We've Come This Far By Faith: Absalom Jones Symposium
2026-02-14 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | OH
Each year we honor the life and ministry of the Blessed Absalom Jones, the first Black priest in The Episcopal Church, who labored for liberation, dignity, and racial justice. This year the theme for the Absalom Jones Celebration is “We’ve Come this Far by Faith”.
The Absalom Jones Symposium will be from 9 to 11am on Saturday, February 14 and will be online. The Symposium will be a panel discussion by immediate and past presidents of the Union of Black Episcopalians. Tyrone Yates will be the moderator for the panel conversation. View the symposium here.
The Absalom Jones Celebration Service will be on Sunday, February 15 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Dayton. The service will start at 3:30 pm. The speaker for this service is Rev. Dr. Betty W. Holley, interim President for Payne Theological Seminary and Presiding Elder for African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dayton. There will be a reception immediately following the service.
Two buses are scheduled to transport riders from the Cincinnati area and the Columbus area to the Absalom Jones Service on Sunday. The Cincinnati bus will pick up riders at St. Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Church (810 Matthews Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45215) at 12:30 pm on Sunday February 15. The Columbus bus will pick up riders at St. Philip Episcopal Church (166 Woodland Ave Columbus, Ohio 43203) at 1:30 pm on February 15. The buses are set to return to their respective destinations at 6 pm from St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Dayton, Ohio. Sign up for bus transportation here.

We've Come This Far By Faith: Absalom Jones Celebration Service
2026-02-15 15:30 - 18:00 | St Margaret’s Dayton, 5301 Free Pike, Trotwood, OH, 45426-2441, US
Each year we honor the life and ministry of the Blessed Absalom Jones, the first Black priest in The Episcopal Church, who labored for liberation, dignity, and racial justice. This year the theme for the Absalom Jones Celebration is “We’ve Come this Far by Faith”.
The Absalom Jones Symposium will be from 9 to 11am on Saturday, February 14 and will be online. The Symposium will be a panel discussion by immediate and past presidents of the Union of Black Episcopalians. Tyrone Yates will be the moderator for the panel conversation.View the symposium here.
The Absalom Jones Celebration Service will be on Sunday, February 15 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Dayton. The service will start at 3:30 pm. The speaker for this service is Rev. Dr. Betty W. Holley, interim President for Payne Theological Seminary and Presiding Elder for African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dayton. There will be a reception immediately following the service.
Two buses are scheduled to transport riders from the Cincinnati area and the Columbus area to the Absalom Jones Service on Sunday. The Cincinnati bus will pick up riders at St. Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Church (810 Matthews Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45215) at 12:30 pm on Sunday February 15. The Columbus bus will pick up riders at St. Philip Episcopal Church (166 Woodland Ave Columbus, Ohio 43203) at 1:30 pm on February 15. The buses are set to return to their respective destinations at 6 pm from St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Dayton, Ohio. Sign up sheets for bus transportation are coming soon.

Historically Black Churches Quarterly Prayer Breakfast
2026-03-21 10:00 - 12:00 | St Simon of Cyrene Cincinnati, 810 Matthews Dr, Cincinnati, OH, 45215-1837
The four historically Black congregations of the diocese will gather for their first quarterly prayer breakfast on Saturday, March 21 at 10 am at St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights.
The quarterly gatherings will be an opportunity for our historically Black congregations to fellowship together and share information with each other.
Questions about this event?
Contact the Rev. Aaron Rogers, missioner for Black ministries, at arogers@diosohio.org.

African Americans and the Bible Book Study
2026-04-07 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-14 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-21 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-28 18:00 - 19:30 | OH
Tuesdays in April from 6-7:30 pm on Zoom
Join the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio this April for an engaging and transformative formation opportunity: African Americans and the Bible.
This four-week study invites participants into a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural relationship between African Americans and Holy Scripture. Grounded in The Talking Book by Allen Dwight Callahan, this course explores how African Americans encountered, interpreted, proclaimed, and embodied the Bible in the midst of enslavement and the ongoing struggle for freedom and dignity.
For generations, the Bible has been more than a sacred text in African American communities—it has been a source of hope, resistance, identity, spiritual wrestling, and spiritual power. Together, we will examine how this “talking book” has shaped faith, worship, preaching, and public witness. Participants will gain a richer appreciation for Scripture as it has been read and lived through the cultural lens of African Americans, broadening and deepening their own engagement with the Word of God.
Whether you are clergy, a lay leader, or someone seeking to grow in faith and understanding, this study offers space for learning, reflection, and meaningful conversation. Come ready to listen, to learn, and to encounter the Bible anew. We look forward to walking this journey together.

Questions about this event and program?

Contact the Rev. Aaron Rogers, missioner for Black ministries, at arogers@diosohio.org.
Registration
There is no cost for this program and no deadline to register. The first ten people to register will receive a complimentary copy of The Talking Book by Dr. Callahan.
REGISTER HERE
