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The official dates for our next Diocesan Convention have been set: November 15-16 at the Marriott Hotel in North Charleston. The churches of the West Charleston Deanery will be the co-hosts for our 229th Convention, which is the annual "business meeting" and family reunion of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina.The official "Call to Convention" will go out in August, with more details and information on how to register.
 Holly Votaw Holly Votaw, Diocesan Director of Communications, has notified Bishop Skip Adams that she will be moving to North Carolina this spring. The Bishop and Diocesan Council are in the process of reviewing this part-time position and its job description with a goal of opening a search process for a new Director of Communication in the next few weeks.
Mrs. Votaw will continue to serve as Director of Communications throughout the transition, working remotely via computer and internet in coordination with the Bishop and diocesan staff. She also plans to be present at diocesan events such as the Renewal of Clergy Vows, Diocesan Clergy Conference at Kanuga, and the Under One Roof II conference on May 18, where she will be one of the presenters. People can continue to contact her for communication needs at [email protected] or 843-345-8011 (mobile). Mrs. Votaw and her husband, the Rev. Alastair Votaw, will be making their home in the Pisgah Forest community near Brevard, NC. She has served as Director of Communications for the diocese since January 2013. An announcement will be made to the diocese when a formal search process begins.  Your prayers and presence are requested as two candidates for Holy Orders from our Diocese, Lauren Kay and Charles Jenkins, are to be ordained to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, June 15 at 11 am at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston. Charles is completing his studies at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., and Lauren is preparing to graduate at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Please keep them both in your prayers as their ordination date approaches.
 Our planning team for Under One Roof II is making plans for a great diocesan-wide resource day on Saturday, May 18 at Porter-Gaud Episcopal School in Charleston. Co-chairs Nancy Ezell Suggs (center) and Warren Mersereau (right) held a planning meeting today with staff liaison the Rev. Bill Coyne, Missioner for Returning Congregations, at the Diocesan Office.
Every parish and mission inThe Episcopal Church in South Carolina is asked to send a team of clergy and laypeople, staff and volunteers, to learn, share experiences and resources, and network with others. Some 20 workshops are being planned in the areas of leadership, administration and finance, Christian formation, welcoming ministry, communications, and more. Registration will include coffee and lunch. Please save the date, and watch for registration information coming soon! COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECSC) and The Episcopal Church today filed a petition asking the South Carolina Supreme Court to order the Dorchester County Circuit Court to enforce the high court’s 2017 decision and return control of diocesan property and 29 parish properties to The Episcopal Church and its local diocese, TECSC.
The Petition for Writ of Mandamus asks the high court to require Circuit Judge Edgar W. Dickson to take action and execute the decision that the justices remitted to Judge Dickson 16 months ago. The disputed properties currently are under the control of a group led by Bishop Mark Lawrence that left The Episcopal Church in 2012 and then sued the church in an attempt to keep the property. The delay in enforcing the high court’s decision is continuing to cause harm to TECSC, the petition says. “The extraordinary remedy sought [a writ of mandamus] is therefore necessary given the long delay and misdirected undertaking of the Circuit Court to attempt to revisit the merits, while the property to which Petitioners are entitled is being wasted, misused, and depleted,” the petition says. “That property includes unique real estate, historic buildings, and artifacts that cannot be replaced, along with accounts held in trust that are being depleted as this litigation is being improperly prolonged,” the petition says. With no action taken by the court on requests for enforcement, “petitioners have no adequate remedy other than to seek a writ from this Court.” The state Supreme Court issued a decision in August 2017 to return the diocesan property and 29 parishes to the Episcopal parties. In November 2017, that decision was remitted to Judge Dickson to be executed. The Episcopal Church and TECSC have filed motions asking the court to return the property and assets, and have also requested a full accounting. No action has been taken on those requests. To date, the court has held one scheduling conference and one hearing on a motion for “clarification” filed by the breakaway group. The petition filed today emphasizes that the state Supreme Court sent the decision to the Circuit Court on “remittitur” rather than on “remand.” A remittitur means the circuit court “has a duty to follow and enforce the mandate from [the Supreme Court’s] final and dispositive decision.” “The Circuit Court has unduly delayed and appears to be reconsidering the case on its merits, exceeding its jurisdiction on remittitur,” the petition says. Attorneys for the breakaway group have told Judge Dickson that that decision is too unclear to be enforced. However, the petition notes that the breakaway group repeatedly acknowledged that the decision was final in the legal documents they filed trying to get the decision reversed: First when they asked the state Supreme Court for a rehearing, and again in their unsuccessful petition to the United States Supreme Court. For example, in their petition for rehearing to the state Supreme Court they stated about the ruling: “As a result, the majority would transfer the real and personal property of South Carolina religious organizations” to The Episcopal Church. The high court, in denying the rehearing, expressly stated that “the opinions previously filed in this case reflect the final decision of this Court.” Under South Carolina law, a petition for a writ of mandamus has to meet four criteria, and the petition spells these out and notes how each condition has been met:
All Saints, Florence Christ Church, Mount Pleasant Christ-St. Paul’s, Yonges Island Church of the Cross, Bluffton Epiphany, Eutawville Good Shepherd, Charleston Holy Comforter, Sumter Holy Cross, Stateburg Holy Trinity, Charleston Old St. Andrew’s, Charleston Church of Our Saviour, John’s Island Redeemer, Orangeburg Resurrection, Surfside St. Bartholomew’s, Hartsville St. David’s, Cheraw St. Helena’s, Beaufort St. James, James Island St. John’s, John’s Island St. Jude’s, Walterboro St. Luke’s, Hilton Head St. Luke and St. Paul, Charleston St. Matthew’s, Fort Motte St. Michael’s, Charleston St. Paul’s, Bennettsville St. Paul’s, Summerville St. Philip’s, Charleston Trinity, Edisto Island Trinity, Pinopolis Trinity, Myrtle Beach The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church took a "deep dive" into the Way of Love, discussed the upcoming Lambeth 2020 Conference, worshiped and shared fellowship together at their spring meeting at Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC March 12-15. Bishop Skip Adams attended this meeting with fellow bishops from across the Church. Here are some links to Episcopal News Service coverage of the meeting:
House of Bishops opens spring meeting with exploration of the Way of Love (March 12) The Way of Love's scope expands beyond The Episcopal Church at HOB Meeting (March 13) Bishops consider response to Lambeth decision not to invite same-sex spouses (March 14) Bishops object to Archbishop of Canterbury's decision; majority of bishops say they will attend (March 15) A "Mind of the House" Resolution from the House of Bishops (March 15)  Churches in our diocese are observing Lent and Holy Week and celebrating Easter with a variety of musical events. Please save this link and check back as we add new events to the calendar through the spring.
March 24: Mid-Lent Celtic Evensong Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island, 5 pm. Join the HCFM Parish Choir for a special Celtic Evensong featuring harpist Rebecca Nissen. March 24: Lenten Recital & Evensong All Saints, Hilton Head Island, 4 pm. A contemplative service based on Plainsong chant, sung by the Chamber Choir. Evensong begins with a 30-minute organ recital. April 7: Lenten Choral Evensong Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, 4 pm. Grace's St. Gregory Choir will sing this service of Evening Prayer set to music for the Fifth Sunday in Lent. April 14: Chilcott Requiem All Saints, Hilton Head Island, 4 pm A concert of music for Holy Week, sung by the Parish Choir, featuring the Chilcott Requiem with a woodwind chamber orchestra and organ. A $20 donation is suggested. April 28: An Evening of Jazz Calvary, Charleston, 4 pm A concert at historic Calvary Episcopal Church will feature more than 20 noted performers including Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg. A reception with the artists will follow the concert. A $20 donation can be made at the door or in advance for tickets by contacting the church at 843-723-3878. Featured artists include Ben Hawes, Paul Gelpt, Paul Ahres, "Camio" Williams, Charles King, Steve Simon, Max Moore, Jeff Holt, McCarthy Fitch, Cameron Westcott, Fred Young, Noah Jones, Ken Forsberg, Chuck King, Bobbie Storm, George Kenny, Thuane Fielding, Joy Pryor, John Tecklenburg, J. Walker Deloach, Jonathan Pearce, and others. April 28: Choral Evensong Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, 4 pm. Grace's St. Gregory Choir will sing this service of Evening Prayer set to music on the Second Sunday of Easter. May 30: Choral Evensong for the Feast of the Ascension All Saints, Hilton Head Island, 7 pm. This service, sung by Voci Sacre in the Hay Chapel, celebrates Jesus' Ascension. More than 80 youth and adult leaders spent the weekend at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island for Happening #1 March 1-3, the restart of Happening for youth in our diocese, and plans are already under way for Happening #2 in 2020.
Happening is a spiritual retreat for high school students, a youth led experience that has been offered in many Episcopal dioceses for decades. Our diocese held Happening retreats until around 2001. Last year, a pair of old high school friends, Jay Hart and Ian Bonnet, who had participated in Happening together in the late 1980s began working to restart and renew Happening for The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, hoping to make Happening possible for their own high school-age children. With support from the diocese and with leadership from clergy, staff and youth at Grace Church Cathedral, they formed a team that spent months working to offer Happening to youth from all across our diocese. Mr. Bonnet and Mr. Hart served as Lay Directors for Happening #1. The Episcopal dioceses of Atlanta, Upper South Carolina and North Carolina also played a big part in this effort, sending teams to support this weekend's event as well as welcoming our youth to their own diocesan Happening events for training. In addition to a big youth presence from Grace, youth from St. Thomas, North Charleston; St. George's, Summerville, St. Stephen's, Charleston; and Calvary, Charleston participated. A Happening Weekend includes talks done by the youth, lots of singing and praying, and a few surprises along the way. Mark your calendars for March 27-29, 2020 for Happening #2. If you are interested in helping, or have stories of your own Happening experience to share, please be in touch with Andrea McKellar, Diocesan Ministry Developer, at [email protected]. The next diocesan youth event is the Bishop's Lock-In at Grace Church Cathedral April 12-13. For details on that and other upcoming opportunities for youth, check out our youth page at episcopalchurchsc.org/youth and on Instagram at @tecscyouth. View and share photos in our Facebook Page album here.
More than 150 clergy and lay leaders gathered under the ancient oaks of Middleton Place near Charleston on February 28, walking the ‘sacred ground’ where enslaved Africans and white Europeans lived and died for generations, and where their descendants continue to grapple with their shared history and the present-day realities of race and discrimination. The Diocesan Racial Awareness Day brought together people from the 31 congregations of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, as well as guests from other dioceses and other denominations. The focus of the day was a viewing of the one-hour film produced by Middleton Place called Beyond the Fields, which includes dozens of interviews with descendants of enslaved people and owners who lived and worked at the historic plantation. Middleton Place offers a unique opportunity to share that history. Its foundation has worked for decades to research and tell the story of its African and African American residents, including the work of slaves in its demonstration areas, and opening Eliza’s House, a former slave dwelling, as a museum house in 1990. Since 2000 Middleton has offered tours focusing on the everyday life of enslaved people. Beyond the Fields, first as a book published in 2008 followed by the documentary film, are part of that ongoing commitment. Much more information is available at https://www.middletonplace.org/beyond-the-fields/ , including a link to watch the documentary online. “It was significant that we met at Middleton Place for our conversations regarding racial healing and reconciliation,” said Bishop Skip Adams, who attended as a participant. “Being on the grounds where plantation life flourished and where we know so many enslaved people lived and worked was not lost on any of us. “My hope is that God uses our time together for the ongoing healing of our diocese and nation, conformed more and more to the mind of Christ, and as we participate in the grand sweep of justice in history,” the Bishop said. Ongoing training in racial reconciliation, justice and healing are required for Episcopal Church clergy and staff and highly encouraged for all others under actions adopted by General Convention. But as the group assembled around tables to begin the day, Bishop Adams said that while those requirements are important, the Racial Awareness Day represents something more. “This is not just about fulfilling commitments or checking a box. It’s about building a culture of awareness about who we are called to be as a people of God,” he said. Archdeacon Callie Walpole, who organized the event on behalf of the diocese, offered thanks to Middleton Place for hosting, including Tracey Todd, CEO of Middleton Place and producer of the film Beyond the Fields, and Charles Duell, Middleton’s Steward and a member of St. Stephen’s, Charleston. The facilitator for the day’s conversations was the Rev. Dr. Kylon Middleton, pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in Charleston and executive director of the Charleston Illumination Project. He reminded participants that as they walk around the historic plantation, “you are on sacred ground.” Dr. Middleton is also a partner with Archdeacon Walpole in the Episcopal/AME Book Study hosted each Tuesday at Grace Church Cathedral. Many members of that study attended the Middleton event. “Every week there is a collision at the intersection of Glebe and Wentworth,” Dr. Middleton said, describing the book study. “And it is a good collision, because we come together weekly grappling with tough issues of systemic injustice, racial disparities, embedded inequities in our culture.... We feel there is a moment where we are illuminated. We don’t necessarily have to agree, but we are at least enlightened and we are aware, and we are better for having sat together and talked one with another.” “I don’t know if you’ve ever been ‘the other,’ but it’s certainly not a good place to be,” Dr. Middleton told the group. “We have come to combat and stamp out those othering experiences that exclude, that marginalize, that push to the periphery those who have historically been left out.” To drive home that point, at one point in the discussion, he asked participants to identify one individual at each table who was different from everyone else at their table -- for example, the only woman, the only clergy person – to serve as the leader and spokesperson. After Noonday Prayer and a lunch of fried chicken, barbecue, collards and other regional favorites, participants had time to walk the grounds of Middleton, reflecting and writing in journals. Several churches sent teams of clergy and lay leaders to the Racial Awareness Day. A group of 15 attended from Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church in Pawleys Island, including their priest associate, the Rev. Donald Fishburne. “As a Charleston native, I felt during the pilgrimage day not so much guilt or shame, but sorrow and heartache for the cruelty of the past that continues to find expression even today,” Fr. Fishburne wrote afterward in a report for his church newsletter. The Episcopal Church on Edisto team was joined by the Rev. Chick Morrison, pastor of New First Missionary Baptist Church, the historically African American congregation that worships next door to the Edisto Episcopalians, and has given them use of their historic sanctuary for the past six years. Pastor Morrison told the group during the discussion period that while understanding the past is important, it’s also important to look toward the future. “We don’t fight fire. We fight fire with love,” he said. After the event, Archdeacon Walpole offered the following reflection: “The Reverend Dr Kylon Middleton, AME minister and Director of the Charleston Illumination Project, who facilitated our Racial Awareness Day at Middleton Place, calls the grounds at Middleton ‘sacred.’ It might seem incongruous (perhaps anywhere but in South Carolina) to hold a racial awareness day at a plantation known as America’s oldest landscaped gardens, where thousands of enslaved Africans toiled ceaselessly to make South Carolina Britain’s wealthiest colony. The film Beyond the Fields produced by Middleton Place delves into this history, featuring numerous Middleton descendants and local personalities speaking in strikingly non-dramatic, matter-of-fact, tones about a divergent but shared heritage and the pressing task for us all today to seek unity in diversity – and truth. The past is not dead but rather confronted and acknowledged—on the way to a future of full redemption –transformation – communion.”  Bishop Rob Wright The Rt. Rev. Robert C. Wright, 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, will be the keynote speaker at our 2019 Diocesan Clergy Conference May 6-8 at at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC.
Held annually, the conference is an opportunity for all clergy of the diocese to pray together with Bishop Adams and one another, sharing in fellowship and Sabbath time. (Diocesan clergy, register for the conference at this link) Bishop Wright was elected in 2012 to serve the Diocese of Atlanta, which covers north and middle Georgia and embraces 110 worshiping communities. He had previously served as rector of St. Paul’s, Atlanta, and on the staff of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City. Since becoming bishop, Bishop Wright addressed the Georgia legislature about gun control, spoke up for Medicaid expansion and has been a vocal and active opponent of the death penalty in Georgia. In commemoration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, he prayed with a City of Atlanta sanitation crew before taking an early morning shift on the back of a city garbage truck. In January 2015, he was named among the 100 Most Influential Georgians by GeorgiaTrend magazine. Bishop Wright was born in a Roman Catholic orphanage in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was adopted at 9 months of age. After graduating high school, he served five years in the U.S. Navy. While attending Howard University in Washington, D.C., he worked as a child advocate for two mayors. He earned an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary, and he has been awarded honorary doctor of divinity degrees by the Virginia seminary and Sewanee: The University of the South. He is married to Beth-Sarah Wright, Ph.D., and they have a grown daughter and four school-age children. To see Bishop Wright's detailed biography, click here. |
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- Home
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About Us
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Ministry
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- Commission on Ministry
- Title IV Concerns
- Outreach
- Racial Justice & Reconciliation Commission
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