Governor Proclaims January 2018 is South Carolina Interfaith Harmony Month

For Immediate Release
December 18, 2017
Contact: Holli Emore, holli@sc.rr.com or 803-422-4565

Interfaith Partners of S.C. announces that Governor Henry McMaster has issued a formal proclamation naming January 2018 “South Carolina Interfaith Harmony Month.” Interfaith Partners will read the proclamation and release a schedule of events at a media event in the State House lobby on Thursday, December 28, 2017, at 10:00 AM.

The proclamation notes that “throughout the history of our state and nation, we have welcomed people with diverse backgrounds and beliefs, many of whom were seeking relief from religious persecution, giving them the freedom to practice their faith without fear.” It closes with a call for all South Carolinians to “work together to foster compassion and appreciation for the different faiths, beliefs and cultures found in the Palmetto State.”

During South Carolina Interfaith Harmony Month, Interfaith Partners presents a calendar of special religious services and events to which the public is invited. Many of the events are an opportunity for people to learn about and experience communities of faith with which they may be unfamiliar.

Examples of some events being planned:

∙ “How to Build Trust Amid Division,” Midlands Interfaith Meetup, dinner and discussion, at Zorba’s, 6169 St Andrews Road, Columbia (Jan 2, 6:00 PM).
∙ “Interfaith Intercultural New Year’s Blessing Service,” UICC Unified Interfaith Community Coalition of Beaufort , 604 Charles St. Beaufort (Jan 7, 6-6:00 PM).
∙ “Interfaith Healing & Peace Ceremony,” north side of S.C. State House (Jan 8, 3:00 PM).
∙ “Women of Many Faiths “ (location TBA) in Columbia (Jan 11, 6:30 PM).
∙ “Parliament of the World’s Religions,” presentation at Clayton Memorial Unitarian Universalist, 334 Clayton Memorial Road, Newberry (Jan 14, 11:00).
∙ “15th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast,” First Baptist Church, 481 Hood Center Drive, Rock Hill (Jan. 15, 7:30 AM).
∙ “Annual Prayer Service-Fellowship of South Carolina Bishops,” St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1715 Bull Street, Columbia (Jan 23, 6:00 PM).
∙ “Shared Tables” dinner and fellowship at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, North Main Street, Columbia (Jan 25, 7-7:30 PM).
∙ “Interfaith Prayer Service,” Unity of Hilton Head , 1300 Fording Island Rd, Bluffton (Jan 28, 10-11 AM).
∙ “Blessed Community,” presentation and discussion by Columbia Friends Meeting, 120 Pisgah Church Road, , Columbia (Jan 28, 11:30 AM).
∙ “Light to the World,” new movie, prayers, fellowship and light refreshments at the Greater Baha’i Center of Columbia, 2020 Assembly Street (Jan 28, 2:00 PM).
∙ “Dances of Universal Peace,” 2701 Heyward St, Columbia (Feb 2, 7:00 PM).

“Here in South Carolina we cross religious boundaries through our everyday encounters in schools, colleges, work spaces, and social media sites. Interfaith Partners of South Carolina strives diligently to encourage, educate and empower people from diverse religious traditions to build bridges of understanding, dignity and respect within our local communities,” said Dr. Adrian Bird, professor of religious studies and current President of Interfaith Partners of S.C. “We celebrate the transformative potential that emerges when we work alongside one another, as evidenced by the many initiatives, discussions and events generated through local IPSC groups across the State.”

The mission of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina is to foster understanding and cooperation among the religious groups of the state through education, dialogue and collaborative projects, in order to assure that: all people are treated with dignity and respect; the religious freedom of all groups is protected; each religious group’s practices and teachings are given respectful consideration; and interfaith discussions will become conversation models that others will want to emulate.

For more information or to schedule interviews, contact Holli Emore, holli@sc.rr.com or 803-422-4565. A full schedule of events will be posted at https://interfaithpartnersofsc.org/.