"Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863." ©JUNETEENTH.com

Join us as we celebrate the day when freedom finally reached the last enslaved persons in America. All people of faith might mark this particular moment in our history mindful that the sin of white supremacy continues to impact Black lives in our time. This diocesan liturgy is being planned by the Beloved Community Commission as an entry point for deeper engagement with the story and to gather us all for prayer on this great day. Our presider will be the Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher.

National UBE President, 1982 – 1988; Trustee Church Pension Fund, 2000 – 2012; Western Massachusetts Deputy to General Convention, 1991 – 2012; LEVAS Editorial Committee, 1988 – 1993. Most recently Deborah participated in a panel discussion sponsored by The Episcopal Diocese of New York, "Absalom Jones and the Essential Worker: Yellow Fever 1793 – COVID 2019."