Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley is pleased to announce that Corey Smith has been called to serve as Dean of the Chapel and Spiritual Engagement and Vicar at Voorhees University, beginning July 18. Dean Smith graduated in May 2022 with a Master in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and has been in discernment for his ordination with the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina. Until his ordination, Dean Smith will serve St. Philip’s Chapel as lay vicar. At Voorhees University, Dean Smith will hold the rank of Assistant Professor of Theological Studies.

Smith was selected for the newly-created position by an interview committee comprised of leaders from the Diocese of South Carolina, Voorhees University, and The Episcopal Church. “Our entire interview committee found our conversation with Dean Smith compelling,” said Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley. “His vision, energy, and background position him well to join the dynamic team that President Hopkins is building for this season of excellence at Voorhees. I look forward to welcoming him to Voorhees and St. Philip’s Chapel as a new key leader of our diocese.”

Voorhees University President Dr. Ronnie Hopkins was directly involved in the new hire and believes Dean Smith will help the school continue to thrive and develop future leaders. “Voorhees University is delighted to welcome Corey Smith who will serve as the Dean of the Chapel and Spiritual Engagement and Vicar,” said Dr. Hopkins. “We have every confidence that Dean Smith will be instrumental in advancing the University to the Next Level of Excellence and truly enrich our lives as we seek to uplift the ambition and hopes of all citizens in our beloved community.”

Dean Smith has long been inspired by Howard Thurman, who among his many roles as a pastor, activist, and theologian, also served as a chaplain at various institutions of higher learning where he had significant impact on the lives of countless students. “I taught high school for 10 years, and one of the many things I appreciated most about teaching was seeing the success stories of my students,” said Dean Smith. “I see the opportunity at Voorhees as a way to serve God in an academic setting, while also worshipping God and helping to build the next generation of leaders.”

With a focus on marketing, media, digital technology, Dean Smith’s experience in ministry has spanned more than 25 years. “Voorhees University has a rich tradition and a story that most people aren’t aware of, and I hope to help raise the visibility and reach of the school and its history,” said Dean Smith. “Before coming to Denmark, South Carolina, I thought it was geographically located in the middle of nowhere, but now I see it's actually in the middle of everything. That's really what it is. It gives you an opportunity to cast a wide net.”
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This position is being fully funded by The Episcopal Church through the actions of the Executive Council. Voorhees University, located in the Diocese of South Carolina, is one of two historically black colleges and universities affiliated with The Episcopal Church.

A message from Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley concerning today's U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson:

View the full statement at this link, or read below.

Dear faithful people of the Diocese of South Carolina,

I write to you this night with a heavy heart about the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court today in the case of Dobbs vs. Jackson. This decision strikes at the heart of our democracy, overturning a fundamental right we have known in this land for half a century. The Episcopal Church has expressed as a body a clear affirmation of legal abortions since 1967, with carefully articulated parameters about how we engage the painful and important matter of abortion as people of faith informed by the experiences of women. This commitment was reaffirmed in an expanded statement giving theological and practical grounding to our position in this statement from 1976: https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1976-D095&fbclid=IwAR0g_mF4CPbde8O4yT3BN1F7R4RletsWhNTolP4kLELpgCOjONHl7jVx4gs&fs=e&s=cl

​Today’s decision unravels decades of hard-won gains for women’s equality and removes fundamental agency for women of this country and impacts women who have the fewest resources, financially and otherwise, and women in the most dire circumstances of domestic violence and abuse, the greatest. 

We will, as a faith community, join with other people of faith across our country to support women most impacted by today’s decision and work to regain this critically important right for women in our country. 

​Faithfully yours,
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Bishop Ruth

The month of June is recognized as Pride Month in the United States, commemorating the Stonewall riots that began in June 1969 that proved to be the turning point for a new generation of political activism. The recognition of this month provides an opportunity to reflect on the long struggle for civil rights and the ongoing pursuit of equal justice under the law for all in the LGBTQ community. Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley takes a moment to offer her gratitude for the LGBTQ community in our diocese, and make known the commitment to stand with them in the journey for true justice. Jesus loves all...no exceptions! View the video message by clicking the image above.

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Today, we remember Bishop William Alexander Guerry, the 8th Bishop of our Diocese, who died on this day in 1928, five days after being shot in his office in Charleston by a priest who had attacked the bishop’s position on advancing racial equality in South Carolina, and especially his proposal to install a black suffragan bishop in the diocese. The priest who shot the him believed Bishop Guerry would bring an end to white supremacy in the south. So, overtaken by hatred, and perhaps other mental issues, he fired the shot that killed the bishop and then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life.

In 1909, the second year of his episcopate, Bishop Guerry, addressing a meeting of provincial church leaders in Birmingham Alabama, explained his belief about the breadth and depth of the Christian community, “We should strive for unity, not uniformity.  Uniformity is mechanical, barren, unfruitful, and unprofitable. Unity is organic, living, and capable of endless growth. If we are to be truly catholic, as Christ himself is catholic, then we must have a church  broad enough to embrace within its communion every living human soul.”
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Before Bishop Guerry died in Roper Hospital, he said of his assailant, “Forgive him, Father, he knew not what he did.” We remember him today as a Bishop, Reformer, and Martyr. This year, we will celebrate Bishop Guerry Day in our diocese on June 26. For more information on this great bishop, as well as the readings and collect for his remembrance, visit our website at this link: http://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/bishop-guerry.html

COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF BISHOP GUERRY: God of truth and sacrifice, we give thanks for your servant William Alexander Guerry, who, like the church's first martyr, gave witness to your liberating gospel and echoed Christ's healing words of forgiveness. May we also seek your truth as we offer ourselves in obedience to the same. All this we pray through him who is forever the bishop and reformer of our souls, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

In its April 20 decision, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that 14 congregations will return to our diocese and The Episcopal Church. Eight of those 14 parishes petitioned the Court on May 5 for a rehearing on a variety of issues. The Court’s rules provide two possible actions in response to these petitions: deny them outright or ask for a response from our diocese and the Episcopal Church before ruling. On Tuesday, June 7, the Court issued an order denying the petition from Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant, as well as some issues raised in the petitions from three other parishes, finding that it had not “overlooked or disregarded” any fact or law related to those issues.

The Court also requested that our diocese and The Episcopal Church respond by June 20 to the remaining issues raised by the petitions. Specifically, those issues involve trust revocation based on South Carolina law and whether trusts were created when language purporting to constitute accession existed in the parishes’ bylaws or constitutions before adoption of the Dennis Canon. Acting Chancellor Skip Utsey and the rest of our legal team will respond by June 20. After that, the Court will decide whether to grant or to deny the remaining aspects of the petitions.

In an additional order, on June 8 the South Carolina Supreme Court granted our diocese’s motion for partial remittitur. The effect of this Order is to make the Court’s April 20 decision final with respect to all diocesan properties that are to be returned to our historic diocese (including the St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center) and seven of the 14 churches that are also ordered to be returned. The churches included in the partial remittitur are: Holy Trinity, Charleston; St. Bartholomew’s, Hartsville; St. David’s, Cheraw; St. James, James Island; St. John’s, Johns Island; St. Matthew’s, Fort Motte; and Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant (the Court specifically noted that because this church’s petition for rehearing is denied, they are included in the partial remittitur).

In the meantime, conversations continue between diocesan leaders on both sides regarding the return of parish and diocesan properties that are not affected by the petitions for rehearing. 

​On May 7, the Rev. Rob Dewey, a longtime priest of our diocese, was recognized for his commitment to his church, the local community, and Charleston Southern University with an honorary doctorate of Christian Leadership. The recognition acknowledged the Rev. Dewey’s “dedication as shown through his chaplaincy service throughout the Lowcountry” as well as his ministry that has spanned more than four decades and his numerous honors and awards, including “the Martin Luther King Jr. Picture Award for service to the Lowcountry in 2013; the Innovator of the year in Crisis Response in 2016; and the Ready Communities Partnership National Service Award in 2017.” The school also expressed gratitude for his many contributions to Charleston Southern University (CSU), especially his “generosity and diligence in working to establish the Dewey Center for Chaplaincy” that allows the school to offer academic programming to students seeking to enter the chaplain ministry, as well as training for current chaplains. The centers makes it possible for CSU to provide support for more than 60 forms of chaplaincy careers.
 
Of receiving the honor, the Rev. Dewey expressed his gratitude for the unexpected recognition. “I was very surprised and am honored to be recognized by Charleston Southern University in this way,” said Fr. Dewey. “I also appreciate the support of The Episcopal Church for the past 40 years, and I am particularly thankful to Dean Michael Wright of Grace Church Cathedral.”
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The Rev. Dewey’s ministry has been anchored by his deep commitment to chaplaincy. In addition to beginning the South Carolina Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, he founded the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy in 1990, serving to provide chaplains for Lowcountry first responders as well as state and federal agencies, and he created the Lowcountry Community Chaplaincy in 2017 in service of Drug Diversion Courts, the ATF, the Charleston Restaurant and Hotel Association, and the Isle of Palms Public Safety Office, among other institutions. He has also served as chaplain to the FBI and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Rev. Ramelle McCall to serve as Canon for Leadership in the Diocese of South Carolina, beginning on September 1. The Rev. McCall currently serves as rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Baltimore, Maryland, and also as urban missioner for the Diocese of Maryland. As Canon for Leadership, he will focus his attention on developing congregational vitality and evangelism, advancing the ministries of justice in the public square (furthering the work of racial, social, and economic justice), working closely with the Commission on Ministry to raise up lay and clergy leaders for our diocese, and developing leaders for the next generation, including serving as the key liaison with the Children and Youth Commission.

Bishop Woodliff-Stanley expressed great excitement about the addition to diocesan staff. “Since the first conversation I had with Ramelle, I’ve been excited about the possibility of his joining our team,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. “Ramelle brings great gifts to help us build networks and capacity in our communities to strengthen our voice in the public square on pressing issues where the church needs to be present. His experience both as a parish priest and urban missioner will help us raise up strong leaders to build the Jesus movement now and with the next generation.”
 
The Rev. McCall plans to move to Charleston later this summer and looks forward to hitting the ground running when he starts on staff in September. “I’m excited about engaging the wonderful and gracious people of South Carolina and seeing what God is doing with them and how we can all work together into the future,” said Fr. McCall. “I'm excited about the evangelism side of my role and what that looks like, whether that be church planting or how to reimagine new spaces and worship in a unique setting.” He also looks forward to bringing a voice toward racial injustice and the opportunity to work with the youth of our diocese.

Fr. McCall brings a wealth of experience and a strong belief in the importance of building relationships to his new role. “I bring not only parish experience, but also experience in community organizing, bridge building, networking, and simply finding ways to engage people in ministry,” said Fr. McCall. “I like to meet everyone where they are to build a mutual relationship, with God playing a key role.”

Relationship building has been key throughout his ministry. “One thing I've learned as a leader is to never underestimate putting in the time and constant intentionality in building relationships,” said Fr. McCall. “In my experience, it doesn’t happen immediately, it takes time to build that relationship and truly build trust and mutual respect—and I know I have to earn that. Once that's earned, then you're able to move forward on the particular work all sides wish to accomplish. I've learned to be very patient and very pastoral in every particular relationship, knowing that while there's an urgency to act, it does take time to discern how you want that action to be done.”

A graduate of Wake Forest Divinity School, Fr. McCall is looking forward to returning to the Carolinas. He sees great potential for our growing diocese, and welcomes the opportunity to be a part of the staff Bishop Woodliff-Stanley is assembling in the first year of her episcopate. “It's an honor to join the staff as Bishop Ruth continues to build her team,” said Fr. McCall.
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Fr. McCall was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from Wake Forest University in 2006 and studied Anglican Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 2011 and began his ministry as interim rector at St. Philip’s in Annapolis, Maryland for a year before being called to serve as rector of St. Michael & All Angels in Baltimore, and chaplain to the Maryland Institute College of Art from 2012 to 2017. He has served as rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Baltimore and Urban Missioner for the Diocese of Maryland since 2017. He appreciates good food and enjoys playing pool, exercising, listening to great music, and singing karaoke. We look forward to welcoming him to our diocese in September.