"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
​I will, with God's help."
​Book of Common Prayer, page 305

Diocesan Commission on Racial Justice & Reconciliation

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​The Diocesan Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission was formed in the Diocese of South Carolina in October 2020 to allow us to unify our efforts and broaden and strengthen our common work.

​The Commission is comprised of clergy and laity of all races, from across the geographical territory of the diocese.

Learn More

Commission Members
​Commission Videos
Episcopal Church Resources
​Other Resources
Commission Events

Contact Info:

Co-chair: Gail DeCosta
​Co-chair: The Rev. Dr. Adam Shoemaker
 The overarching aim of the commission will be to strive to reflect the beloved community across the diocese, promote racial justice within our churches, across our diocese, and beyond, increase awareness of the racial history of our diocese, enable racial reconciliation across the diocese, increase the stability of the African-American churches of our diocese, and build collaborative relationships around racial justice with other faith communities. The primary areas of the commission's work will be education, training and awareness raising, as well as advocacy and the commission has created subcommittees for each area to move forward on specific goals.

​This commission is tasked with advancing the cause of racial justice, reconciliation, and healing. A few of the emerging goals of this commission include:
  • To encourage and enlist others in our struggle for truth and justice with respect to racial matters.
  • To plan and facilitate training opportunities for both diocesan leadership and the wider diocese.
  • To encourage and facilitate the ongoing work of uncovering the history of our diocese with regard to the experience of Black Episcopalians.
  • To tell the story of the Black saints of our diocese, both historical figures and contemporary communicants.
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Commission Members

  • Bill Beak, Grace Church Cathedral
  • Tater Beak, Grace Church Cathedral
  • Tommy Bultman, Good Shepherd, Sumter
  • ​Thaddeus Daise, Episcopal Church on Edisto, Edisto Island
  • Alison Davidow, St. Mark's, Port Royal
  • Gail DeCosta, Grace Church Cathedral
  • John Gardner, Calvary, Charleston
  • Harriett Green, Good Shepherd, Sumter
  • Magi Griffin, St. Stephen's, Charleston
  • Minerva King, St. Mark's, Charleston
  • The Rev. Cn. Ramelle McCall, Diocesan Canon for Leadership
  • The Rev. Greg Smith, St. Stephen's, Charleston
  • Lynn Smith, St. Stephen's, Charleston
  • Nancy Laprade, Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island
  • Carolyn Wright-Porcher, Greater St. Luke AME, Charleston
  • The Rev. Dr. Adam Shoemaker, St. Stephen's, Charleston
  • Vermelle Simmons, Calvary, Charleston

Learn More About the Racial Justice & Reconciliation Commission

In the video above, learn more about the Racial Justice & Reconciliation Commission in the video above featuring Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, with details about the 2022 offering of the Sacred Ground program and plans for the future.
In the video above, watch Commission co-chairs engage in a conversation with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry during an event that was part of our 230th Diocesan Convention in November 2020. The group talked about the issues facing our nation and the world.

The Episcopal Church: Understanding Becoming Beloved Community

The Episcopal Church’s work toward racial reconciliation, healing and justice is guided by the long-term commitment to Becoming Beloved Community. We organize our ministries around the four quadrants of the labyrinth. Each quadrant represents a commitment that is vital to lasting change within us, our churches, our communities and society at large.
  • Truth-telling: Telling the Truth about Our Churches and Race
  • Proclamation: Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community
  • Formation: Practicing Jesus’ Way of Healing Love 
  • Justice: Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions