In an effort to bridge community advocacy and spiritual guidance, the NJ Sharing Network recently convened its 2026 Faith Leader Summit, themed United in Purpose – Stronger in Faith. The gathering brought together religious leaders from a wide array of traditions to strengthen community partnerships and explore the powerful intersection between faith and organ and tissue donation.
Held ahead of the upcoming National Donor Sabbath observances in November, the summit highlighted the vital role that spiritual leaders play when individuals and families face critical decisions regarding life, death, and legacy.
When navigating major health care choices, many community members naturally turn to their faith leaders for counsel. Virtually all major global religions look upon organ and tissue donation with favor, viewing the act as a profound expression of compassion, charity, and human generosity.
E. Denise Peoples, Manager of Strategic Partnerships at NJ Sharing Network and herself a double-lung transplant recipient, emphasized the long-term impact of these collaborative relationships.
“Bringing faith leaders together helps build a stronger foundation for partnerships that extend well beyond a single event,” Peoples noted. “Their connections within their congregations and communities can help carry the message of organ and tissue donation forward, reaching people from all walks of life and inspiring a spirit of generosity that can help save and enhance more lives.”
The summit underscored an ongoing healthcare urgency. According to data from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), more than 100,000 Americans are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant—a figure that includes over 3,000 residents right here in New Jersey.
Organ donation advocacy remains critical because the impact of a single donor is monumental: one organ donor can save up to eight lives, while a single tissue donor can heal and enhance the lives of more than 75 people.
The summit featured diverse representation from across the state’s spiritual and healthcare communities. Attendees and speakers included:
- E. Denise Peoples (NJ Sharing Network & double-lung transplant recipient)
- Bonnie Evans (First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens)
- Christine Williams (Elmwood United Presbyterian Church & double-lung transplant recipient)
- Deacon Lawrence J. Duffy (St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson)
- Sister Prudentia Osuji (Trinitas Regional Medical Center)
- Janice Campbell (Christ Church USA & mother of organ donor Dr. Jamila Irons-Johnson)
- Jay Arisso (Today’s Church in Elizabeth)
- Linwood Bagby (Second Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth)
- Joseph Yaccarino (NJ Sharing Network Manager of Community Education and Events)
Through continued engagement with New Jersey’s faith communities, the NJ Sharing Network aims to dispel myths, answer spiritual questions, and encourage open family discussions surrounding donation.
