the Union County interfaith community and their congregations Strengthen the Union County religious congregations through involvement, action and education in self-help. Build working relationships between Union County religious organizations and Community Access Unlimited that create opportunities for youth and people with disabilities and their support staff. Potential Advantages to Joining the Interfaith Community Develop interfaith solidarity Become active with increased publicity Build religious membership Build support to fundraising events with paid participants Create full and part time employment opportunities for congregation members Provide educational opportunities regarding entitlements, housing, and other services, to congregation members Assist individuals within the congregation to obtain services; for example, people with disabilities, youth, people with physical disabilities, or senior citizens. Advantages to the Interfaith Community: Develop interfaith solidarity Become active with increased publicity Build religious membership Build support to fundraising events with paid participants Create full and part time employment opportunities for congregation members Provide educational opportunities regarding entitlements, housing, and other services, to congregation members Assist individuals within the congregation to obtain services for example for people with disabilities; youth; people with physical disabilities; senior citizens.

3 Message from the Chair Person The month of September marks two major celebrations: Hispanic Heritage Month and Back-2-School Month. Therefore, The Interfaith Council would like to take a moment to lift up the Hispanic diaspora. This month, we celebrate the rich history, fascinating culture and plethora of contributions made to our communities of faith. One of the many beautiful things about the Hispanic culture is its magnificent and marvelous ethnic diversity and deep abiding faith. We salute all of our Latino/a brothers and sisters and embrace the many celebrations that will take place between September 15 th and October 15 th the time officially set aside as Hispanic Heritage Month. Additionally, the month of September marks a time when classrooms, hallways and dormitories of academic institutions in every corner of our county and country will fill with bright and brilliant minds ready to be shaped and molded. Whether it is the kindergartener just beginning their educational journey or the collegiate student preparing for a bright future, the new academic year always proves to be an exciting time for our entire community. It s not just exciting for students and parents, but also for teachers, administrators and support staff. Likewise, it is an exciting time for houses of faith, as we watch the babies we blessed, dedicated and baptized grow into vibrant youth. It s an exciting time for religious leaders, as we watch the gifted, talented and anointed members of our congregations pour into the lives of children, youth and young adults from diverse cultures, family backgrounds, socio-economic statuses and spiritual affiliations. Back-2-School time is an exciting time! So, as our communities return to school, we pray for the success of every child at the bus stop, the safety of every crossing guard standing between harm s way and our prize possessions as they walk to school, the health of every custodian who will cut grass and shovel snow so that our children can play, the heart of every nurse who will touch the life of a sick, bruised or hurting child and the mind of every administrator as they cross over the threshold of a school or educational facility. Specifically, we are praying that all of your days go smoothly that your locker will open, that you ll get to class on time, that you won t forget anything and that you will develop Godly relationships with classmates and roommates. We are praying that your teachers, professors and instructors will know just how to teach you in a way that satisfies your hunger for knowledge, but never quenches your thirst to know and learn more. We are praying that you will find Godly friends who will have your back, make you laugh, wipe your tears and encourage you to be better. We are praying that you ll have an opportunity to live your faith and share your faith with someone this year without fear, shame or intimidation. We are praying that you will always be kind and respectful even in the face of conflict or disagreement; and that you unapologetically listen to the voice of wisdom in you and around you. We are praying that you will remember when you were bullied, when you were the outcast or when you were the new person and use that hurt, disappoint or loneliness as a spring board to lend a helping hand and words of warmth to the person(s) who have now taken your place in the position. We are praying that you ll learn to be a leader, the head and not the tail. That you will be comfortable being your best and giving your best, so that you never have to live beneath your privilege our outside of God s perfect promise for your life. We are praying that you never forget that you are created in the perfect image of God and that God loves you and so do we. Have a GREAT year! Rev. Dr. Erika D. Crawford Join & Be Active Today! How can I join this viable group of supporters? Attend quarterly meetings. Invite other community leaders to attend our quarterly meetings. Support or host fundraising programs to support the Record Expungement Grant Program. Add your contact information to our mailing list. Share useful information about your organization. Contact Rod Spearman at x 324 for more information on becoming a member

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6 Day of Prayer Speakers Ericka Crawford, Pastor Ebenzer AME Church, Rahway NJ No matter how hard the rain falls or how long the storm last, God keeps God s promise and tis too shall pass. Imam Ali Jabber Masjid Darul Islam Mosque in Elizabeth, NJ "In all our holy books it emphasizes the care for humanity, especially our neighbors," he said. "I'm hopeful we can come together and solve our problems, getting back to borrowing a cup of sugar. It's up to the religious community to step forth to restore some solidarity in the community." Buddhist-Ven. Duk-Song Director of the Thousand Hands Outreach program at Soshimsa Zen Center in Plainfield NJ Generosity and compassion are the fundamental Buddhist practices which enable us to open our hearts to help those in need Carmine Pernini, Pastor Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rahway NJ "It can be said that when we gather together as strangers and pray for peace we have worked for peace together." Howard Bryant, Pastor Townley Presbyterian Church, Union NJ "God wants us to pray. Always and about everything." That is what the Day of Prayer is all about. We are praying for peace in the midst of violence which we are experiencing in our world today. Cantor Matt Axelrod Cantor Matt Axelrod has served Congregation Beth Israel of Scotch Plains for over 25 years. Rev. Dr. LL DuBreuil, Pastor Faith United Church of Christ "When we share worship among diverse faith traditions, we build the beloved community. It is a sacred privilege to sing and pray and praise our creator." Ron Thompson, Pastor Imani Temple Baptist Church Union, NJ As leaders in our communities, it is essential for us to periodically come together for prayer. Prayer unites us in concern and in need. Let s be seen as a common people petitioning an uncommon God. Our God continues to supply the needs of those who diligently seek Him.

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8 Brian Dallow Member Spotlight In October of 1974, I was a young graduate student with a wife and family of four children under the age of four three of them were triplets. We had emigrated to the United States just three years before from my native England in order that I could pursue graduate studies in music theory and composition. We had just bought a new home and we were in need of some additional income. I decided to look for a job as a music director of a church, and fate led me to Zion Lutheran Church in Rahway. At the time I expected that the job would assist us until I graduated and my kids were in school. Almost forty-one years later I m still there! Why is this surprising? Well first off, I m Jewish and an active member of my congregation in Hillsborough, New Jersey. To date, I am working with the sixth pastor at Zion since I began my tenure -- not something I expected to be able to say forty-one years later. So why is this and what happened? After all, my children are long grown and we are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren, two of whom are already in college and a third to enter next year. Perhaps a little on my background. I grew up in an agnostic household where my father had no religious commitment and my mother knew she was Jewish but practiced nothing. We believed my great-grandparents were Jewish, had nine daughters and my great-grandfather became a successful inventor and engineer. He wanted his daughters to be educated without the stigma of being Jewish in the somewhat anti-semitic environment of nineteenth-century England, so he changed his religion to Anglican. His daughters went on to be highly successful women, especially for their period. My mother was the daughter of the youngest. My mother was a singer and as an only child, I showed early talent as a musician. She determined that, in post-war England, an education in a choir school would give me a sound musical education. I entered the choir school of Westminster Abbey and, as a chorister, learned a great deal about the structure of the Anglican liturgy. I studied organ with Thurston Dart and eventually began a career as a professional musician pianist and composer. My first foray into the United States was as a student at Brandeis University where I met my wife, Rena Fruchter, already an accomplished pianist. She convinced me to change my major from political theory (yes, an interesting choice!!) back to music and also, once we decided to marry and raise a family together, to practice my original family religion of Judaism. And so to Zion Lutheran Church in Rahway where, over the past forty years I have had the honor of being part of many significant life-cycle events in the lives of the congregation; baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals, in addition to joining with them in the joys, challenges, and sometimes sorrows of our lives. My family and I have been honored by their presence at many of our significant events; the B nai Mizvah of my children and grandchildren, my children s marriages, the celebrations of the naming of our grandchildren, and at funerals, especially that of my mother. And the Lord said to Moses, say to all the congregation of the people of Israel, the stranger who sojourns with you shall be as the native among you and you shall love him as yourself. I am the Lord your G-d. Leviticus The people of Zion have truly fulfilled this commandment and for that my family and I are most grateful. I thank them for their love, their support and their friendship over the past two score years. In my professional life I have continued using music to help change people s lives, first by teaching theory and composition at Rutgers University and Temple University, and for the past twenty-five years through an organization Music For All Seasons, that I founded together with my wife in A few years ago we began a life-changing program, Voices of Valor, which uses therapeutic songwriting as a means of addressing issues of Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury in veterans. We invite anyone interested to investigate the program at

9 UCICC Outreach Coordinating Team Sidney Blanchard, Executive Director of Community Access Unlimited Roderick (Rod) Spearman UCICC Interfaith Coordinator Pastor Howard A. Bryant, UCICC Interfaith Coordinator Pastor Carmine Pernini UCICC Interfaith Coordinator Record Expungement Grant Application How Can This Grant Help Me? Individuals in Union County are trying to change their lives and move on from the mistakes of their past, by becoming productive, employed, tax-paying citizens in the community. Many have run into barriers in gaining employment, job training, and continuing education because of their minor past criminal record. This grant will help offset the costs that are associated with their efforts to get their record expunged. Individuals in Union County are trying to change their lives and move on from the mistakes of their past, by becoming productive, employed, tax-paying citizens in the community. Many have run into barriers in gaining employment, job training, and continuing education because of their minor past criminal record. This grant will help offset the costs that are associated with their efforts to get their record expunged. Application Guidelines 1. Your congregation must be an active member of the Union County Interfaith Coordination Council. 2. You must be endorsed by a member of the interfaith council congregations to apply for the grant. 3. Your congregations must be active in providing additional funds to support the grant. 4. You can only apply one time. 5. You must be willing to work with an approved record expungement counselor. 6. Your application will be reviewed by the UCICC Steering Committee Questions? Contact us at (908) x324 or us at rspearman@caunj.org

10 The Coalition of Religious Leaders Forum on Criminal Justice Reform On Tuesday Night, August 11,a packed house of over 500 people attended a Forum on Criminal Justice Reform at Christ Church in East Orange. The panel included a host of prominent political, community and religious leaders; Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey; Paul Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey; Jiles Ship of NOBLE; the Rev. Craig Hirshberg of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey; and the Rev. Charles Boyer of the Bethel AME Church. Each panelist gave a brief opening statement which was followed by a series of questions presented by the forum Moderator Michael Hill of NJTV News. It would be difficult to relate every statistic and position that each of the panelists took during the evening. At the same time I would like to share some of the more significant statistics that were presented and conclude with some of the suggestions that we, as a community of faith, can do to begin to address in working to reform the criminal justice system. Most, if not all of the statistics that were presented during the evening are mind boggling. Over the past 35 years, the United States leads the world in mass incarcerations, with a 500% increase since1980. We are becoming an "Incarceration Nation." Most of these offenses are drug related. 60% of the people incarcerated in the United States are people of color. 1out of 10 Afro-American males in their 30's are in prison. In the United States between 75 and 100 individuals have arrest records, with person's coming out of prisons having 30% to 40% less earning power than those who have not been incarcerated. The average cost per person of incarceration is $50,000 per year. 98% of convictions are due to plea bargaining; even if individuals are innocent, they plea bargain down for fear of obtaining a longer sentence. There are more Black people in prisons today than were held in slavery in As a country and government, we need to focus more on reeducation instead of punishment. The state of New Jersey is the 3rd worse in the nation for the disparities between Afro-Americans and Whites. Drug offenses across nation have increased 800% sine1980. Afro-American men receive longer sentences than their male counterparts for the same crimes, which lead to many domestic and economic issues. As a nation, we can't arrest our way out of problems. The need to continue on improving record expungement programs is essential. What Can We Do as Churches and Concerned People of Faith do to Make a Difference and What is Currently Being Done to Foster Change The final portion of the forum was given over to the panelists to make final comments on what is being done and what can be done to foster change. Unanimously, everyone voiced concern that both re-entry programs have to be vastly expanded and improved and more funding is necessary to work with those incarcerated, not only to improve their education, but to treat those suffering from mental illness and drug addiction. Monies could come from the savings generated by having less people incarcerated. Paul Fishman noted that he has established in New Jersey a Federal Prisoner Re-Entry Court. Again, all panelists unanimously agreed that police, government employees and people of faith need to reach out into the community to improve communication in urban areas. Churches must become a voice and get involved to redirect resources and assist with re-entry programs and job training. Faith communities need to lead the way. Some things are as simple as getting involved in the community or providing kind words of consideration to those in need. People need to be made aware of racial disparity in prisons; get organized and be vocal. In conclusion: People Who Want Peace Must Work for Peace... People Who Want Change Must Work for Change... People Who Justice Must Work for Justice... Skip Winter Union County Interfaith Coordinating

11 BUILDING SUPPORTS FOR OUR KIDS Save the Date 3rd Annual Union County Youth Services Networking Conference With guest speaker, Jim McGreevy Wednesday, October 28th a.m-4p.m L Affaire Fine Catering, 1099 US Route 22, Mountainside, NJ T O G ET I N V O LV E D, C O N TA C T U S Tanya Johnson, Sr. Assistant Executive Director, Community Access Unlimited tjohnson@caunj.org, x251 Nicholas R. Scalera, President- Scalera Consulting Services nick@scalera.com,

12 Advertise in the UCICC Newsletter! Got an exciting event or program happening? Reach out to members of the interfaith community in Union County by advertising in this newsletter! Please send all ready ads to Rod Spearman at by the 15th of every month to save a space!

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14 As a theological basis for action, a Christian's faith in God must challenge us and move us from simply feeling, speaking and thinking to having a "living faith" with a life of consistent action on behalf of God's innocent children. Genesis 1:26 shares with us how God provided Adam and Eve with "complete authority" over the Earth which places the yoke of responsibility for the care of God's children and God's creation on our shoulders. Today we have that same authority and responsibility to unapologetically advocate for changes in society that help God's children who face the burdens of injustice everyday of their lives. Prayer, often used as a panacea for inaction, is an essential tool in the life of a Christian, which in the great tradition of prophet speech, gives voice to ours and society's brokenness and injustice. But, communal prayer, the "alpha" of society's mutual recognition of its collectively endured woes, leads to action based on the laments or joys given voice in the whispers of the heart and shouts from the lips in prayer. Prayer, as a call to action then, is a way of communally expressing humanity's inner desires and fears. And as a beginning, as prayers are recited and heard, communities of faith can unify under the impulses conjured from a congregation's collective sighs and aspirations. Communal prayer is a call to stand together and not sit and wait for someone else to do something. As people of faith, what we cannot do is allow ourselves to use prayer clichés to justify our inactivity on issues of injustice which happen right in our local communities. Christians, like all sisters and brothers of any faith, must learn to strike a balance between respecting and questioning authority. According to Romans 13 Christians know that authority was established by God as a way of providing fair and equal treatment for all God s children. When these authorities are unfair and unjust we have a moral obligation to not only question them but to also challenge injustice. Jesus Christ was consistent with his challenge to authority throughout the gospels as he stood firm against the "powers and principalities(i.e., religious authoritarians and the tyranny of empire)" who epitomized authority. We must maintain that same spirit as we stand against those who pervert justice. The New Jersey Clergy Coalition for Justice continues to implore our brothers and sisters to put their faith in action because it is the only way to create a society that is just for all God's children. Christians, and people of all faiths for that matter, are required to publicly engage civic life on behalf of the "least of these," the prisoners, naked, hungry, and thirsty (Matthew 25). A living faith and an active civil life does not begin and end on election day! Consider making a decision to attend a school board, township or freeholder board meetings. Learn to ask questions and inquire about long term and strategic plans. Everyday there are local ordinances and resolutions being introduced that have a direct impact on the lives of people across New Jersey. We have to ensure these laws are just and do not hurt people. Spend a few minutes researching independent institutions that provide solutions to key issues. Set up meetings with local elected officials and grasp their views on issues of injustice and equality. Archange Antoine, M.A. Principal Strategist Savviors & Associates Leadership is action, not position. - Donald H. McGannon

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16 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 225 Elizabeth, NJ 80 West Grand Street Elizabeth, NJ Phone: TTY/TTD: Fax: Community Access Unlimited s Mission: To provide community access through effective and comprehensive support services for people with disabilities and at-risk youth, giving them the opportunity to live independently and to lead normal and productive lives in the community. SAVE THE DATE - UNION COUNTY DAY OF PRAYER OCTOBER 7, 2015 UCICC & Steering Committee Upcoming Events UCICC Steering Committee Meeting September 3, 2015 at 10:00AM Community Access Unlimited 80 W Grand St, Elizabeth NJ UCICC Steering Committee Meeting October 1, 2015 at 10:00 AM Community Access Unlimited 80 W Grand St, Elizabeth NJ UCICC Steering Committee Meeting November 5, 2015 at 10:00 AM Community Access Unlimited 80 W Grand St, Elizabeth NJ UCICC Day of Prayer Planning Meeting September 23, 2015 at 6:30PM Suburban Golf Club 1730 Morris Ave Union, NJ Union County Day of Prayer October 7, 2015 at 6:30 PM First United Methodist Church 117 Ferris Place, Westfield, NJ Full UCICC Meeting November 5, 2015 at 7:00 PM Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church 215 Elm Ave, Rahway, NJ Rod Spearman Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council c/o Community Access Unlimited 80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ Phone: (908) Fax:(908)