The Right Reverend Julius Harrison McAllister, Sr., Presiding Prelate
Mother Joan Marla McAllister, Episcopal Supervisor
The Reverend Dr. Gregory P. Nelson, Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Dr. James Coaxum, III, General Chairperson
New Jersey is a northeastern U.S. State with some 130 miles of Atlantic coast. Jersey City, across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, is the site of Liberty State Park, where ferries embark for nearby Ellis Island, with its historic Immigration Museum, and the iconic Statue of Liberty. The Jersey Shore includes notable resort towns like historic Asbury Park and Cape May, with its preserved Victorian buildings.
The New Jersey Conference was established in 1872 and was formerly part of the Philadelphia and New York Annual Conferences. In 1872 the first General Conference was held in the South in Nashville, Tennessee. Rev. Joshua Woodlin was a delegate to the General Conference that year and offered the resolution creating the New Jersey Annual Conference. The Resolution: Resolved, that the State of New Jersey become a Conference District. The Resolution was referred to the Committee on Boundaries. The Committee on Boundaries reported as follows: under New Conferences: The New Jersey Conference shall include the entire State of New Jersey.
CAMDEN-TRENTON DISTRICT
Mount Zion -Trenton
Bethel -Moorestown
Bethel -Pennsauken
Grant Chapel -Trenton
Bethel -Woodbury
Mount Pisgah -Lawnside
Bethlehem -Burlington
Jacob’s Chapel -Mount Laurel
Mount Zion -Bordentown
Union -Allentown
Macedonia -Camden
Campbell -Woodbury
Bethel -Camden
Mount Zion -Vorhees
Saint James -Thorofare
Trinity -Cinnaminson
Mount Moriah -Mount Holly
Bethel -Beverly
Bethel -Paulsboro
Mount Moriah -Mount Holly
Greater Mount Pisgah -Haddonfield
Grace -Crosswicks
Bethel -Cookstown
NEWARK DISTRICT
Saint James -Newark
Saint Matthew -Orange
Israel Memorial -Newark
Saint Luke -Newark
Bethel -Morristown
Union Chapel -Newark
Saint Paul -East Orange
Bethel -Vauxhall
Saint Mark -East Orange
Bethel -Madison
Allen -Newark
Bethel -Passaic
Bethel (Paterson
Mount Pisgah -Washington
Saint Thomas -Newark
Saint Paul -Kenilworth
Saint John -Westwood
Bethel -Boonton
Mount Zion -Milburn
NEW BRUNSWICK DISTRICT
North Stelton - Piscataway
Mount Zion – New Brunswick
Mount Pisgah – Jersey City
Heard – Roselle
Mount Teman – Elizabeth
Mount Zion – Plainfield
Saint James – Highstown
Mount Pisgah – Princeton
Bethel – Freehold
Bethel – Asbury Park
Ebenezer – Rahway
Allen Chapel – Asbury Park
Trinity – Long Branch
Quinn Chapel – Atlantic Highlands
Saint Mark – Cranford
Fisk Chapel – Fair Haven
Saint Paul – South Bound Brook
Bethel – Pennington
Mount Zion – Princeton
Saint James – Manalapan
ATLANTIC CITY DISTRICT
Saint James – Atlantic City
Bethel – Millville
Saint Paul – Pleasantville
Friendship – Brown Mills
Grant – Chesilhurst
Trinity – Bridgeton
Mount Zion – Bridgeton
Mount Pisgah – Salem
New Bethel – Vineland
Mount Zion – Fenwick
Mount Laurel – Pilesgrove
Remnant – South Tom River
Saint Mark – Lindenwold
Saint Stephen – Whitesboro
Saint James – Mays Landing
Saint James – Ocean City
Saint Luke – Egg Harbor City
Mount Zion – Swedesboro
Asbury – Wildwood
Allen – Cape May
Saint Stephen – Newtonville
Bethel – Greenwich
Saint Thomas – Jackson
Dear Bishop Julius H. McAllister, Sr. and Mother Joan Marla McAllister:
The Historic Atlantic City District is excited to serve as host for the 152nd Session of the New Jersey Annual Conference. Guided by the leadership of Presiding Elder Gregory P. Nelson, we have worked diligently to make your time in Atlantic City pleasant and enjoyable. We have been anticipating your arrival for the past eight months; and, this week we gather as a testament to the theme that “The Church is Moving On.”
The conference planning has been special to us as we considered the historic ties of Bishop and Mother McAllister to the New Jersey Annual Conference. Moreover, the planning was special as we reflected on the ties of several of our churches in the Atlantic City District to the Underground Railroad. Finally, the planning was uniquely exceptional, because we know what the Annual Conference means to AMEs. The preconference activities, the business sessions, pastoral reports, memorials, retirement highlights, spotlight on young people and clergy families, and most importantly the worship experiences bring us together every year to revive and renew our commitment to ministry and toAfrican Methodism.
We hope that during the conference, you will visit our hospitality table and support our vendors. We have a special exhibit from the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey that focuses on the history of Black Churches in Southern New Jersey. Visit our website www.njac152.com, throughout the week for conference updates.
Finally, let me say thank you to all of the Pastors and Laity of the Atlantic City District, who came together to make the 152nd Session of the New Jersey Annual Conference a success. It has been a labor of love. In addition, we thank all of our sponsors and community partners, who supported the conference this week.
To God Be The Glory! Great Things He Has Done!
Peace, Empowerment, Love,
Rev. Dr. James Coaxum, III General Chairperson
The Historic Atlantic City District
The Reverend Gregory Nelson, Presiding Elder
St. James AMEC, Atlantic City Pastor James Coaxum, III
St. Paul AMEC, Pleasantville—Pastor Kenneth Mitchem
Friendship AMEC, Brown Mills Pastor Samuel Hayes, Jr.
New Bethel, Vineland Pastor Michael Sturdivant
Trinity AMEC, Gouldtown Pastor Michael Keene, Sr.
Grant AMEC, Chesilhurst Pastor Jameel A. Morrison
Mt. Zion AMEC, Bridgeton—Pastor Manuel Biagas
Mt. Pisgah AMEC, Salem—Pastor J. Clinton Reynolds
Bethel AMEC, Millville Pastor Zina Thompkins
Remnant AMEC, S. Toms River Pastor Tammy M. Mitchell
Mt. Zion AMEC Fenwick Pastor Rhonda Hart
Mt. Laurel AMEC, Pilesgrove Pastor Cassandra R. White
St. Mark AMEC, Lindenwold—Pastor Leslie Harrison
St. James AMEC, Mays Landing Pastor Wendy Mason-Harris
St. James AMEC, Ocean City Pastor Laverne McClellan
Asbury AMEC, Wildwood Pastor Andrea Davis
St. Thomas AMEC, Jackson Licentiate LaGreta Brown
St. Luke AMEC, Egg Harbor City—Pastor Francis Johnson
Bethel AMEC, Othello—Pastor Jeffrey Johnson
Mt. Zion AMEC, Swedesboro Pastor Langston Washington, Jr.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:3-6
The 152nd Session of the New Jersey Annual Conference would like to thank each of you for your support, your prayers, and your kind gestures as we sought to make this conference memorable. Words are seemingly inadequate to express our feelings, but we believe saying “thank you” will touch the very hearts of those of your who have done everything humanely possible to make this week a success.
We are better because of the sacrifice of our leadership, Presiding Elder Nelson; our General Chair, Reverend Dr. Coaxum; all of Conference Committee Chairs; and of course, YOU! A special thanks to the Souvenir Journal Committee, along with the Reverend Carolyn Cavaness and Reverend Jarrett Britton Washington of Legacy Graphics and Designs, LLC.
Finally, our continued gratitude, love, and grace is extended to Bishop Julius Harrison McAllister, Sr. and Mother Joan McAllister. Your leadership is one of God’s finest blessings towards us.
