Diocesan Learning Day: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Present, Shaping the Future

Article by Harriett Green
(member of Good Shepherd, Sumter, and of the diocesan Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission)

On October 18th, about 65 people gathered in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church in Sumter for Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Learning Day. Learning Day, an educational initiative of the Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission, provides congregations across the diocese with opportunities to gather and learn about the history and legacy of historically African-American churches. Now in its second year, it has become a much-anticipated time of learning, sharing, and fellowship.

For the members of Good Shepherd, Sumter, Learning Day was more than just another diocesan event—it was a moment for deeper engagement with the church, with one another, and with the larger Episcopal family. Learning Day resulted in a meaningful connection with two United Methodist Churches—Trinity and Aldersgate—with the Rev. Angela Marshall as the welcoming venue host at Trinity and the Rev. Regina Moore of Aldersgate who delivered a powerful and spirit-filled sermon at the Learning Day Eucharist in Good Shepherd’s sanctuary.

The day’s program was designed to create a sense of place and history. Large photographic portraits of Good Shepherd’s leading forefathers and foremothers were displayed at the front of the hall as silent witnesses to the day’s reflections. Among them were Dr. Charles Birnie, a prominent founding leader; Alease and William Bultman, with William serving as superintendent of Sunday School; Ruby Tarleton, who lived to the remarkable age of 108; and Pearl and Albert Spears, remembered for their devotion to the church.

The Right-Sizing Perspective presentation offered a look at Good Shepherd’s operational realities—its challenges, opportunities, and the practical steps being taken toward sustainability. The presentation also highlighted Good Shepherd’s involvement in the diocese’s work on immigration justice through its Art in the Sanctuary program.

This program was based on a small art exhibition, featuring Of America: The Huddled Masses by Noah Scalin, depicting life inside a Texas detention center; Deported by Jean Grosser, a delicately rendered blouse set against a background mercilessly stamped a thousand times or more with the word “Deported” and Mexicans in Canada by Amiri Hanafi, a digital poem exploring migration and global connection amplified the concern about the current plight of immigrants. To close the presentation, members of Good Shepherd recited The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, a timeless reminder of America’s identity as a welcoming refuge for immigrants.

Through a blend of historical storytelling, photographs, and personal testimonies, participants were invited to journey from the early days of Good Shepherd—shaped by the political, social, and cultural climate of the time—to the present, where members shared contemporary stories of faith and belonging. The story of Good Shepherd, Sumter unfolded with depth and honesty.

​As the Learning Day experience concluded, it was evident that with thoughtful reflection on a church’s present and future, an invitation to continued self-examination, faithful discernment, and intentional planning for the journey ahead is a lesson that can benefit all congregations.

View more photos from the event in a Facebook album at this link.
 
Presenters for Learning Day included Eric Bultman, Thomas Bultman, James Felder, Harriett Green, Christie Mahon, Valeria McDonald, and Sammie Way. Other participants included Susan Allen, Frenche Brewer, John Cotner, Jane Hray, Leanne Lovice, Lucy Mahon, and Karen Watson. Acknowledgements and grateful appreciation to the Good Shepherd Learning Day Planning Committee.