Crosswalk Winter 2018 God reconciling the world to Himself

Post-Convention / winter 2018

Crosswalk The official publication of The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina

In this issue

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Presiding Bishop's Piligrimage to Ghana

Highlights from the 95th Diocean Convention

The 'Justice Bus' heads to Cincinnati

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Dr. Drew Hart at the Fellowship of SC Bishops Dialogue

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Misson in the Streets: St. Luke's, Columbia's Fresh Start Ministry

“I was not alone in feeling utterly silenced by this place�

The 95th Diocesan Convention of The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina

God reconciling the world to Himself

Diocesan Staff The Rt. Rev. W. Andrew Waldo Eighth Bishop of EDUSC

Contents 3 Welcome 4 Diocesan Race and Reconciliation Committee 6 The Presiding Bishop's Pilgrimage to Ghana 12 Highlights from the 95th Diocesan Convention 20 Mission in the Streets: St. Luke's, Columbia's Fresh

Start Ministry 22 Leadership Day on Reconciliation 24 Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to visit Trinity Cathedral

Ms. Mary Sweet Administrative Asst. to the Bishop msweet@edusc.org The Rev. d'Rue Hazel Canon for Congregational Development and Administration dhazel@edusc.org The Rev. Jimmy Hartley Canon for Christian Formation, Congregational Vitality and Missional Communities jhartley@edusc.org Ms. Carrie Graves Canon for Communications cgraves@edusc.org Ms. Anna MacDermut Controller amacdermut@edusc.org Ms. Cynthia Hendrix Diocesan Officer for Health Benefits, Property Insurance and Accounts Payable chendrix@edusc.org Mr. Frank Ballard Assistant for Congregational Development and Administration fballard@edusc.org Ms. Tracy Forman Administrative Assistant for Christian Formation, Finance and Hospitality tforman@edusc.org Ms. Julie Derrick Administrative Assistant for Christian Formation, Congregational Vitality and Missional Communities jderrick @edusc.org www.edusc.org 803.771.7800

Calendar of Events * 2018 January 23 Fellowhip of SC Bishops'

Ecumenical Prayer Service St. Paul's Lutheran Church

24- FORMA National Conference 26 Charleston, SC

February 1 Ordination to the Priesthood 14 Feast of Absalom Jones

at Voorhees College

23- SMASH high school retreat 25 16- Partnership Cange Symposium 18 at St. Peter's, Greenville March 3 Diocesan Executive Council 16- Happening #79 18 at Camp Gravatt cover photo - The Preisding Bishops' Ghana piligrimage group in Africa

The Crosswalk

The Crosswalk seeks to tell the story of the work our parishes do together that we can't do alone. This issue spans a little more than a year of work in the diocese on race and reconciliation. Read the stories, enjoy the pictures, and think about how you and your parish can be a part of God's reconciling the world to Himself in this place and time.

Adjunct Staff The Reverend Susan Heath Coordinator of the SC Bishops' Public Education Initiative sheath@edusc.org www.bishopseducation.com

At the 95th Diocesan Convention in November, EDUSC offered pins that represent our common work toward reconciliation

Look forward to features, mission and faith stories, book reviews and more in upcoming editions of the Crosswalk.

THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF UPPER SOUTH CAROLINA welcomes you in the name of Christ and of the 61 Episcopal congregations that are members of the diocese.

Our Vision: Making, Equipping and Sending mature disciples of Christ.

OPT-IN for email and/or print editions of the new Crosswalk

Name: Parish: Home Address: Phone # Email: I would like to receive the Crosswalk __in print __by email Please return to EDUSC 1115 Marion Street Columbia, SC 29201 or email Carrie Graves at cgraves@edusc.org.

Resolution on Race and Reconciliation November 2015 Whereas, recent events in our country, including those in North Charleston and at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, have exposed our nation’s continuing struggle to achieve racial justice and reconciliation; and Whereas, these tensions between races have highlighted our ongoing need for self-examination, reflection and action; and Whereas, our Lord commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves and Saint Paul calls us to become ambassadors of reconciliation; Whereas, the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, meeting in July of this year, passed in both Houses Resolution A182 urging all dioceses to use education, community dialogue and internal audit to respond to all forms of racial injustice with suggestions and programs for significant church-wide progress, be it therefore Resolved, that the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina commits to ongoing training, community dialogue and action to bring about racial justice and reconciliation by changing patterns in our lives that foster, consciously and unconsciously, prejudice and injustice; and be it further Resolved, that this work be committed to the Commission on Outreach and Mission to develop means that promote racial justice and reconciliation, with particular focus on training and dialogue for and among all persons in positions of diocesan or congregational leadership; and be it further Resolved, that the Commission on Outreach and Mission report to the 2016 through 2020 Diocesan Conventions on the various ways this commitment has been lived out each year, articulating specific actions taken, including but not limited to programs developed, resources deployed, numbers trained, results achieved and recommendations for further action.

Get to Know Your Commissions and Committees... the Race and Reconciliation Committee In response to a resolution passed at the 2015 Diocesan Convention, Bishop Waldo has appointed a committee to study race and reconciliation and to see that race and reconciliation training is conducted throughout the diocese. The committee began its work in the fall of 2016. The members of the committee are as follows:

Members are appointed to a three-year term and were chosen from a list of applicants. The committee is a dynamic, motivated, results-oriented group. Half of the members are persons of color.

Half are of European heritage. There are eight women and six men. There were no nominations received from the Catawba and Gravatt Convocations and no applications from Latino nominees. As the work of the Committee has progressed for more than a year, it is now seeking to diversify its membership.

Be Reconciled

The Rev. Paul Abernathy, Epiphany, Laurens Ms. Allison Askins, St. Martin’s, Columbia Mr. James Barnes, St. George’s, Anderson The Rev. Deacon Dianna Deaderick, St. Luke’s, Columbia Ms. Karen Eckford, Grace, Camden Ms. Deb Flanagan, Holy Cross, Simpsonville Mr. Carlton Hughes, Holy Cross, Simpsonville The Rev. David Jackson (relocated), Christ Church School, Greenville Dr. Marie Martin, St. Luke’s, Columbia Dr. Marion Martin, St. Philip’s, Greenville The Rev. Mia McDowell, St. Matthew’s, Spartanburg Ms. Samantha Shuler, St. Martin’s, Columbia (youth) The Rt. Rev. Andrew Waldo, Bishop, EDUSC Ms. Nancy Wylie, Grace, Camden

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Racial Reconciliation what's next?

Bishop Waldo visits Ghana with Presiding Bishop Curry 6

Presiding Bishop's Pilgrimage to Ghana

by The Rt. Rev. Andrew Waldo Tomorrow, we catch an early flight to Tamale and then drive to Bolgatonga to visit some ERD development projects and a preserved slave camp in the north country. I will get to see an old friend,

Reflections from the journey January 2017

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y bags are now packed and my heart prepared for what I expect will be a powerful journey to Ghana with our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, and others. My American ancestry includes 200 years of ancestors and relatives who enslaved others. Some two dozen fought for their enslavement. In one significant turnaround, my great-great-grandfather fought first for enslavement but later, during Reconstruction, fought to preserve the vote for formerly enslaved people at risk to his own life. His courage in the face of armed white mobs at Danville, Virginia in November, 1883 gives me hope and courage. (Danville’s history museum does not preserve the memory of its citizens’ ignominious actions. US Senate hearing minutes, however, do.)

Prayers for hope, healing and reconciliation across our nation in uncertain times. And for those who’ve heard me tell my own story, this trip is for Tessie; Bellingrath Junior High School, Montgomery, Alabama in 1966.

Bishop Jacob Ayeebo, with whom I attended a seminar at Canterbury Cathedral for new Anglican bishops six years ago. We’ll also begin small group reflections on race, reconciliation and asset-based community management.

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felt a bit like an intruder today, visiting entrepreneurs and students connected in one way or another with ERD, and yet incredibly gifted by warm hospitality, good food, skilled dancing and drivingly energetic music.

Tomorrow we go to a transitional slave camp, Pikworo. Our reflections on race and reconciliation back home are getting deeper and more pragmatic.

Blessings and prayers for all.

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oday began with a trip to the Pikworo slave camp, now a designated historical site in Ghana. In operation from 1704 1845, our guide informed us that about 150 newly enslaved persons passed through this transitional camp every 2 weeks on their way to permanent enslavement.

According to those numbers, about 550,000 enslaved persons went through Pikworo in the course of its history.

I’m thankful to God to be a part of this pilgrimage.

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he Ghana pilgrimage has begun! Arrived after midnight due to a delay in Amsterdam.

Got up early and began the day with a rich, fascinating, long (3.5 hours!), beautiful and jampacked Sunday Eucharist at Holy Trinity Cathedral here in Accra, during which they took up three offerings!

By afternoon we were warmly and graciously welcomed by Archbishop Daniel Sarfo of the Anglican Province of West Africa, Bishop Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto of the Diocese of Accra, US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson, and the splendid staff of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD). But the drummers and dancers really got our attention! Absolutely delightful.

Bishop Curry greets communicants outside the cathedral in Accra after worship

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I had often thought that newly enslaved persons had been captured in battle or something like that.

We learned however that native “traffickers” more often tricked people into coming into the camp by promises of jobs and a better life somewhere else.

Sounds remarkably contemporary. Captions under the various photos say what you’re looking at.

I was not alone in feeling utterly silenced by this place.

inside Cape Coast Castle

Tomorrow we go to Elmina Castle, where white slavers held and then loaded men, women and children onto ships bound for states inhabited by land-owning ancestors of mine, including Virginia, South Carolina and Mississippi. I don’t know if any of my northern ancestors (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York) kept slaves.

Contrary to common perception, people in the North also used enslaved labor.

I have much to process.

plaque at Cape Coast Castle for rconcilation

We visited two additional economic development sites in which Episcopal Relief & Development is involved. One involved a cooperative of women selling various goods as individuals, but working together to save money from which they lend each other capital for further development. Essentially they are their own co-op bank. At this site we also visited several homes to see how mosquito nets that have been distributed to thousands of people here have actually been deployed.

The second site was another women’s cooperative.

These women weave baskets together in a common hall and share the proceeds from baskets made and sold at market. Beautiful baskets.

And everywhere we went, the women sang and danced.

Singing brings life.

C Cape Coast Castle, Ghana 8

ape Coast Castle Even larger numbers of enslaved persons passed through Cape Coast Castle and out its “door of no return” than at Elmina Castle. The first Anglican church in Ghana was organized in this castle by the British during slavery, meaning that Anglicanism in Ghana began in a slave castle.

Their cathedral, in which we worshiped, was later built across the street. The dissonance is crushing.

And yet.

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nly by feeling the dissonance can I even begin to appreciate the inimical magnitude of slavery’s legacy. It is the ultimate dehumanization. The ultimate “It” in of human relationships, to reference Martin Buber’s classic (and right now, deeply timely) book, “I and Thou.”

The only path to healing--especially for those of us whose baptismal vows call us to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself” and to “respect the dignity of every human being”--is to develop truthful, intentional relationships with those whom we reject, dismiss, make uncharitable assumptions about, hate.

Blaming and shaming seem to succeed only in creating ever more “its, more enemies, more people who just give up on conversation.

“Love your enemies and do good to those who

hate you,” Jesus says. “What good is it if you love those who love you?” Important words when we’re tempted to retreat into our safe and sometimes selfindulgent echo chambers and silos where we can escape having to deal with people we don’t like.

Having stolen and crushed millions of lives over centuries through slavery, the way to enter the “door of return” is for millions of us willingly to undertake the dissonant but courageous work of reaching out to those who have suffered most from slavery’s legacy. Tell the truth. Listen. Love.

Expect nothing in return. Hope for new sight, new understanding, a new friend.

Try to reach out--without blaming, judgment or condemnation--to those who think there is no racism problem and hear their story. Tell yours. Say “I” instead of “you,” “we,” or “they.”

I have plenty of my own work to do on this. It will be hard.

These last days have put “vivid” into why hard must be met.

the door of no return

Slaves were shipped from this port, after leaving the castle through the "door of no return"

The Context  Rooted in The Jesus Movement: The ongoing community of people centered on following Jesus into loving, liberating, life-giving relationship with God (evangelism), with each other (reconciliation), and with creation (environmental stewardship).  Called forth by General Convention Resolution C019 (Establish Response to Systemic Injustice)  Crafted by the leaders of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies – Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, House of Deputies President Gay Clark Jennings, House of Bishops Vice President Mary GrayReeves and (now former Vice President) Dean Wolfe, and House of Deputies Vice President Byron Rushing and Secretary Michael Barlowe – with staff and many partners  Frames a multi-year journey as part of a long-term, multi-generation commitment  Moves beyond the United States and beyond black and white, to consider racism in many nations, among many races, ethnicities and cultures  Deploys $2 million allocated by General Convention, along with other resources  Designed to support, complement, and amplify local, diocesan, provincial and network efforts The Long-term Commitment Becoming Beloved Community represents not so much a set of programs as a journey, a set of interrelated commitments around which Episcopalians may organize our many efforts to respond to racial injustice and grow a community of reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers. The labyrinth may be an even more useful image for engaging the vision.1 On the road toward reconciliation and healing, we move around corners and double back into quadrants we have visited before, each time discovering new revelation and challenge.

Telling the Truth Who are we? What things have we done and left undone regarding racial justice and healing?

Proclaiming the Dream How can we publicly acknowledge things done and left undone? What does Beloved Community look like in this place? What behaviors and commitments will foster reconciliation, justice, and healing?

Repairing the Breach What institutions and systems are broken?

How will we participate in repair, restoration, and healing of people, institutions, and systems?

Practicing the Way of Love How will we grow as reconcilers, healers, and justice-bearers? How will we actively grow relationship across dividing walls and seek Christ in the other?

There is no single path for every person or even every Episcopalian. People will draw on different resources and experiences and come to diverse answers to similar questions. At the same time, we hope you find it energizing to take up this common spiritual practice of walking and reflection. Transformation may run deeper and broader if/when we pool our wisdom and resources as the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement.

We borrow the labyrinth image gratefully from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Rev. Mpho Tutu’s work in The Book of Forgiving, although we have surrounded this labyrinth with The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitments.

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resources

•Church-wide Initiatives: •Census of the Church •Racial Justice Audit of Episcopal Structures and Systems

•Baptismal Promise: We will seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.

•Core Questions: How can we publicly acknowledge things done and left undone?

What does Beloved Community look like?

What behaviors and commitments foster healing, reconciliation and justice?

•Core Questions: How will we grow as reconcilers, healers and justice-bearers? How will we actively grow relationship across dividing walls and seek Christ in the other?

•Church-wide Initiatives: •Regional, Public Sacred Listening and Learning Engagements

•Church-wide Initiatives: •Beloved Community Story-sharing Campaign •Reconciliation and Justice Pilgrimages •Multi-lingual Formation and Training •Liturgical Resources for Healing, Reconciliation and Justice

Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions

•Core Questions: Who are we? What have we done and left undone, regarding racial justice and healing?

•Baptismal Promise: We will proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.

Practicing the Way of Love

•Baptismal Promise: We will persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.

Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community

Telling the Truth about the Church and Race

For this reason, we have also identified concrete, church-wide initiatives that we hope will 1) root our commitments in the Baptismal Covenant, 2) make real the general practices and questions that encircle the labyrinth, and 3) complement and advance work in dioceses, networks, provinces, and congregations.

•Baptismal Promise: We will strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.

•Core Questions: What institutions and systems are broken?

How will we participate in the repair, restoration and healing of people, institutions and systems?

•Church-wide Initiatives: •Criminal Justice Reform •Re-Entry Collaboratives with Formerly Incarcerated People Returning to Community •Partnership with Episcopal Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

The commitment outlined here is intentionally focused on church-wide efforts that support and complement local, diocesan, provincial, and network efforts. It seeks to nourish multiple venues for engaging in the work of justice, healing, and reconciliation, understanding the complexity and specific structural and historical challenges facing a multinational and multilingual church like ours.

Some of the concrete initiatives are already part of the Church’s life and will only grow. New initiatives will launch between now and December 2018, in an iterative, flexible process that responds to realities on the ground and the wisdom of partners who share the work. Timelines notwithstanding, the Church’s Officers recognize that structural racism is centuries old, which means our commitment must last for generations, not triennia. We will always be committed to tell the truth, proclaim the dream, practice the way of love, and repair the breach. The only question is how.

In presenting this long-term commitment, we are dedicated to growing circles of engagement, partnership, and prayer across and beyond the Church, understanding that we are participating in a multistage journey toward transformation, justice, and healing. While General Convention tasked us with providing leadership and casting a vision, it never said that vision would be the only one, nor did it say all the work of racial reconciliation, justice, and healing should be organized at the church-wide level. We have sought to fulfill our charge, drawing Episcopalians and neighbors across many lands, languages, and cultures to share stories, practices, and transformative action. Together, we can share the journey and become instruments of the healing and reconciling love of Jesus, whose loving, liberating, and life-giving way we follow.

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Highlights from the 95th Diocesan Convention

The

Mary H. Wright Elementary School Singers worshipped with us and performed for us druing Evensong on Friday, November 3, 2017. Following a long and fruitful day of workshops and learning, the peaceful evening workship and the singers' skillful performance brought joy to the church.

The Episcopal Church of the Advent, Spartanburg has a long-standing partnership with Mary H. Wright. Their work exemplifies the best of what The SC Bishops' Public Education Initiative stands for. The singers exhibited excellent training, both in performance and in singing on pitch. When the group encountered a glitch with their backup music for This Little Light of Mine, they didn't miss a beat. Their ringing acappella voices lit up the space. (Visit the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South

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Carolina YouTube channel to hear them sing!) The tone was set for a celebratory evening, honoring the value of theological education in the lives of Episcopalians through our own University of the South.

Business Day on November 4th was productive, bringing the passage for immediate adoption of a revised set of diocesan canons and a unanimous passage of the Statement of Mission.

In addition, two resolutions were adopted. The first focuses on the formation of a diocesanwide environmental stewarship and justice initiative and the second on ensuring commission representation at convocation meetings to provide in-depth information on indiviual lines within each commission's budget in the Statement of Mission. Read the materials on the EDUSC website.

convention Three new members of Diocesan Executive Council (DEC), Clergy Order were elected: The Rev. Debbie Apoldo, Advent, Spartanburg; The Rev. Jack Hardaway, Grace, Anderson; The Rev. Nicholas Beasley, Resurrection, Greenwood.

Two new members of DEC, Lay Order, were elected: Dr. Norah Grimball, Trinity Cathedral, Columbia and Mr. Craig Williams, Advent, Spartanburg.

The Rev. Jim Trimble, St. Christopher's, Spartanburg was elected to the Ecclesiastical Disciplinary Board, Clergy Order.

The Rev. Rob Brown was elected to the Sewanee Board of Trustees.

Congratulations to all elected. Thank you for your willingness to serve!

Many thanks to the Episcopal Church of the Advent, Spartanburg for their hospitality!

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The

'JUSTICE BUS'

heads to Cincinnati Members of EDUSC congregations have begun participating in the Central Midlands Justice Ministry (CMJM), which kicks off its listening process this fall. The Central Midlands organization was begun following the success of the Charleston Area Justice Ministry (CAJM) in bringing congregations of many denominations and faiths together to help create a better life for the people of the City of Charleston and surrounding areas.

These faith-based community organizing groups are under the umbrella of the Direct Action Research and Training (DART) Training Center in Florida.

Organized groups across the country have made significant differences in their communities on issues such as affordable housing, payday lending, education, and juvenile and racially-based arrests.

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Almost two years ago, The Rev. John Aeschbury, executive director of DART began meeting with a small group of clergy and parishioners from a handful of denominations to form the steering committee of what would become the Central Midlands Justice Ministry.

In July of this year Bishop Waldo sent 11 members of EDUSC traveled to Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH, for leadership training with DART. Nearly 30 members in all participated from the CMJM. CMJM was the newest and the most represented group at the DART Justice Ministry Conference. A number of the travelers rode the Reid Chapel, A.M.E. bus. Reid Chapel was kind enough to donate transportation.

Just an hour or two away from home, after many hours (10) of relationship building, the bus was dubbed the "Justice Bus." Participants learned listening skills, how to engage with fellow parishioners one-onone, as well as how to discern the problems of the community, problems that often supersede socioeconomic levels.

One-on-one interviews with fellow parishioners are a tool that can be used for discernment in every area of ministry, from vestries to outreach

community committees, music ministries.

Determining the needs and concerns within a congregation helps determine the needs of a community surrounding it and is a catalyst for congregational development and discernment of mission. EDUSC churches participating in CMJM include St. Luke’s, Columbia; Trinity Cathedral, Columbia; St. Michael and All Angels, Columbia; St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Columbia.

Kayla Gilchrist (pictured in the group photo, L), who had previously served three years with the Charleston Area Justice Ministry. Since coming on board, Kayla has gathered more than 50 congregations together to create teams. These teams will work together to listen to community problems and to gather research on solutions once the group has voted on one or two issues to concentrate on this year.

The ministry is ultimately effective through its The Rev. Carey Grady, pastor of Reid Chapel annual Nehemiah Action events.

A.M.E Church in Columbia is passionate about This year, in April, 40 members of the Central justice ministry. Rev. Grady is a South Carolinian Midlands Justice Ministry traveled to see and support who discovered the effectiveness of justice ministry the CAJM Nehemiah Action, including members as a pastor in Indiana. When he returned to South from EDUSC churches. The name Nehemiah Action Carolina to serve, he had one condition, he wanted comes from Nehemiah 5 in the Old Testament. to be a part of a justice ministry. His leadership, along Nehemiah gathered a great assembly of people to with that of The Rev. Adam China, pastor of Adams protest unfair treatment of the people and to hold Northeast, A.M.E. and Dr. Ivory Thigpen, now a state leadership accountable. This biblical model works representative who is pastor of Rehoboth Baptist in today. Nearly 2,100 people gathered at Mt. Moriah Columbia, spearheaded the group.

Baptist in Charleston last year to gain commitments A small group of patient leaders called meetings from Charleston and North Charleston City at various churches in Columbia, getting the word Council Members to begin the process to hire an and drawing people of faith together. The time came external, independent police auditor to audit biaswhen the group was able to hire a lead organizer, Ms. based policing in stops, searches, questioning, and

The Columbia group and EDUSC Upstate guests- L to R - Kayla Gilchrist, Lead Organizer, Central Midlands Justice Ministry; Martia Thigpen, Rehoboth Baptist Church; DR. Ivory Thigpen, Pastor, Rehoboth Baptist Church; Deacon Rita Cromwell, Garden of Grace UCC; Elder Spencer Feaster, Bibleway Church of Atlas Road; Gloria Eaddy, St. Luke’s Episcopal; Marion Ellis, Rehoboth Baptist Church; Deacon Margaret Jennings-Todd, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church; Barbara Cash, Bethel AME Church; Roberta Cash, Reid Chapel A.M.E. Church; Deacon Dianna Deaderick, St. Luke's Episcopal Church; Canon Carrie Graves, EDUSC; Agnes Vargo, St. John Neumann Catholic Church; Rosanne Kolberg, Beth Shalom Synagogue; Deacon Mary Jeffers, Grace Episcopal Church, Anderson; The Rev. Jill Zook-Jones, St. Luke's Episcopal Church; The Rev. Susan Heath, SC Bishops' Public Education Initiative; MarYanne Wright, Adams Northeawst A.M.E. Church; The Rev. Carey Grady, Pastor, Reid Chapel A.M.E. Church; Karen Eckford, Grace Episcopal Church, Camden; Joey Opperman, Grace Episcopal Church, Anderson; Rev. Kimani Wright, Northminster Presbyterian Church. Not pictured, The Rev. Eric Fink, Living Springs Lutheran; Deion Jones, Rehoboth Baptist Churchhurch

frisks. It will allow the community to see what is happening within our police departments, improving transparency and offer constructive, proven to work recommendations on how to address discriminatory police practices.They determined this would be their action through the annual listening process.

During that process one of the most alarming statistics they learned of is that the Low Country actually leads the state in the amount of stops the police conduct for minor violations that then don’t result in a ticket or a citation. In a five-year period, North Charleston had 130,000 of these stops and Charleston had 127,000 – Columbia, comparable in size, only had 33,000 of these stops during that same time period. That means that police in Charleston and North Charleston stop people nearly four times as often as police in Columbia and in our community African Americans and other minorities are stopped at a rate of two and three times that of Whites. CAJM feels these discriminatory practices erode community trust, make it difficult for police officers to do their job well and create a less safe community for all.

Please read more about their work on their website, www.charlestonareajusticeministry.org.

The first annual CMJM Nehemiah Action will be held April 23, 2018 at Brookland Baptist Church.

Contact your rector to learn how you can participate.

Please read more about CMJM on the website:

DART groups are on the ground doing the hard work of justice ministry. They are putting prophetic imagination into action. The leadership that DART provides is urgent, give the deep crisis we face in our society. ~Walter Brueggeman, Old Testament Scholar and Theologian On November 13, 2017, CMJM held its Community Problems Assembly at Reid Chapel, A.M.E Church.

More than 500 people were in attendance, including 47 from Trinity Cathedral. The group voted to work on mental health and education.

The group also renamed itself with a new acronym - MORE Justice - Mdilands Organized Response for Equity and Justice

www.centralmidlandsjusticeministry.org DART has done something that I’d never have thought possible – especially in Charleston, South Carolina!

Over two dozen congregations now celebrate the “diversity of our unity and the unity of our diversity” by doing justice in ways that tear down walls, build bridges and change our community for the better. ~The Rev. Joe Darby Rev. Joseph Darby / Presiding Elder, Beaufort District, AME 16

dialogue

2017 Fellowship of SC Bishops Annual Dialogue view videos of the Dialogue on YouTube at https://goo.gl/rxrRn8

SC religious leaders tapped to combat racism

By Chip Lupo Special to the Miscellany

in college, and spoke on everything from inequality in education funding and opportunities to the history of slavery, white privilege, and police brutality.

“It will take some renewed minds to be able to once again recognize what God desires for his creation,” Hart said.

“I think there’s a great opportunity here for us to both present our bodies in sacrifices and also to have COLUMBIA – It should be the duty of the Christian renewed minds in the midst of the racialized patterns faith community to take the lead in combatting racism that exist in our society,” he continued. in our society.

After each presentation, attendees gathered in small That was the call to action brought forth by theologian groups for 15-minute sessions to discuss questions and author, Drew, G. I. Hart, PH.D., at the fall dialogue presented by Dr. Hart. of The Fellowship of South Carolina Bishops’ on Oct. 15 “This was a very substantive presentation,” said at Shandon Methodist Church.

Father Sandy McDonald, pastor at St. John Neumann Formerly known as LARCUM, the coalition of Church in Columbia.

Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic and United ‘(Hart) provided a very helpful framework to Methodist bishops was recently expanded to include the African Methodist Episcopal Church and other understand the dynamics and difficulties and challenges Protestant denominations and is now known as The of racism and how it applies to education, and how it applies to the call of the Church to respond. We need Fellowship of South Carolina Bishops. to hear the story of racism anew today and seek to “If we’re going to be serious about confronting understand it. It’s very complex, it’s very fraught, it’s racism in any sphere, we have to be committed first as painful and it’s necessary,” Father McDonald said.

Christians to getting to the root of it and not just being well-intentioned,” said Hart, author of “Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism.”

“Until the racial hierarchy is flattened, there will continue to be these really terrible moments in which people cannot come as shared human beings; followers who should be leaders to step up and be the ones to lead the conversation,” he continued.

The subtitle of Hart’s book, “Changing the Way the Church Views Racism,” was adopted as the theme of the dialogue.

Speaking before nearly 100 clergy and lay people representing several denominations, Hart, 35, an assistant professor of theology at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa., delivered a powerful three-part presentation. He recalled his experiences being the only African American male on his dormitory floor

Drew Hart greets Dialogue guests and signs copies of his book

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The Rev. Harrison McLeod, Rector, Christ Church, Greenville, Ms. Phyllis Web, Diocesan UTO Coordinator and Ms. Marie Majarais, Executive Director, Jasmine Road, joyfully accept a UTO certificate at Diocesan Convention, acknowledging receipt of the grant.

t is with Great Thankfulness that I am able to announce that Jasmine Road – a project supported by Christ Church in Greenville - has been the recipient of a $40,500 2017 United Thank Offering Grant. Jasmine Road, based on the nationally recognized Thistle Farms model, is a program which will be modeled to the Greenville/Upstate community.

This program has been created to liberate women from the slavery of sexual exploitation and addiction through loving relationships.

The women will become a part of a two year residential program as well have continuing lifetime support. They will be able to live in the Jasmine Road home rent free during their healing process. During this time the women will receive drug and alcohol counseling and trauma-informed therapy, as well

did you know that The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina is an In 1857, ten southern dioceses established The University of the South, fondly known as Sewanee. It was founded as an institution of The Episcopal Church, as centrally located to all founding dioceses as possible.

This year your Diocesan Executive Council voted to contribute $100,000 over two years to the campaign. Get involved in the campaign. See how much your parish can raise! give at https://www.sewanee.edu/stronger-truer/

Christ Church, Greenville receives UTO Grant for Jasmine Road

In addition, the money will be used to acquire computers and the development of a website. This grant will enable them to provide personnel and necessary supplies for this “start up” phase which is expected to be a three month process from the date of hiring appropriate personnel. Jasmine Road is not only supported by the professional workers, but also by a group of 18 parishioners from Christ Church and Triune Mercy Center who traveled to Nashville to go through training at Thistle Farms. Many community members have come together to make this project become a reality.

The creation of Jasmine Road is in response to the call to be an example of Christ in the world. Continue to keep Jasmine Road in your prayers as they go forth to make real change as medical, dental and mental health services, in lives of those they serve. financial literacy, vocational training and lifetime network support.

Phyllis Webb, Diocesan UTO Coordinator

The money received from this UTO Grant will be used for program development. They will hire personnel critical to Jasmine Road’s start-up.

https://www.jasmineroad.org/

owning diocese of Sewanee?

The Rev. Rob Brown presents Dean Alexander with a check from St. Matthew's, Spartanburg at Leadership Day of the 95th Diocesan Convention

Our clergy are graduates of the seminary. Our communicants are graduates of the University. Our lay leaders are EfM students, gradutaes and mentors.

Let's show our commitment to keeping Sewanee strong and to providing quality theological education to lay and ordained persons to strengthen leadership in the Church.

Mission in the Community St. Luke's, Columbia's Fresh Start Program

by The Rev. Dianna Deaderick [St. Luke's, Columbia] On 14 October 2016, St. Luke's began a new ministry called Fresh Start. It was our mission to provide free laundry services, showers, clothing and food for the area's homeless population and working poor. Since opening, our services have expanded to include free HIV testing, dental care, bus tickets, diapers, and furniture and household items. In less that one year, we have served more than 560 different people and average between 70 - 80 people each day of operation. We currently serve our clients each Thursday from 10:00 - 3:00 and the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, also from 10:00 - 3:00.

In addition, our Saturday ministry includes a full noontime meal. AIDS Healthcare Foundation has partnered with us on the first Thursday of each month. On those days we provide an advocacy event for clients and community partners on a variety of topics including health issues and other concerns.

AHF provides a lunch for all in attendance at no charge. We are also partnering with the Columbia Oral Health Clinic, who is providing free dental care and dentures for our clients. Each Thursday Mother Jill+ conducts a noontime prayer and healing service. The needs the clients bring before the altar are beyond words. When God put the call in my heart to begin this ministry I never could have imagined where we would be today.

Fresh Start to be featured in Columbia Living Magazine Jan/Feb 2018! columbialivingmag.com

"Doug Deaderick's" washers and dryers - for him, doing laundry is a calling

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outreach I am Solomon! proclaims regular client of Fresh Start

friends happy to pose for a picture before testing

wltx reporter thanks Dianna for St. Luke's service in the community

Doug and Pat joyfully fold laundry

The Rev. Dianna Deaderick

the beloved community

Friends from all over Columbia gather for a photo at St. Luke's, including those with HIV, volunteers from Midlands Episcopal churches, and from non-profits, such as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services (PALSS).

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Clergy Conference and Leadership Da Two prominent historians teach about the Episcopal Church and Race

Thomas Tisdale

by Allison Askins When Episcopal clergy of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina and their communicants gathered for two major meetings this fall -Walter Edgar Clergy Conference in September and Diocesan Convention in November -- they were be invited to spend time learning about the role race has played in the denomination and in the lives of South Carolina Episcopalians.

spoke at the 95th Diocesan Convention in November when diocesan leaders and clergy met at The Church of the Advent in Spartanburg. Edgar is editor of the renowned volume “South Carolina: A History” and narrator of the NPR program “Walter Edgar’s Journal” about life and culture in South Carolina and the American South.

The topic of race and reconciliation is particularly poignant given the current national dialogue about race in the aftermath of the deadly protests in Charlottesville, Va., in August.

In addition to storytelling, special teaching about the work of reconciliation and racial understanding was shared by members of the diverse, 14-member Race and Reconciliation Committee formed by Bishop Andrew Waldo in 2016. Members of that group have spent the past year meeting, sharing their Those sessions involved a lecture about “Race and stories and learning from one another. the Episcopal Church” at each gathering by a wellThe work that was brought to both gatherings is known historian and expert on race relations within the church. Personal stories about race’s role in the grounded in the committee members’ individual lives of members of the newly formed Committee on understanding of their personal stories, the love the Gospel calls them to live into, and the words of the Race and Reconciliation were also shared. late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. more than 50 years ago Charleston Attorney Thomas Tisdale delivered about his commitment to a non-violent approach to the lecture when clergy gathered in September for civil rights protests: “Love has within it a redemptive their annual retreat at Kanuga Conference Center power that eventually transforms individuals. That’s in Hendersonville. Tisdale is the author of “Truth why Jesus tells us to love . . . .” in Cold Blood,” a play about the true story of the The two learning opportunities modeled the power murder of an Episcopal bishop in the Lowcountry by a priest during the late 1920s era of racial struggle. He of storytelling in the hope that others will choose to serves as chancellor of the Episcopal Church in South share the process within their parishes as the next year unfolds. Committee members are available to Carolina. assist parishes in this work.

Celebrated South Carolina Historian Walter Edgar 22

ay - themes of reconciliation

leadership

African American Leadership in The Episcopal Church: Gratitude and Challenge

The Rt. Rev. Neil Alexander Dean, Sewanee School of Theology The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs Jr. Tenth Bishop of Michigan “My desire always in creating this committee was to create a dialogue on race that begins to change how we act and respond to the issue of race and racism in our communities,” Waldo said. “We’re taking the longview. We did not get here overnight, but certainly the tragic events this year point to the great need in our world.”

The committee members also recommended these words to focus on as the current political climate continues to unfold: “Let us remember always our Baptismal promises, in particular our vow to ‘respect the dignity of every human being,’ and let us remember also that God loves us all and calls us to do the same.”

Leadership Day Keynotes Address Race

On Leadership Day, two keynotes featured themes of reconciliation. The Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs, Tenth Bishop of Michigan, and The Rt. Rev. Neil Alexander, Dean of the Sewanee School of Theology, spoke to the diocese about the power of truth-telling in fulfilling God's dream of reconciling the world to Himself. Bishop Gibbs spoke of the challenges and the joys of serving as an African American leader in The Episcopal Church.

Bishop Alexander described our (we are an owning/founding diocese of the University of the South) school's commitment to understanding its past and its role in slavery. The Sewanee Project on Slavery, Race and Reconciliation aims to bring together the Sewanee community students, staff, faculty, alumni and area residents - to pursue a comprehensive examination and reflective consideration of our university's historic connections to the institution of slavery and its legacies in the long century of racial injustice after the end of the Civil War. For more information on the Sewanee Project, visit the website http://www. sewanee.edu/sewanee-slavery/ If you are interested in applying to serve on the Diocesan Race and Reonciliation Committee, please contact Canon Carrie Graves at cgraves@edusc.org for an application.

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T HE E PISCOPAL D IOCESE OF U PPER S OUTH C AROLINA 1115 MARION STREET COLUMBIA, SC 29201-3706

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to visit Trinity Cathedral January 17, 2018 All Our Children Symposium: The Church’s Role in Education Equity Visit us online - edusc.org facebook.com/eduscnews/ @eduscnews edusc_news edusc_youth

Tuesday, January 16 - Thursday, January 18 Register for the Symposium at aoc2018.org

Or join us Wednesday night - Keynote by Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry “Public Education and the Jesus Movement” will be on Wednesday, January 17 at 7:30 pm. Please join us for this important address.

Get to know your Presiding Bishop! All are welcome!