Bishops of the Diocese of North Carolina Offer Additional Thoughts on Recent Events at Sewanee

The Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman and the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple share these additional thoughts:

"As Trustees of University of the South, we are deeply distressed by the hostilities exhibited toward Vice-chancellor Brigety and his family and, more recently, toward the Emmanuel College Lacrosse team when they visited Sewanee. We also believe that voicing our dismay is not enough. Voicing our support for Vice-chancellor Brigety and his wise leadership team is not enough, even though we have great confidence in their ability to wisely and prayerfully address the malignancy of systemic racism at the University. These events were not aberrations, though they are abhorrent. They are outward and visible signs of values and principles embedded in the founding of the University. They still survive in a culture of white supremacy and privilege that manifests itself in many forms throughout our country, but must be addressed by us as Trustees in this particular context. We pledge to work with our fellow constituent bishop trustees to continue a journey of reckoning with Sewanee’s past. We pledge to continue to support efforts to dismantle racism as well as address manifestations of intersectionality that violate the image of God in any child of God in any institution we represent. We pledge to seek and perform the necessary personal work for transformation and healing so that we might more faithfully build beloved communities based upon the biblical imperatives of love, mercy and respect."