New Churches
Nine Potential Locations for New Church Development in the Greater New Jersey Annual ConferenceThe Congregational Development Team urges District Boards of Church Location and Building to review this list and make recommendations in light of their own analysis of churches in their district. Please send comments or suggestions to the Office of Congregational Development via email to: Druffle@gnjumc.org 1. Monroe Township, NJ* (Currently our New Church Plant receiving Harvest Mission Funding). The church meets in the cafeteria of the Barclay Brook Elementary School. For more information, visit their website at http://www.monroecommunity.org/. Total population: 79,000+ in five mile radius area east of the New Jersey Turnpike. The population has grown by 46.6% since 1990, making it one of the fastest growing townships in New Jersey. The Township has no mainline Protestant churches at all. The only houses of worship in the Township are a Roman Catholic Church, a Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall and a Jewish Synagogue. Targeted Group: Younger and more diverse people living in Monroe Township. Rationale: This is one of the fastest growing communities in New Jersey. 2. North Brunswick/South Brunswick area. Total population: 94,492. Note that South Brunswick Twp. uses the zip code of Dayton, NJ (08810). South Brunswick has grown 80% since 1990 and North Brunswick by over 20% in the same period. Targeted group: African American or Multi-ethnic UM churches in 3-miles radius area: 0. District: This area covers an area that borders the Capital and Raritan Valley districts. Rationale: Housing boom along 130 corridor between New Brunswick and Cranbury. Largest concentration of population in GNJ with no UM churches in 6 mile radius. Above average population of African Americans in North Brunswick and above average population of Asian Americans in South Brunswick. 3. Logan/Woolwich/Pilesgrove Townships area Total population: 11,892 Targeted group: Multi-ethnic UM Churches in area: Auburn: Ebenezer; Woodstown: Asbury; Swedesboro: Bethesda; Centre Square: Union; Bridgeport: St. Paul’s. District: Delaware Bay Rationale: enormous housing boom in these townships. With the exception of Bethesda, the other area churches are small and struggling. Presently the Sharptown United Methodist Church is exploring outreach into this area 4. Franklin area Total population: 19,122. Growing at more than 20% pace since 1990. Targeted group: Multi-ethnic UM churches in area: no UM churches in immediate 3 mile radius. Closest churches are Vernon, Sussex and Wantage. District: Skylands Rationale: Housing development boom along route 23 and 94 corridors. 5. SE/SW Lakewood to SW Toms River Total population: 85,316. Growing at a rate of over 30% since 1990. Targeted group: 55+ European American and multi-ethnic UM churches in area: no UM churches in immediate 3 mile radius. Closest churches are in Lakewood and Toms River. District: Northern Shore Rationale: Continued growth of age restrict communities and general housing boom. 6. Mahwah/Ramsey area Total population: 39,546 Targeted group: Multi-ethnic UM churches in area: none in these two towns. Closest churches are located in Suffern, NY, Allendale and Bergen Highlands (Upper Saddle River). District: Palisades Rationale: Two large ethnically diverse communities in heavily populated Bergen county. 7. University Newark Total population: 33,992 Targeted group: African American/multi-ethnic UM churches in area: none in two zip code areas. Closest churches are St. Matthew’s and Trinity UMC. District: Gateway North Rationale: renewal of area surrounding University Hospital 8. Egg Harbor Township Total population: 28,179 Targeted group: multi-ethnic While the Asbury and Zion UMCs are located in Egg Harbor Twp., there is a 3-mile radius population in the center of the township that does not presently include any United Methodist Church. District: Cape Atlantic Rationale: Housing boom on inland side of ocean communities. 9. SE Phillipsburg Total population: 7,778 Targeted group: European American/multi-ethnic UM churches in area: Bloomsbury District: Raritan Valley Rationale: housing development boom |
Photo by Jay Ericson, used by permission. |
