Summary of the 235th Diocesan Convention

The 235th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina was held November 6-8, at Christ Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant. In addition to being a wonderful time of fellowship and gathering together like a family reunion, delegates to the convention elected new leadership and voted on a number of significant measures. The convention welcomed multiple special guests, including the keynote speaker, the Rev. Luther Smith, and the preacher for the Convention Eucharist, the Rev. Carter Heyward. These two guests also led workshops and participated in a panel discussion with Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley on the final day of the convention.

The people and leadership of Christ Episcopal Church were amazing hosts for this year's convention. Their warm hospitality was felt by every attendee as they attended to every need and nourished us with delicious food at every break and reception. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

Key moments from the convention are summarized below:

First Business Session – Thursday, November 6, 2025
Bishop Ruth appointed deans with only one change, the Very Rev. Bill Watson will be stepping down in the Southern Deanery as he has been called (temporarily) to Virginia, and the Rev. Eric Bash will succeed him. The Very Rev. Michael Shaffer (Peninsula), the Very Rev. Wilmot Merchant II (Pee-Dee Waccamaw) and the Very Rev. Joseph Smith (West Charleston) will continue to serve as deans.

The Committee on Admission of New Parishes and Missions reported they had received an application from Epiphany, Summerville as a mission seeking parish status. The committee and the Chancellor reviewed their application and found it to be in good order, and moved unanimously that Epiphany be recognized as a parish in union with Convention. With the approval of the bishop, the motion carried unanimously. Members of Epiphany, Summerville were in attendance to celebrate the moment with the Convention.

The Committee on Constitution and Canons offered their report, which included an important piece of business for the Convention. Noting that at the 232nd Convention in 2022, congregations that were returned to the diocese at the resolution of the schism were officially restored to full union with the diocese at that event. At the first session, they endorsed a similar resolution for St. Peter’s, Charleston (the final congregation returned to our diocese—initially as Good Shepherd, Charleston). The motion passed unanimously and members of the St. Peter’s community gathered to celebrate the occasion with everyone in attendance.

Canon Chuck Robertson, who serves the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, was a special guest at convention and he spoke, sharing an update on the Feasibility Study that was conducted over the past few months, and the support of the wider church of the continued growth and success of our diocese. He was followed by representatives from the Vandersall Collective, who led the study, who reported their findings that there is support for a diocesan-wide capital campaign with a goal of about $3.8 million.

Finally, for the final order of business for the evening, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley presented Canon Andrea McKellar with The Bishop’s Cross for her unparalleled support of the diocese--first as a volunteer and then filling a number of roles under four different bishops! Canon McKellar resigned this summer after 12 years of service to the Diocese of South Carolina. As she is someone known for her love of a skit, the bishop and her staff performed one in her honor, re-writing the lyrics to some popular tunes from “The Sound of Music” like “How do you lose a canon like Andrea?” and “Her Favorite Things.”

The meeting then adjourned for the evening and then gathered for the Opening Eucharist in the sanctuary, where the Rev. Carter Heyward, known as one of the Philadelphia Eleven, served as preacher. An outdoors reception followed.

Second and Third Business Sessions – Friday, November 7, 2025
Friday’s business session was quite full! The session started with a second report from the Committee on Constitutions and Canons and several votes (which were all done by voice, unanimously). These included a second and final vote on a change to our constitution allowing deacons and priests to serve as clergy on the Standing Committee, and that allow either clergy or lay members to serve the Standing Committee as president. Additionally, the Convention voted on a change to the diocesan canons that will alter the way members are voted onto Diocesan Council. The Convention voted to allow Diocesan Council to be elected by deanery convocations (one clergy and one lay), with the dean serving ex officio (without vote). After these elections, the Convention heard reports from two of our institutions, Porter-Gaud School and Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community. These were followed by the keynote address from the Rev. Luther Smith, Ph.D.

After lunch, the Nominating Committee prepared delegates for elections to Standing Committee, Sewanee Trustee, and Deputies to the 82nd General Convention. These were followed by reports from the Resolutions Committee, Chancellor, Standing Committee, Treasurer, Diocesan Council (including the proposed 2026 budget), and a report on The Strategic Vision and Congregational Vitality. One of the resolutions that was passed was a commendation for an annual liturgical observance remembering and celebrating the Emanuel Nine, the parishioners killed during Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in 2015. The leadership of the "Three Churches United" in downtown Charleston announced plans to forward this observation to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of the General Convention for consideration as a liturgical observance by the whole Church. Elections to lay positions on the Standing Committee took three ballots, and those results were finally announced.

​The following nominees were elected to serve the Diocese:

Standing Committee (Three-year terms*)
Clergy: The Rev. Julia Madden, the Rev. Fred Thompson
Lay: Barney Forsythe, Jane Hart Lewis; and *Christine Jennings was elected to fill the unexpired term of Peter Gaillard, which ends in 2027.

Deputies to the 82nd General Convention in 2027 (two-year terms)
Lay Deputies: Deb Harris, Vermelle Simmons, Andrea McKellar, Veronica Hinkson
Lay First Alternate: Mark Whitehouse
Lay Second Alternate: Jan Schumann

Clergy Deputies: The Rev. Adam Shoemaker, the Very Rev. Michael Shaffer, the Very Rev. Wilmot Merchant II, the Rev. Michael Crandall
Clergy First Alternate: The Rev. Eric Bash
Clergy Second Alternate: The Rev. Bill Coyne

University of the South Trustee (Three-year term)
Lay: Helen Britton

Following an afternoon devotion, the business session was adjourned and delegates gathered for another reception.

Fourth Business Session – Saturday, November 8
Members of the Youth Commission led Morning Prayer before Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley shared her address. After more reports, Bishop Ruth joined the Rev. Carter Heyward and the Rev. Luther Smith for a panel discussion entitled “Our Hope and Our Calling in a New Season.”

The outgoing president of the Standing Committee, the Very Rev. Michael Shaffer, officially passed the "baton" to the new president, Ms. Vermelle Simmons, who was elected by the committee as it's first lay member president. This election was made possible by the change to the diocesan canons voted on during the Second Business Session.

The convention ended after final reports on courtesy resolutions and the necrology report, and the invitation to the next diocesan convention. The 236th Diocesan Convention will be held October 29-31, 2026 at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center together with St. John’s, Johns Island, and Bishop Gadsden – Seafields at Kiawah Island.