Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2
Philippians 1:2
Registration for the 227th Annual Diocesan Convention of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina is now open. All of the links for registration, hotel information, the Notice of Elections, Nomination Forms, and guidelines for submitting resolutions can be found on the Convention Page of our website. 
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Welcome!
The Episcopal Church in South Carolina has reorganized and is carrying forward the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, just as generations of Episcopalians in South Carolina have done since 1789, confident that by moving forward together in unity and faith, with God's help, we will flourish. Your participation in the life of our diocese and its parishes, missions and worshiping communities is encouraged. The Episcopal Church always welcomes you! The powerful words of a beloved bishop of South Carolina speak poignantly to us as we continue to rebuild: “We should strive for unity, not uniformity. Uniformity is mechanical, barren, unfruitful, and unprofitable. Unity is organic, living, and capable of endless growth. If we are to be truly catholic, as Christ himself is catholic, then we must have a church broad enough to embrace within its communion every living human soul.” The Right Reverend William Alexander Guerry (1861-1928) |
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Feast Day reflections from the Bishop
Read the Bishop's feast day reflections here Bishop Skip Adams is offering a series of reflections for major feast days and holy days on the Church's liturgical calendar. You can find them them all on the Bishop's blog. You can also subscribe to our e-newsletter and receive them via email. Legal news updates
A report from the meeting of diocesan leaders on August 4 An overview of the decision (August 3) More resources
A history and timeline of our diocese A Pastoral Letter from the Bishop
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” I Corinthians 12:12 Dear Friends in The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, Please join me in giving thanks to God for the gift of grace given to us through the August 2 ruling of the State Supreme Court that was generally in our favor. I acknowledge the difficult work of the court justices in coming to this decision. Many of you have worked faithfully and diligently in preparation for this day and have remained steadfast as disciples of Jesus through your many sacrifices. For every one of you I give thanks, as well as to many throughout the wider Episcopal Church who have remained in solidarity with us. We will continue to study the decision as we prepare for the journey awaiting us, and we enter it knowing that God’s Spirit is with us and in us as the Body of Christ. I am aware that coming to this day has been painful for many, and some you of lost much along the way. In that same vein, please be aware that this decision is painful in a different way for others. I ask that you be measured in your response without undue celebration in the midst of your own gratefulness. I call upon all of you to be in prayer for all the people of this diocese, including those in congregations who chose to align with the breakaway group. Many conversations will need to occur for which we have not yet had the opportunity, yet our God is a God of reconciliation and hope as shown forth in the living Christ. Healing is our desire, and we renew our commitment to the hard work of reconciliation in whatever form it can come. May we focus on the healing of division and the seeking of common ground for the good of all Episcopalians, but even more importantly, for the sake of the Good News of Jesus. In the hope of the Risen One, Bishop Skip The Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. Adams III Bishop Provisional, South Carolina Most Holy God, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (The following letter was sent on August 2 to leaders of the parishes and missions of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina.)
A Message from Bishop Adams: The South Carolina Supreme Court today issued a ruling in our appeal of the state court decision in Dorchester County, and that decision is generally in favor of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. We are grateful for this decision and for the hard work of the court in rendering it. We also give thanks to God for the faithfulness, support, and sacrifices of countless Episcopalians within our diocese and throughout the Church. This is a lengthy and detailed ruling, and our legal team and leadership will be studying it closely in the days ahead. It is important to note that the legal system allows for periods of judicial review and possible appeal, so it will be some time before we can say with certainty what the journey ahead will look like. Please be patient and know that we will keep you updated along the way as information becomes available to us. As clergy and lay leaders, you are likely to have opportunities to respond to the ruling within your congregation, as well as to the wider public. As you consider what to say, please keep in mind that - This ruling is one step on a longer journey and much is unknown at this point. Speculation will not be helpful. - We can give thanks to God while avoiding excessive celebration. Kindness and graciousness are in order. - Remember that our ultimate goal is reconciliation and unity, joining with our Lord in the desire that we all may be one. - We ask for your ongoing prayer for the life of the Church in the service of Christ. In the next few days, we will continue to communicate with the clergy and lay leadership about what is taking place. A formal statement from the Bishop’s Office will be issued to the public later today. We anticipate calling a meeting soon for diocesan leadership to review the decision, receive legal advice and consider the next steps. If concerns arise or situations develop that we need to be aware of, or that you would like guidance about, please be in touch with my office by phone or email. Bishop Skip Adams Save the dates!
227th Diocesan Convention: November 10-11, 2017 All Saints Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Island Watch for the Call to Convention, coming soon! Remembering the 226th Diocesan Convention
In the Facebook Live video above, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and Convention delegate Lonnie Hamilton III of Calvary Episcopal Church play "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" as the final Communion hymn at the Convention Eucharist on Friday, November 11, 2016. More Convention information, including the Bishop's Address, election results, and other resources, can be found on the Diocesan Convention Page. 
Returning priest welcomed
through reinstatement The Episcopal Church in South Carolina has welcomed a returning priest back into good standing in The Episcopal Church on November 11 through a reconciliation process designed for clergy who left following the 2012 split in eastern South Carolina. In a brief liturgy on November 11, the Reverend Matthew Wright McCormick reaffirmed the vows he took at his ordination to the priesthood in 2008. He also signed a formal declaration promising to conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church. The reinstatement liturgy, led by the Right Reverend Gladstone B. (Skip) Adams, Bishop of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, took place at Grace Church Cathedral. “It gives me great joy to welcome Father McCormick back into the fold of The Episcopal Church, Bishop Adams said. “ I take very seriously my responsibility as bishop to be a bridge builder, believing that all things are being reconciled through Christ as God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. This act by Matt is a sign of that grace and love as seen in Jesus.” Read more here. |
Looking for a church?
For a list of Episcopal parishes and missions, click here. The map below shows the parishes and missions of The Episcopal Church in our diocese. Click on the map for a larger view, or download a printable PDF version. Make a donation
Your support for The Episcopal Church in South Carolina is greatly appreciated! We're now able to accept online gifts to the diocese via AccessACS, our database/giving tool. To begin, click the button below. Planning ahead for year-end giving? Check out these tips on our giving page.) 
Learning about The Episcopal Church
Want to understand more about the history and governance of The Episcopal Church – how it came to be, and how it makes decisions? For an authoritative look at these important topics, you'll want to read "A Primer on the government of The Episcopal Church and its underlying theology," a report offered by the Ecclesiology Committee of the House of Bishops. Find the report here. 
Connect a student
with campus ministry Do you know a student who's headed to college in South Carolina this fall? Help connect them with Episcopal campus ministries at their schools by visiting our College Ministry Page. You'll find links and contact information for campus ministries for both of the Episcopal Church's dioceses in South Carolina, covering public and private colleges and universities across the state.  Bishop Guerry, shown here in an early photo, was the Eighth Bishop of South Carolina.
Remembering Bishop Guerry
The Episcopal Church in South Carolina remembered William Alexander Guerry as Bishop, Reformer and Martyr on Sunday, June 25, as the diocese continues to share the remarkable story of our 8th Bishop. Readings and prayers for Bishop Guerry's feast day were used in congregations across the diocese. Printable resources are available here. Bishop Guerry died June 9, 1928, five days after being shot in his office by a priest who had attacked the bishop’s position on advancing racial equality in South Carolina, and his proposal to install a black suffragan bishop in the diocese. The priest then took his own life. Bishop Guerry, in the hospital before he died, said of his assailant, “Forgive him, Father, he knew not what he did.” Learn more about Bishop Guerry here. Legal news
SC Supreme Court appeal Ruling issued on August 2, 2017 To see previous documents and news articles related to the case, visit our legal news page. Federal court update:A federal judge’s decision to abstain from hearing a false-advertising lawsuit against the bishop of a breakaway group does not meet the “exceptional circumstances” test, and the case should be sent back to U.S. District Court in Charleston for trial, according to an opening brief filed Monday by attorneys for Bishop Charles G. vonRosenberg with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Read more here. A Prayer for Reconciliation Gracious and loving God of justice and compassion: We pray for your church caught in a crushing schism in South Carolina. We believe that you favor reconciliation in all situations; and we ask you to be with all parties involved in the case. We pray especially for the Justices of the South Carolina Supreme Court and the attorneys arguing the case: surround them all with your love and your truth; and bring this process to a just conclusion. Give all of us strength and courage to act and pray in ways that can lead toward reconciliation. Help us be agents of your reconciliation with our friends on both sides of this dispute. We ask all this in the Name of the Holy Reconciler, Jesus your Son. Amen. |
