An Invitation to Participate in Sacred Ground with the Diocese

Sacred Ground is a film and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. It was developed by The Episcopal Church as a part of “Becoming Beloved Community” and is designed to promote racial understanding, justice and reconciliation. The materials focus on Black, Indigenous, Latino & Asian-Pacific histories as they intersect with European American histories. The Diocese of South Carolina, through the Diocesan Commission on Racial Justice & Reconciliation, offered a session of Sacred Ground during Lent in 2022. A second session is being offered in Fall 2023, beginning in September. Almost all sessions will be offered on Zoom on Thursdays at 6 pm.

There will be 11 Sacred Ground sessions. Sessions 1 – 10 will be offered on Zoom every other Thursday and Session 11 will be in-person, with Sessions 1-5 before Thanksgiving and Sessions 6-11 after Christmas. Sessions will begin on Zoom at 6 pm. The schedule is as follows:
  • Sessions 1-5 (Zoom) : September 7 & 21, October 5 & 19, and November 9
      (Note: Due to Diocesan Convention on November 2nd, the 5th session is November 9th. )
  • Sessions 6- 10 (Zoom):  January 11 & 25, February 8 & 22, and March 7 
  • Session 11 (in-person): Saturday, April 13th (Location TBD)

There will be an informational session on Monday, August 21, at 6 pm on Zoom. To sign up for this session and receive the Zoom link, please email Tater Beak at peels1t@aol.com. 

To sign up to participate in this session of Sacred Ground, please follow this link and complete the form.

Additional Resources

For the most part, all you need to participate in the program are an open heart and mind, internet connection, and a computer/phone/tablet. However, there are two books that participants are asked to purchase or borrow on their own. The links to purchase from Amazon are included below, but books may be ordered from your favorite bookseller.

Sacred Ground and The Episcopal Church

Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society.  This series is open to all, and especially designed to help white people talk with other white people.  Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.

Watch the video to the right in which the Most Reverend Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, invites all to participate in Sacred Ground. 

Find more information about Sacred Ground on The Episcopal Church website at this link.

Sacred Ground & The Diocese of SC

Anyone can attend - clergy or lay, Episcopalian or not - anyone interested in honest discussions about race. Attendance is important. All who commit to participating in the Sacred Ground are asked to make attendance a priority. Missing more than two sessions is not advisable. People registered for one session, can attend the session on the alternate day if that is more feasible in any given week. Please let the program coordinator know if you need to switch sessions for a week.

The video to the right was an invitation to Sacred Ground for the first session during Lent 2022.