A Word From Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley Following Troubling Events in Minnesota

Dear Friends in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina,

In his message on Sunday, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said “like Jesus, we live in frightening times.” He reminded us of the importance of rooting our lives in “Christ’s ministry of justice, reconciliation, and love.” As events have unfolded in communities across the nation, particularly in Minnesota, we consider our response as Christians.

Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to respect the dignity of every human being and strive for justice and peace among all people. We honor this commitment by responding first to those whose needs are the greatest. In our frightening world today, the most vulnerable are at greatest risk.

We know that our faithful response as Christians begins in prayer and leads to action. So that we may pray together, I invite you to join me for Evening Compline tomorrow evening, Wednesday, January 28, at 8 pm on Zoom. Join the gathering at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86786299677

I know that congregations throughout our diocese are faithfully responding in myriad ways to the needs of others and I’m grateful to you for so beautifully demonstrating God’s love. If you are looking for ways to respond to the situation in Minnesota and across our nation, I wanted to share two possible actions:

  1. Contact your U.S. senators and representatives and ask them to stand with the most vulnerable among us.
  2. Consider a donation to help our siblings in Christ in Minnesota through Casa Maria—the primary engine of “underground care and subversive love” run by the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, which is providing much-needed food, supplies, and community to community members who are understandably fearful to go about their daily lives amidst the violence around them. The group is also assisting family members of those who have been detained by federal agents. Donate at this link: https://givebutter.com/casa-maria

As always, I thank you for your witness among us. I hope to see you online tomorrow evening. 

Faithfully yours,

+Ruth