Meet the Deputies: Wilmot Merchant

The Rev. Dr. Wilmot T. Merchant, II

Fr. Merchant at the May 2015 Diocesan Clergy Conference in Santee.

Wilmot Merchant has been a priest in this diocese since 1999, and he has been the Rector of St. Stephen’s, North Myrtle Beach, since 2002. He was elected a Deputy in February 2014, and he currently serves as President of the Standing Committee of the diocese.

Fr. Merchant served as Volunteer Chaplain for North Myrtle Beach Public Safety and the Loris Healthcare System and is very active in the North Strand Ministerial Alliance. He also served as the Chairperson of the Faith Leaders Advisory Council for South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and was honored ‘volunteer of the year’ of the Victim Assistant Network of South Carolina. In 2008, Fr. Merchant was instrumental in casting St. Stephen’s “Loris Vision” to start another Episcopal presence in the Loris area. With help from the diocese, St. Stephen’s purchased 15 acres of land and began a mentoring program at Loris Elementary School.

This will be the second time Fr. Merchant has attended General Convention. In 2012, he attended with the Union of Black Episcopalians. He says he is looking forward to South Carolina being fully represented this time, after the events of 2012, and is excited to be one of our deputies. Fr. Merchant also says he's looking forward to the election process for the Presiding Bishop. He knows two of the nominees personally – Ian Douglas was his professor, and he and Michael Curry became friends after Wilmot preached at the 2012 Province IV Synod.