Religious leaders of a wide variety of faith traditions from across South Carolina, along with state political leaders, gathered together on Thursday, January 8, 2026, for the second annual South Carolina Religious Liberty Conference. The conference, sponsored by the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, was held in Chambers at the State House of South Carolina. Among the featured speakers was Archon Stephanos (Steve) G. Trakas, Regional Commander for North and South Carolina.
The theme of the conference was “Religious Liberty is the Bedrock of Human Dignity and the Soul of our State.” The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were invited to speak on behalf of the Holy Orthodox Church. Archon Steve Trakas gave a historical presentation on the Ecumenical Patriarchate from its founding by Saint Andrew the First-Called Apostle to the present.
Archon Trakas also highlighted His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s courageous, visionary and groundbreaking initiatives to promote theological dialogue with the Church of Rome, the Ancient Oriental Churches, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Churches of the World Lutheran Federation, and the Reformed Churches, as well as leaders of the monotheistic religions of Judaism and Islam.
Archon Trakas informed the conference about the five issues, the principal challenges that the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Orthodox Christian community face in Turkey today. He thanked the State House and Senate for adopting resolutions in support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and acknowledging the difficult environment in which the Sacred Center of the Holy Orthodox Faith and Turkey’s Greek Orthodox Christians exist.
Archon Trakas also spoke about the mission of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the commitment of the Archons to safeguarding religious freedom and promoting harmony and reconciliation among all faiths. Archon Trakas stated: “We are blessed to live in this country where we can celebrate the common elements that unite” all people of faith; he also highlighted the struggles that all people of faith continue to face around the globe.
In closing, Archon Trakas presented a short video detailing His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s prophetic work on protection of the natural environment, and encouraged all those in attendance to search for ways to come together to protect God’s creation.
Along with Archon Trakas, participating faith leaders included Amarjit Singh of the Sikh Temple in Chapin, South Carolina; Imam Omar Shaheed, Resident Imam of Masjid As-Salaam in Columbia, South Carolina; Holli S. Emore, Executive Director of Cherry Hill Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, and an interfaith leader and author; Father Scott Newman, J.C.D., Chancellor and Canonical Counsel of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston; Sister Pam Smith, SSCM, Ph.D., Director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston; Rabbi Hesh Epstein, Executive Director of Chabad Lubavitch of South Carolina; and Alexander Dushku, Esq., General Authority Seventy and General Counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Also speaking was the Hon. Pamela Evette, Lieutenant Governor of the State of South Carolina, as well as State Representatives J. Todd Rutherford, J.D. and Brandon L. Newton; and State Senators Stephen L. Goldfinch, Jr, J.D. and Russell L. Ott; as well as Ryan Oberly, J.D., Legal counsel to diverse religious organizations, Wagenmaker and Oberly Law Firm; and Judge Alan D. Clemmons, J.D., South Carolina Circuit Court, Equity Division, for Ratification of the “Honoring South Carolina Religious Freedom Bill.”
