“They that go down to the sea in ships, and occupy their business in great waters: These beheld the works of the LORD and his wonders in the deep.”
Psalm 107:23-24

Convention Summary – The Wonders of the Deep

The 234th Diocesan Convention adjourned on Saturday just before noon after three days of business sessions, inspiring messages, and fellowship with people from across the diocese and special guests. The theme of this year’s convention was “Wonders in the Deep” and all of the event was held at the Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island, except for the Opening Eucharist on Thursday evening at All Saints, Hilton Head (watch the Eucharist at this link). 

One of the special guests at this year’s convention was the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, the Most Reverend Sean Rowe. As his investiture service was held earlier this month, this visit marked his very first diocesan visit as presiding bishop. It was an honor for him to preach at the Opening Eucharist on Thursday, where he urged everyone to “get in the boat” as we work together to face the challenges around us and spread the love of Christ (watch Bishop Rowe’s sermon at this link).

Additionally, the Convention was grateful to welcome the Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth as keynote speaker this year. She is an Episcopal priest, an artist, an author, an accomplished public speaker and retreat facilitator. In addition to her keynote address on Friday morning (watch the keynote address at this link), Canon Tutu van Furth also participated in a panel discussion along with Presiding Bishop Rowe and Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley (watch the panel discussion at this link). She also spoke on the third business day following Morning Prayer, where she shared a pertinent excerpt from her book, Forgiveness and Reparation, the Healing Journey (watch the Saturday reflection at this link). 

The Convention was called to order on Thursday, November 21, at 3 pm, and quickly moved through the first matters of business including appointment of convention committees, certification of quorum, election of the treasurer (Barry Ronan), and confirmation of the secretary (Diane Wilson). Bishop Woodliff-Stanley also announced the appointment of regional deans, which included one change due to the upcoming retirement of the Very Rev. Roy Tripp (Southern Deanery). The following were appointed to lead the deaneries:

• The Very Rev. Cn. Wilmot Merchant II (Pee-Dee/Waccamaw Deanery)
• The Very Rev. Michael Shaffer (Peninsula Deanery)
• The Very. Rev. Bill Watson (Southern Deanery)
• The Very Rev. Joseph Smith (West Charleston Deanery)

After the primary business of the first Business Session was accomplished, Bishop Woodliff-Stanley offered her address (watch the bishop’s address at this link), which included the sermon she preached at the Service of Lament and Repentance held at St. Mark’s, Charleston on November 10. The service was held jointly by the three historically African American churches on the peninsula of Charleston (St. Stephen’s, St. Mark’s, and Calvary) to offer lament and repentance for the complicity of The Episcopal Church in the transatlantic slave trade. Following her address, Canon Lonnie Hamilton III (Calvary, Charleston) offered a beautiful musical response of “Wade in the Water” on saxophone.

On Friday, there was a full day of business after setting the foundation with Morning Prayer and then the keynote address by Canon Tutu van Furth and the panel discussion noted above. The business of the day included the following:

• Report from the Chancellor (Skip Utsey)
• Elections for diocesan positions (results at the bottom of this article), as well as for amendments to the diocesan constitutions and canons
• Lunch workshops
• Recognition of postulants, and new clergy and leaders
• Recognition of institutions with reports from Voorhees University and Bishop Gadsden
• Report from the Dominican Development Group
• Reports from Standing Commitee, Treasurer, Diocesan Council (on the budget), and on the Strategic Vision and Parish Giving

The day ended with fun and fellowship over dinner at a beachside pavillion. View photos from the second day of convention (including from the dinner) on Facebook at this link.

The final business session convened on Saturday morning (November 23). After Morning Prayer, and the reflection by Canon Tutu van Furth noted above, the Convention quickly turned to business with reports from the Youth Commission and St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center. Gail DeCosta and the Rev. Adam Shoemaker shared a report from the diocesan Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission about their full year of work, and there was an introductory presentation about the Calvary Icons Project, which was inspired by last year’s convention. Learn more about the Calvary Icons Project.

View photos from the third day on Facebook at this link.

Before the final items of business for the day, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley presented the “Becoming Beloved Community” Spotlight Award to All Saints, Hilton Head Island, for their decision to transform their “mother’s morning out” childcare program into a full 3-4K program, with a particular focus on serving parts of the community that are under-resourced in the area of childcare options for working parents. Many students at All Saints Child Develompment attend at a reduced cost or no cost at all through the 4K First Steps and ABC state programs. The desire to provide this program as a way to serve the community around them was inspired by participation in the Sacred Ground program offered by The Episcopal Church. Watch the presentation of this award at this link.

The 234th Diocesan Convention adjourned just before noon, right after the Rev. Furman Buchanan, rector of Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant, issued the invitation to the 235th Diocesan Convention on November 6-8, 2025. The convention will be held at Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant, hosted by the Peninsula Deanery. 

Links to recordings of highlights of convention were provided in the text above, but may also be found in the 234th Diocesan Convention playlist on our diocesan YouTube page at this link. Photos from each day of the convention are available in albums on Facebook at the following links:

• Day One
• Day Two
• Day Three

Convention Documents

Election Results

The following nominees were elected to serve the Diocese:

234th Diocesan Convention Video Recordings

Bishop’s Address

The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley

Keynote Address

The Rev. Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth

Panel Discussion

The Most Rev. Sean Rowe, The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, The Rev. Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth

Saturday Morning Reflection

The Rev. Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth

Becoming Beloved Community Spotlight Award

All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island

Call to Convention

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina will be hosted by the Southern Deanery at the Sonesta Resort, on Hilton Head Island, November 21-23, 2024. Amidst the tempests of our lives, and recalling the Jesus who calmed the storm and called his disciples to “put out into deep waters,” (Luke 5:4), we hope that this Convention will be an opportunity for each of us to deepen our relationship with God and one another. Thus we take our theme from Psalm 107: “Wonders in the Deep.” 

We are delighted to have two very special guest speakers to accompany us in this endeavor. Our new Presiding Bishop-elect, the Right Reverend Sean Rowe, will be with us Thursday evening to preach at our Opening Eucharist. Our keynote speaker this year is the Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth.

The Right Reverend Sean Rowe was elected and confirmed the 28th presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church on June 26 for a nine-year term beginning Nov. 1. Rowe, 49, was ordained bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 and became bishop provisional of Western New York in 2019. From 2014 to 2018, he served as bishop provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Bishop Rowe earned a Ph.D. in organizational learning and leadership and is known for his research and work on organizational learning and adaptive performance in the church. Rowe is married to Carly Rowe, a Christian educator; they have a daughter named Lauren.

The Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu van Furth is an Episcopal priest, an artist, an author, an accomplished public speaker and retreat facilitator. She has had many roles in nonprofit leadership. She was the founding executive director of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. She continues to work for environmental justice, human rights and equal access to opportunity for all people without regard to race, class or gender. With her wife, Marceline, she has established and is Executive Director of the Tutu Teach Foundation to enhance access to opportunity for women and girls. Canon Tutu van Furth and her wife live in the Netherlands. They have four children and two grandchildren.

Diocesan Convention this year presents opportunities to do the necessary yearly work for our diocese and to gather the Episcopal community of the Lowcountry at our annual “family reunion.” This year’s format continues in an expanded model, including worship, workshops, business, and fellowship.