Church of the Redeemer
36 South Street
Morristown, NJ 07960
973-539-0703

All content © 2011

Capital Campaign

Sights & Sounds

About Us

Directions

Contact Us

Ministries

Outreach

Small Groups

Member Ministries

Outreach

On This Page
Eric Johnson House
Interfaith Council for Homeless Families
Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown
Good Shepherd Home in Cameroon
LGBTQi Ministry

At Redeemer, our mission of service extends beyond the church doors. We reach out into the community both near and far.

Eric Johnson House  [ back to top ]

Eric Johnson, the son of Church of the Redeemer parishioners Bill and Ann Johnson, contracted AIDS and died of the disease in 1990. Luckily, Eric had the full support of his family—something that is not a reality for many people living with HIV/AIDS. Thus, The Eric Johnson House on the Redeemer grounds was designed for those people in need of housing, as well as supportive services, who are homeless as a result of, or adjunct to, their HIV/AIDS status. The Eric Johnson House is a place for those who need a safe haven while trying to obtain the services and support necessary to regain control of their lives. The Eric Johnson House is not a hospice nor a medical facility, but rather a housing program that provides the security and dignity necessary to enable residents to become empowered and make realistic decisions about their future.

The mission of the Eric Johnson House is to assist people with HIV or AIDS in securing and maintaining permanent housing. Established in 1992 as a non-profit organization, the house is the result of a grassroots endeavor to renovate and operate a transitional housing program for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Eric Johnson House is located in the former rectory of the Church of the Redeemer. The rectory, which was no longer used by the Church for its original purpose, was completely renovated through the generous support of both public and private organizations, as well as individual contributors. Located in Morristown’s central business district, the house is accessible by car or public transportation. It is within walking distance of grocery stores, parks, medical providers, banks, and other area businesses. The house is situated in an ideal locale to ensure the maximum independence of its residents. Fully accessible for wheelchairs, the house contains on-site laundry and cooking facilities.

More information: Eric Johnson House

Interfaith Council for Homeless Families  [ back to top ]

As part of Redeemer's ministry and support for social justice, we are part of the Interfaith Council for Homeless Families (ICHF) of Morris County. ICHF was incorporated as a not-for-profit in 1988, and is an affiliate of Family Promise (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network). The main goal of the Emergency Support Program is to transition families from homelessness to permanent housing.

Seventeen host congregations, along with 52 supporting congregations help provide shelter, overnight staffing, dinner and breakfast to the families. Through this community involvement, ICHF is one of the most cost-effective local shelter programs in the community. ICHF's revenue goes directly to meeting the needs of our families with minimal administrative costs. Involving the 67 faith communities (an element unique to Morris County's ICHF) provides an opportunity for community participation that is not available in a traditional shelter setting.

Redeemer, along with four other local churches (Assumption Catholic, Morristown Unitarian, Calvary Baptist, and Denville Community Churches) provides volunteers to support the families in need of temporary housing for one week at a time. Due to the facility issues of our basement, Redeemer no longer actually 'hosts' the residents on-site, but instead the residents stay at Morristown United Methodist Church. The five churches collaborate to provide dinners and support for the individuals, parents and children who reside at this facility.

Volunteers provide 2 hours of service --- sitting with the families, providing an overnight stay, preparing a meal for the guests or serving as the Day Coordinator.

As always, we welcome others to join us in this important community ministry. It is a good experience to interact with the guests, supporting them and their children in their life transitions. And it's a great way to meet some other Redeemerites.

More information: Interfaith Council for Homeless Families

Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown  [ back to top ]

Redeemer has a well-established partnership with the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown (CSK). In addition to being the permanent home to the CSK, in the Church's Parish Hall 6 days each week, our members also provide leadership and volunteer workers.

CSK Mission Statement: "The Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown, Inc. is an ecumenical effort supported and run by 34 congregations from the greater Morristown area. Our mission is to provide nutritious meals in a safe, warm, and caring environment, free of charge, to anyone who comes seeking nourishment. And, further, to provide access to community services and resources to those in need while providing opportunities for volunteers to give of themselves in service to others. Anyone is welcome regardless of age, sex, race, financial qualifications, or religious beliefs."

In support of CSK, Redeemer sponsors "Soup Kitchen" teams. Each team has approximately 12 -15 members, who commit to serving 5-6 times a year. Teams are responsible for preparing casseroles, soups, salads, breads, desserts and drinks for guests. Thank you to all our Redeemer CSK volunteers (over 100 people)!

There are several ways that members of Redeemer participate in this ministry:

• Team Member (12 years & older) - commit to serve 5-6 times a year on a Redeemer team serving after church, 11:30 to 2:00pm on Sundays. Each team usually needs 12 volunteers to serve the 60 - 100 guests who show up for a meal. Our goal is to have 15 members per team to allow flexibility if a few volunteers can't attend on their assigned Sunday.
• Dessert Provider - these volunteers commit to provide dessert for approximately 80 guests, 3-6 times a year. Dessert providers are assigned to a specific Redeemer team and can either drop off their goodies or also volunteer with the team to serve their dessert.
• Team Captain - in addition to being a member of one of the Redeemer teams, captains organize and direct the team as well as purchase perishable food items (milk, bread, salad, fruit) for their assigned Sunday. Our goal is to have 2 sets of co-captains on each of the Redeemer teams.
• Participate in a Redeemer "Cooking Day" - We are reviving the Redeemer cooking days to ensure that there are casseroles available for the Redeemer teams. Members of the Cooking team will prepare approximately 40 casseroles, 4-6 times a year, on a Saturday morning. Children are welcome to participate.

More information: CSK Morristown

Good Shepherd Home in Cameroon  [ back to top ]

The Church of the Redeemer actively supports The Good Shepherd Home in Douala, Cameroon. The Good Shepherd is an orphanage for children made homeless as a result of the aids epidemic. At present, it houses approximately fifty children and is administered by Sister Jane Manka, a remarkable visionary, whose ambitious goal is to care for hundreds more children as The Good Shepherd grows.

In 2006 the Redeemer congregation funded a water catchment, storage and supply project, medical supply delivery, nutritional support and livestock purchases.

Redeemer's Water for Life program, initiated in 2007, made it possible for the children of the Good Shepherd to have plenty of safe clean water. The system was completed under budget, on time and was technically successful. Over eighty thousand dollars was collected to support this and other activities.

Seven Redeemer parishioners and a separate film production team visited the orphanage. Two documentaries were produced and are being widely screened. Redeemer continues to supplement the orphanage food program and a separate non-profit group was formed which has contributed tens of thousands of dollars towards a new dormitory.

Recently Redeemer responded to an urgent need to start a school. A number of primary grade children, originally enrolled in the local public school, were abused due to their social standing. Sister Jane removed them they remained with no ongoing education.

There was a four room staff building on the grounds. Sister Jane reconfigured the building as a school, hired teachers, and began the education of her children. Redeemer assisted in funding this school, now called The Redeemer Primary School.

In addition, we have developed a means of generating ongoing funds. Just as Water for Life has served its purpose, a program called Food for Life will help with continuing nutritional needs. The program will channel nominal monthly contributions from Redeemer parishioners towards supplementary food supplies for the home.
There is no greater calling than one which feeds a hungry child. Redeemer welcomes anyone who would like to join in helping the beautiful Good Shepherd children. Please join us.

In 2008, four Redeemer parishioners visited Sr. Jane and the children and brought needed supplies, specifically books for the school.

As the pictures of the children of the Good Shepherd Home on the walls of our church show, they are part of our family and we are part of theirs.

More information: www.goodshepherdhome.org

LGBTQi ministry  [ back to top ]

The Church of the Redeemer has a long history of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex people and their straight allies.

We celebrated our first consecration of a sacramental marriage for a same-sex couple 20 years ago, and converted our rectory into a transitional living space for people living with HIV and AIDS. In 2011, we formed a new LGBTQi outreach ministry in response to the deaths of Tyler Clementi and other young people around the country. Our aim is to "to provide understanding, support and promotion of values that lead to full inclusion of all LGBTQi individuals. The LGBTQi Ministry will assist all within our walls, reach out to those beyond, and provide a safe place both spiritually and otherwise without discrimination." This ministry provides speakers for churches, schools and other organizations that wish to learn more about the LGBTQi experience, especially in relation to spirituality and religion. In addition to its outreach work, the ministry provides support to LGBTQi members of the Church of the Redeemer .

On June 13, 2011, the vestry of the Church of the Redeemer approved the following statement of affirmation, which is based on the LGBTQi ministry's mission statement:

We, the Church of the Redeemer, believe that all people are created equal through the love of God and that, as such, no one thing can set them apart including sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. We strive to provide a safe place both spiritually and otherwise without discrimination. We believe that God's Table is meant for all people without exception.

The Church of the Redeemer is a "proud parish partner" of Integrity USA (www.integrityusa.org), which advocates for full inclusion of LGBTQi people in the Episcopal Church and its rites.