Bishop’s Pastoral Directive
Resolution C007 – Designate March 10 as the Date to Commemorate Harriet Ross Tubman
I wish to direct all parochial clergy and lay leaders in charge of parishes to make provisions in the new year 2023 and beyond to include the above-named commemoration of March 10th as Harriet Ross Tubman Memorial Day. Furthermore, parishes are directed to include her commemorative distinction in the Sunday worship service annually within the octave or Sunday closest to March 10th. In 2023, March 10th falls on a Friday which means the diocese should observe Harriet Ross Tubman Memorial Sunday on Sunday, March 12th.
It may be worthwhile to note that this resolution was proposed by Province III to the 80th General Convention, Baltimore, Maryland, July 8 -11, 2022. It was unanimously concurred to by both House of Bishops and House of Deputies of General Convention.
To date, I have yet to find a collect specifically written for our beloved sister and freedom fighter familiarly recognized as “the Moses of her people”, and so in the interim I have crafted a collect to be used for her commemoration in the diocese.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, the source of strength and eternal wisdom, bless and sanctify the work of your servant Harriet Ross Tubman whose life and devotion for the preservation of the human dignity of all your children, gave birth to the underground railway movement; through her fearless pursuit for justice, freedom and love delivered many from slavery to freedom. Grant us the courage to witness to the spirit she embodied so we may experience the grace and freedom that come from you through Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen!
My beloved, the Diocese of Easton takes pride in knowing that this servant of God was from within our diocesan ecclesiastical area – Dorchester County.
Every blessing,
Bishop San