Bishops and Deputies Meet for Province IV Synod

Bishops and deputies from 20 dioceses of The Episcopal Church in the southeastern United States met last week at Camp McDowell in the Diocese of Alabama for the Province IV Synod. The event brought together those preparing for the 80th General Convention that will take place in Baltimore, Maryland this July to hold elections, hear from speakers on current issues, and hear resolutions.
 
The Rev. Dr. Wilmot T. Merchant, II, Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach was elected as Province IV Clergy Representative to Executive Council. He will serve for a term of 5 years from 2022-2027. The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church is an elected body representing the whole church. The Executive Council has the duty to carry out programs and policies adopted by General Convention and to oversee the ministry and mission of The Episcopal Church. The Executive Council is comprised of twenty members elected by General Convention (four bishops, four priests or deacons, and twelve lay leaders) and eighteen members elected by Episcopal provinces. 
 
Speakers led plenary session and workshops on topics such as Racial Justice, Church Planting, BI-vocational Ministry, Property Insurance, and Creation Care. Diocesan Ministry Developer and Chair of the Deputation, Andrea McKellar, led a workshop on the Budget of The Episcopal Church that will be presented at General Convention by Program, Budget, and Finance. Resolutions were passed to create an Endowment Fund for Church Planting in The Episcopal Church and create a uniform maternity leave policy that provides equity between lay and clergy employees. A third resolution to increase funding for provinces did not pass.
 
Our deputation will be meeting next via Zoom on Wednesday, May 11. They plan to meet regularly as they prepare for General Convention. They encourage anyone interested in specific legislation at General Convention to contact the deputation via chair Andrea McKellar at amckellar@episcopalchurchsc.org.

The Diocese of South Carolina will be represented by the Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley and the previously elected deputies in the lay and clergy orders. 

Lay Order: 

• Andrea McKellar, St. Stephens, Charleston, Chair
• Mark Szen, All Saints, Hilton Head
• Thomas Miller, St. Marks, Port Royal
• Deb Harris, Holy Cross Faith Memorial
• Christina Donovan -1st Alternate, Good Shepherd, Summerville

Clergy Order: 

• The Very Rev. Dr. Adam Shoemaker, St. Stephens, Charleston
• The Rev. Dr. Canon Wilmot Merchant II, St. Stephens, North Myrtle Beach
• The Rev. Roy Tripp, St. Marks, Port Royal
• The Rev. Bill Coyne, St. Stephens, Charleston
• The Very Rev. Wil Keith – 1st alternate, Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island 

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