The 210th Annual Diocesan Convention takes place in Winston Salem Nov. 21-22 this year, and St. Paul’s will have four lay delegates and clergy in attendance. These conventions are an interesting blend of business and spiritual journeying, as resolutions are debated in sessions and inspired liturgies/speakers spark new thoughts for the future.
This year’s convention includes thoughtful selections around reparations, reconciliation and healing in our diocese, to help open our hearts more fully to the work of repairing the breach caused by systemic oppression. How can we allow our discomfort to draw us into deeper discoveries?
As the Diocese of North Carolina begins this conversation in earnest, we should be mindful of our diocesan history. We do not come to this conversation seeking to resolve a wider national debate about racism and equality, or to make amends for harm done somewhere else by someone else, but rather to acknowledge sins committed by the clergy and laity of the Diocese of North Carolina against our own churches and members, and to repair and restore broken relationships in our midst.
All are encouraged to learn more through some of these resources:
The Road to Convention (scroll to this section)- read selections from those doing reconciling work across our diocese (including our interim associate rector, the Rev. Robert Fruehwirth).
The Story of St. Ambrose: Environmental Racism, Resurrection and Reparations – Hear the Rev. Jemonde Taylor, rector of St. Ambrose Raleigh, tell the story of ways in which St. Ambrose–and Raleigh’s Black community as a whole–were impacted by environmental racism throughout the church’s history, and how the congregation fought to protect the health of both the environment and their community.
Diocesan Mission Strategy: Racial Reckoning, Justice & Healing