Bishop Rob Wright of Atlanta Speaks to Lay and Clergy Leaders at Calvary, Charleston

Last Thursday, April 24, we were grateful to welcome the Rt. Rev. Rob Wright, bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta, to speak to a group of lay and clergy leaders from across our diocese, including a number of members from our Diocesan Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission. The event was offered as a "Lunch & Learn" session on "Christian Leadership in these Challenging Times" and was held at the historic Calvary Episcopal Church in Charleston, where the Rev. Ricardo Bailey serves as rector (Father Bailey served in the Diocese of Atlanta prior to the call to our diocese).

After the gathering, Bishop Wright and his wife, Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright, met with leadership from the Diocesan Racial Justice & Reconciliation Commission to talk about the initiatives, focus, and efforts that the group has produced since their beginning in 2020. He was quite impressed with their progress, offering Sacred Ground courses throughout the diocese, holding three Learning Days to share key moments of historical importance, organizing their group into key areas of focus, organizing racial justice pilgrimages, and more.

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley created this event after hearing Bishop Wright speak on the dangers of Christian nationalism and God's call to us during these times while attending a recent House of Bishops meeting. When Bishop Ruth learned Bishop Wright was coming to SC for vacation, she asked if he would be willing to share that talk with members of our diocese during his time here. You can read his presentation to the House of Bishops online at this link. The presentation was also mentioned in the Episcopal News Service article about the gathering at this link.

Many thanks to Bishop Wright and his wife for spending some of their vacation time with us, and thank you also to the members and leadership of Calvary Episcopal Church for being such warm, welcoming, and gracious hosts!

View more photos from the visit on Facebook at this link.

For more on the meeting with commission leaders after the Lunch & Learn, read below...

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Ms. Vermelle Simmons, who serves as co-chair of the Diocesan Racial Justice & Reconciliation Commission (and also on the Standing Committee) shared the following summary of the meeting with Bishop Wright after the Lunch & Learn. She also shared her own personal reflection on what she learned from the event with Bishop Wright.

Bishop Wright Meets With Commission Leadership
On April 24, 2025 the two co-chairs of the Diocesan Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission (Gail DeCosta and Vermelle Simmons) along with the chair of the Leadership Training (Nancy Laprada) met with Bishop Rob Wright (Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta) and his wife (Dr. Beth Sarah Wright of Thrive with Dignity) after the general Leadership Meeting at Calvary Episcopal Church with clergy and lay leaders of the diocese.

Dr. Beth Sarah-Wright will be the acting director of The Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing beginning May 1st. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss "Dismantling Racism Training." The meeting was very informative. After listening to all that the commission has been doing in the Diocese of South Carolina, Bishop Wright was impressed with the stats that were shared about Sacred Ground and Learning Day participation. The meeting was successful as we learned about some changes that are in process with some of the programing at the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing.

A Reflection on the Day, by Vermelle Simmons
​"Bishop Wright spoke to a group of approximately 40 leaders, clergy and lay, from around the diocese. His focus was on leadership and the Gospel. His message was very poignant and clear with visualizations from the crucifying of Jesus to leadership of today. Jesus understood his purpose was guided by God and not man."

"God gives us the tools to discern good and evil and to strive for justice and peace among all people while respecting the dignity of all. Understand that leadership can be exercised by anyone for any given reason, but through the Baptismal Covenant true purpose is revealed. When true purpose is revealed and acted upon a true leader emerges. It's only when we use the tools of our faith to deal with real life do we truly lead the way God demands of us. We then strive for justice, peace, respect and dignity of all mankind."
 
"The takeaway is that leadership is not what’s popular, but what is practiced purposefully through faith in God."