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As the
only statewide ecumenical agency in South Carolina, SC Christian Action
Council respresents a partnership of 16 denominations and 21 regional judicatories,
including 4,500 congregations.
The
Council serves as a catalyst for:
- Social justice through
public policy advocacy;
- Christian Unity and
inter-religious dialogue through relationships, collaborations and
events;
- Racial and cultural
healing by building bridges of trust and understanding.
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A New Feature!
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How
many of you could name the 16 denominations that compose the SC Christian
Action Council? (Without looking at our webpage?)
It's
hard to keep track of them all. What a wonderful difficulty that is--to
know that so many different expressions of the body of Christ are working
together in Christian Unity that we can't even name them!
But
wouldn't you like to know something about each denominational partner? We
think you will. So with the this issue of Christian Action we begin to
profile the leaders of the denominations and their representatives to the
SC Christian Action Council Board of Directors.
See the
next article for our first profile--The Right Reverend William J.
Skilton, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and
current President of South Carolina Christian Action Council.
We are
in the process of designing a small set of questions to ask each Board
member and denominational leader whom we may profile.
What
would you like to know about the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Charleston (Robert Baker) or the Executive Presbyter of Foothills
Presbytery (George Wilkes) or your denominational representative to the
Board?
If you
have a pertinent question you'd like included, send your suggestions to
sccac@bellsouth.net. We can't promise to include every question, but we'd
like to know what you'd like to know!
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Meet the Council's President: Bishop William J. Skilton
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The Rt.
Rev. William J. Skilton serves as Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal
Diocese of South Carolina and is the current President of South Carolina
Christian Action Council.
Bishop
Skilton was born in Habana, Cuba; is married; has two daughters and
boasts of five grandchildren.
He
graduated from the Military College of South Carolina (The Citadel) in
1962 (BS in Education) and from the School of Theology of the University
of the South, (St. Luke’s) in June of 1965 (L.Th.). He was ordained
Deacon in July, 1965 in the Diocese of South Carolina and Priest in
January 1966 in the Diocese of the Dominican Republic (Iglesia Episcopal
Dominicana).
Bishop
Skilton served as Missionary Appointee serving in La Romana, Dominican
Republic from 1965 - 1972. Working in the midst of the revolutio and
unrest, his work was primarily in the field of education with a mission
congregation and a school. In 1966 he founded el Liceo Episcopal Todos
los Santos (high school) which continues to offer quality education.
The
Skiltons and their two daughters returned to the US in 1972 having been a
part of the election and consecration of the first Dominican Bishop. He
has served churches in the Dominican Republic and in Grahamville,
Bluffton, North Charleston, and Charleston, South Carolina.
Bishop
Skilton also served as Campus Minister for the Diocese of South Carolina
with primary responsibility for St. Alban's Chapel, the Citadel and The
College of Charleston. In 1974 he was made Canon Chaplain of the
Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston.
Assuming
the position of Rector of St. Thomas’, North Charleston in 1988 he served
there until his election to the Episcopate in 1995. He was consecrated as
Bishop on March 2, 1996. Three of the co-consecrators were Cuban Bishops
as were three from South Carolina.
As
Suffragan Bishop, Bishop Skilton's responsibilities include overseeing
the Diocesan involvement in world mission, social ministries, college
ministries, clergy deployment, the process for ordination and the
development of Hispanic/Latino ministry.
He
serves and has leadership in numerous Boards and Commissions!
Bishop
Skilton has long supported the vision and mission of SC Christian Action
Council. He became President in 2004 and has served with
conscientiousness and care.
We
asked Bishop Skilton why ecumenism is important and what motivates his
participation. He said:
"I
have always said that the greatest Sin of the church is found in its
divisions and brokenness. Our witness to God's presence in Christ and the
proclamation of His Good News is deeply affected by our inability to live
into the unity that he calls for...so that the world may believe.
'What
does it say to the world when we can't even gather to share the cup and
the bread at a common table....? I'm in this work because as a Christian,
I am not offered a choice....it is basic to who I am called to be and the
message I am called to proclaim."
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Community News and Events
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March
7: 3rd Annual Advocacy Day. 12:30-4:30 p.m., Casey Center,
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia. See article
for more information or email jsibley@sccouncil.net. Click
here for a flyer. You can register at the door.
March
8: Children's Advocacy Day. Sponsored by Voices for
SC's Children. Click
here for more information.
March
12: Greenville Worships Together. United Ministries' 9th
Annual Community Worship Service will be held at 5:00 p.m. at St. George
Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Dr. Luther E. Smith, Jr. Professor of Church
and Community at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University,
Atlanta, Georgia, will be the keynote speaker. Please contact Cindy
Roddey at 864.232.6463 or click
here for more information.
April
30-May 7: Soil and Water Stewardship Week. Richland Conservation
District wants to help your faith community celebrate creation and
educate about conservation. Resources are available for Sunday bulletins,
church newsletters, and for educating your congregation on how to
conserve resources and care for creation. You may contact the staff of
the Richland Conservation District at 803.576.2080, or email
soilandwater@richlandonline.com.
May
18: Anticipating Crisis: A Christian Response to a Pandemic. SCCAC's 2006
Annual Meeting. 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Join us for ecumenical worship,
lunch and speakers at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Florence, SC. Save the
date and watch for more details!
May
21-25: "Rejoice in Hope": 26th Convocation of Jail and
Prison Ministry. Springmaid Beach Resort, Myrtle Beach. For more
information please contact Paula Loehr at 843.347.5168.
Have
other South Carolina community news? Let us know at sccac@bellsouth.net.
We
include information on community events as space and time allow; and,
only in accordance with the mission and policies of SC Christian Action
Council. We do not accept unsolicited articles.
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What are the staff members up to?
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 Here's a
sampling of March activities for the staff of SC Christian Action
Council--just to give a flavor of this month's work!
March
2: South Carolina Prepares: Pandemic Influenza Summit, Columbia.
(Brenda) Sisters of Charity grant workshop, Lexington. (Julia)
March
3-5: Palmetto Friends Gathering, James Island. (Julia)
March
7: 3rd Annual Advocacy Day, Columbia. (Brenda, Doris, Julia and many of
you.)
March
8: Children's Advocacy Day at the Statehouse, Voices for SC'S Children.
(Brenda)
March
9: Staff retreat, Columbia. (Brenda, Doris, Julia)
March
12-15: 2006 Bowen Conference, One Nation Under God: Faith and Reason
in an Age of Extremism, Kanuga, NC. (Julia)
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Across My
Desk...
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Just so
you'll know, I have a variety of viewpoints when looking across my desk.
Over the section parallel to the buildings' rear wall, is a window.
Through the window I see greenery scattered around and through a small
parking area. I see the front doors of a couple of homes, traffic making
its way up and down Wildewood Ave. and students and staff walking to and
from classes and offices on the Lutheran Seminary Campus.
Over
the section perpendicular to the windowed wall is a shelf laden with
mementos of the people who live in some of the places in which I've
traveled: Kenya, England, Israel, the Smoky Mountains, and the USA's
great Southwest. On that same wall, I keep a small bulletin board loaded
with brochures, worship bulletins, message buttons, and other items which
remind me of the opportunities to engage in debates on vital issues and
to worship within the Body of Christ and within the larger Family of God.
A third
angle, directly across from my chair, has me looking right at the corner!
Now you
know, the tangible reality of "across my desk." The window
gives me a view onto the what's- happening-now-in-this-window's-corner of
the world. People come and go. Some going is purposeful and some not.
Houses are either safe havens or not. Some people work or not. Some
people study or not. Some people eat or not. Just looking, I can't tell
who is safe or not; purposed or not; fed or not.
The
shelf's contents remind me of people who have been role models and
mentors. Of places and peoples much the same in many ways and much
different in others than those who walk past my window.
The
bulletin board's collage of items tells the story of the Council's work
advocating for the common good, fostering Christian unity, and building
bridges of understanding and acceptance.
The
corner is just that: a corner where one can face the world knowing her
back and sides are safe from attack.
As do
you, I have a choice of viewpoints and a choice of interpretation. My
window on the world could reflect the need for security --everyone locks
his or her car. My mementos could trigger images of the difficulty and
unfairness of life all over the world. My too-busy bulletin board, could
rub salt in unhealed wounds of battles still raging or lost. The corner
could represent a position of defeat.
At the
Council's Board table, the majority of members represent their individual
judicatories with the rest serving in at-large positions. We could get
focused on the window of "what's-happening-now" or what's
happening to you or to them, or on the scars of battle, or our inability
to affect quick change.
Instead,
together we examine a variety of viewpoints informed by each
denominations' position with the goal of finding common ground on tough
issues. We pray together and listen and talk together to find that place
where together we can stand and work.
When we
get it right, when the Body of Christ listens and hears one another, then
we are hearing God in our midst. When the Family of God listens and hears
one another, it is hearing God in its midst.
The
statements of my viewpoint and your facts and their theology
are secondary to OUR knowledge that together WE have found God's
place and together WE have heard God's heart.
Let me
tell you, the view from such a place is breath- taking!...
...and
sometimes that’s the view I see from across my desk.
Brenda
Lynn Kneece Executive Minister
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