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‘Jubilee Churches of Gloucester’ forms

Posted On July 19, 2023
church jubilee
PHOTO BY NANCY CHOQUETTE The new group, “Jubilee Churches of Gloucester,” seeks to respond to needs in the community. Members of the new group recently met at Abingdon Episcopal Church to better coordinate their work with that of other organizations in the community. Pictured around the table, from left, are members Ingrid Peterson of Apostles Lutheran, Ed Walker of Bellamy United Methodist, Pat Roane of Ware Episcopal, Pete Liljeberg of Apostles Lutheran, Sven vanBaars of Abingdon, Scott Parnell of Ware, Doug Nagel of Grace Covenant Presbyterian, Jay Serafin of Apostles Lutheran, Janet Gomez of Apostles Lutheran, Ann Foster of Church of St. Therese, and Kyle Glauver of St. Therese; not pictured, Gregory Kant of St. Therese.

A coalition of Gloucester churches, also known as the “Jubilee Churches of Gloucester,” gathered last week to formalize a partnership to respond to needs in the community. The new group will support local nonprofits in its work to support vulnerable residents of Gloucester County.

Through a small working group led by the Rev. Scott Parnell, rector of Ware Episcopal Church, the jubilee has expanded to include nine local congregations with the expressed goal of increasing collaboration between local nonprofits and churches and to encourage collaboration across these agencies. The involved churches include Abingdon Episcopal, Apostles Lutheran, Bellamy United Methodist, Church of St. Therese, Grace Covenant Presbyterian, Newington Baptist, Salem, Susanna Wesley United Methodist, and Ware.

The idea for a coalition of churches was conceived in late fall 2021 in response to a Gloucester Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) breakfast convened by Emergency Management Coordinator Jane Wenner, who discussed emergency support to the most vulnerable in Gloucester.

Throughout 2022, many conversations were held between government agencies, nonprofits and church leaders about how the three might be able to work together.

“There are a myriad of services and support available to those nearing or experiencing homelessness,” said Parnell. “Connecting clients to these services and referring between agencies requires us all to put the client first—and that’s what we’re doing. Members of these congregations should be proud of their pastors for their leadership in addressing these concerns in Gloucester.”

The first project led by Jubilee Churches was done in partnership with Bay Aging and was aimed at providing furniture for those transitioning out of homelessness into permanent supportive housing.

So far this year, the nine churches have provided furnishing for four apartments, and have formalized a process in how this can be done in the future.

The group’s second project is working in collaboration with Gloucester Victim Witness Advocacy in aiding those fleeing domestic violence.

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