An Invitation to Participate in Sacred Ground with the Diocese

Sacred Ground is a film and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. It was developed by The Episcopal Church as a part of “Becoming Beloved Community” and is designed to promote racial understanding, justice and reconciliation. The materials focus on Black, Indigenous, Latino & Asian-Pacific histories as they intersect with European American histories. The Diocese of South Carolina, through the Diocesan Commission on Racial Justice & Reconciliation, will once again offer a Zoom Sacred Ground Series this fall beginning Thursday, September 17, 2026..   

Sacred Ground is a film and readings-based dialogue series grounded in faith.  It was developed by The Episcopal Church as part of the “Becoming Beloved Community” and is designed to promote racial understanding, justice, and reconciliation.  The materials focus on Black, Indigenous, Latino & Asian-Pacific histories as they intersect with European American stories.

Participants will gather on Thursday evenings every other week from 6 to 7:30 pm. The first six sessions will be covered from September 17th through December 3rd followed by a break for Christmas and New Year’s Day. The series will resume Thursday, January 7, 2027, for four more zoom sessions with a final in-person session on Saturday, March 6th.

For those interested, there will be a Zoom introduction to Sacred Ground on Thursday, September 3rd at 6 pm. This zoom offering is mandatory for those considering the program; it will provide insight into what you may expect from Sacred Ground and what is expected of you. You may decide after this session if you would like to sign up for the program.

We encourage you to watch the video below of the Most Reverend Sean Rowe, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, as he speaks about the Sacred Ground program.

If you would like the link for the September 3rd information session or if you have questions, please contact Tater Beak, peels1t@aol.com or Gail DeCosta, gdecosta256@gmail.com.

Sacred Ground and The Episcopal Church

Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society.  This series is open to all, and especially designed to help white people talk with other white people.  Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.Watch the video to the right in which the Most Reverend Michael B. Curry, former Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, invites all to participate in Sacred Ground. Find more information about Sacred Ground on The Episcopal Church website at this link.

Sacred Ground and The Diocese of SC

Anyone can attend – clergy or lay, Episcopalian or not – anyone interested in honest discussions about race. Attendance is important. All who commit to participating in the Sacred Ground are asked to make attendance a priority. Missing more than two sessions is not advisable. People registered for one session, can attend the session on the alternate day if that is more feasible in any given week. Please let the program coordinator know if you need to switch sessions for a week.

The video to the right was an invitation to Sacred Ground for the first session during Lent 2022.