New Jersey Synod
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The New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the local synod (the equivalent to an Roman Catholic or Episcopal diocese) that oversees all of the ELCA's congregations in the State of New Jersey.
Due to the location of New Jersey between two major Northeastern U.S. cities; New York City and Philadelphia, the New Jersey Synod, unlike its neighboring synods, is the only synod in Region 7 that encompasses an entire state. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod in Philadelphia oversees the city of Philadelphia itself and four counties surrounding the city, while the Metropolitan New York Synod oversees New York City, Long Island, and the downstate New York counties.
Like its neighboring synods, the New Jersey Synod is located in a state rich in history, which includes the famous Battle of Trenton (involving Washington's crossing of the Delaware), and the infamous duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. The New Jersey Synod is also unique in that it's territory covers Atlantic City, which allows legalized gambiling, Newark, which was ruined by the Newark Riots in 1968 and despite its location near New York City, still suffers from high unemployment, and Camden, the poorest and most violent of New Jersey's cities. As to combat these issues, the synod has special ministries to oversee the outreach in these areas.
The New Jersey Synod shares its territory with the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, Diocese of Camden, Diocese of Metuchen, Diocese of Paterson and Diocese of Trenton.
