The 1988 Episcopal General Convention committed the Church to a ministry of economic justice, encouraging investment in community-based economic programs. In response, diocesan committees and local congregations have supported and often initiated many kinds of community development projects, including loan funds, credit unions, worker-owned businesses and housing cooperatives. The Episcopal Network for Economic Justice was formed in 1996 to carry on the work begun by the EJIC (Economic Justice Implementation Committee), established to carry out the vision of the 1988 General Convention. ENEJ serves to strengthen and support those engaged in economic justice ministries and advocate for initiatives within the Episcopal Church.
ENEJ is funded by membership dues received from individuals, congregations, diocesan committees and other organizations. Its purposes are to provide a communication network, assist members in the development of resources, and advocate economic justice issues.
ENEJ offers a publication that is helpful to congregations wishing to use their investments to promote social justice. Download our booklet on Community Investing: An Alternative for Religious Congregations Seeking a Social as well as a Financial Return here.
To become a member of the ENEJ network and receive our semi-annual newsletter, write to Martha Gardner at mgardner25@comcast.net.
To inquire about resources available to individuals and congregations click on Resources. Economic justice education units and technical assistance on setting up economic justice programs are available.
ENEJ operates a listserve to help individuals interested in keeping in touch with economic justice issues or in providing information to the network. To subscribe to our listserve, send your name, address and telephone number to mgardner25@comcast.net or you can sign up at http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/enej.
Our newest resource is our Economic Justice How To Action Manual. All of our resources are downloadable here, or can be ordered in print or on compact disc.
If you would like to make your local ministry known to the entire national church, please send a brief project description.