Racial Reconciliation
Speaking of Race
St. Stephen’s Church continues to hold space for conversations about race, structural racism, and injustice. Many members of our community have participated in Sacred Ground, a program where small groups discuss these issues in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational atmosphere.
Sacred Grounds Groups
Every other Wednesday beginning January 17, 2024 | 6-8 p.m. | 11 sessions | FULL
St. Stephen’s continues to seek community understanding and action regarding systemic racism and injustice. Beginning in January, we will offer another installment of the Episcopal Church dialogue series on race and racism, “Sacred Ground: A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race and Faith.” The program is peer-led and small group-based. It includes two core books: Waking Up White, by Debby Irving, and Jesus and the Disinherited, by Howard Thurman, as well as documentary films and short videos. Space is limited and registration is required. If you have questions of comments, please be in touch with the Rev. Cate Anthony.
Civil Rights Pilgrimage
In addition, two members of our community, parishioner Kim Schmidt and staff member Anna Jones, participated in a civil rights pilgrimage earlier this summer. Kim and Anna joined Episcopalians from other churches to visit sites in the south which played important roles in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, guided by a participant in that movement. The pilgrimage came to the attention of our rector, the Rev. John Rohrs, through his relationships with the clergy and people of Christ Church in Raleigh, N.C., where he once served on the staff. The Rev. Mary Fisher Davila of Christ Church (formerly of St. Stephen’s) has taken part in these pilgrimages in the past and was present for this one, as well.
Additional information about upcoming Sacred Ground groups and opportunities to take part in a civil rights pilgrimage will be posted on this page of our website as soon as it is available. In the meantime, you can watch a video featuring reflections by Anna and by the Rev. Cate Anthony.