Press Release
Becca Stevens, the founder of Thistle Farms, a global community of trafficking and addiction survivors, is the keynote speaker for the 228th Diocesan Convention of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECSC) in Charleston on November 16-17.
Stevens, an author, entrepreneur and justice advocate who has been named a White House Champion of Change and a CNN Hero, will give her keynote presentation, which is open to the public, on Saturday, November 17 at the Church of the Holy Communion, 218 Ashley Ave. in Charleston.
Visitors also can pre-register for two Creative Justice Workshops led by Stevens on Friday, November 16 at Calvary Episcopal Church, 106 Line St. in Charleston. Register online at episcopalchurchsc.org/convention.
The 228th Diocesan Convention of TECSC is the annual two-day business meeting and “family reunion” of Episcopalians in eastern South Carolina. More than 200 lay and clergy delegates and guests are registered and more visitors are welcome. Highlights include:
- A Convention Eucharist at 6 p.m. Friday, November 16, will include Bishop Skip Adams' convention message on the theme of “Faith, Hope, and Love.” The service is open to everyone. Pre-registration is required for a dinner that will follow the service.
- TECSC will welcome representatives from some of the 29 congregations in eastern South Carolina that will be returning to The Episcopal Church under a 2017 court decision. Each of the 29 churches has been invited to send two representatives as official guests, and others are invited to attend as visitors.
- St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Conway, organized in 2013, will officially be recognized as a parish church of the diocese, a sign of its growth and vitality as a faith community.
Stevens founded Thistle Farms in 1997, which provides women with housing, medical care, therapy and education for two years. Residents and graduates earn income through one of four social enterprises. The Global Market of Thistle Farms also helps employ more than 1,800 women worldwide through the bath and body product lines.
Stevens' work has been featured on The Today Show, ABC World News, NPR and in the New York Times. She was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Small Business Council of America and has received three honorary doctorate degrees. An Episcopal priest, she is the author of 11 books including Love Heals, published in 2017 by Harper Collins. Visit beccastevens.org and thistlefarms.org to learn more.
For more information about the Convention, visit www.episcopalchurchsc.org/convention or call the Diocesan Office, (843) 259-2016.
About The Episcopal Church in South Carolina
The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECSC) is the local diocese in the eastern half of South Carolina that is part of The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. For the latest on TECSC, visit episcopalchurchsc.org or like us on Facebook.
