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Racial Justice and Healing: Two Sundays in June

4/23/2019

Bishop Guerry

June offers two important opportunities to focus on racial justice and healing. Sue Cavanaugh of Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston, serves on the South Carolina Christian Action Council, and is helping to highlight these events in our Diocese.

June 16 has been named as Racial Justice Sunday 2019 by the SCCAC. This year it is also Trinity Sunday and Fathers Day, and the SCCAC website's Racial Justice Sunday page offers information, prayers and other resources for churches.

In our Diocese, June 23 will be observed as Bishop Guerry Sunday, remembering William Alexander Guerry as a bishop, reformer and martyr. The 8th Bishop of our Diocese, he died on June 9, 1928, days after being shot by a priest who had attacked the bishop’s position on advancing racial equality in South Carolina. He is remembered on a Sunday in June each year.

Mrs. Cavanaugh says she recently shared the story of Bishop William Alexander Guerry at a SCCAC Racial Justice and Healing Workgroup meeting. The story was new to almost everyone in the group, so Mrs. Cavanaugh shared additional information with them via the Bishop Guerry page on the diocesan website.

The SCCAC then asked Mrs. Cavanaugh to share a reflection on Bishop Guerry as part of the Racial Justice Sunday materials for 2019. As a result, people across the state will have the opportunity to learn more about Bishop Guerry's martyrdom and Christian witness.

"From the first time I heard the story of Bishop Guerry, I began to want the same thing he had given his life for," Mrs. Cavanaugh's reflection says. "I was moved to take a larger part in the cause of Racial Justice." Read the whole reflection here: Martyr Bishop Guerry: A Personal Connection.

Church leaders who are preparing for Bishop Guerry Sunday will find resources such as readings, the Collect for the Feast of William Alexander Guerry, and bulletin inserts on our website here.

Reply filed in support of Petition for Writ of Mandamus

4/17/2019

The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECSC) and The Episcopal Church today filed a reply with the South Carolina Supreme Court, offering additional points in support of their request for Writ of Mandamus to enforce the high court’s 2017 decision to return control of diocesan property and 29 parish properties to The Episcopal Church and its local diocese, TECSC.

The "Petitioners' Reply to Intervenors' Return" says The Episcopal Church and TECSC stand by their March 20 “Petition for Writ of Mandamus,” and offers five points in response to arguments raised in the “Intervenors’ Return” filed on April 11 by attorneys for the group that left the Church.

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 continued delay in enforcing the high court’s decision is causing harm to TECSC, the petition says. The decision was remitted to Circuit Court Judge Edgar W. Dickson for enforcement in November 2017.

Attorneys for the breakaway group have argued that the decision is too unclear to be enforced. However, today’s “Petitioners’ Reply” notes that the breakaway group clearly understood that the result of the high court's decision would be to return property to The Episcopal Church, quoting from arguments they filed in 2017 seeking a rehearing. “Now, they take a contradictory position, denying that result,” the “Petitioners’ Reply” says.

The disassociated group also argued that the petition for writ of mandamus should be denied because the Episcopal parties can wait for a decision and then appeal.

"They say this, self-servingly, while maintaining unlawful possession and control of trust property for which they have 'repudiated their role as trustees,'" today’s Reply says, quoting an earlier document the breakaway group filed with Judge Dickson.

"This is a plain admission that they are not holding and protecting the property for Petitioners, but rather are improperly using it for their own purposes," today's Reply 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 Episcopal Church and TECSC have asked Judge Dickson to order the return of the property and assets, and have also requested a full accounting. So far, no action has been taken on those requests.

Music Around the Diocese: Easter, Spring and Spoleto

4/17/2019

Three performances by The Choraliers Music Club at St. Mark's, Charleston (above) are part of the 2019 Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

Eastertide, spring and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston offer multiple opportunities to enjoy special services and concerts in the churches of our Diocese.

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 Choral Evensong for the Feast of St. George the Martyr, Patron Saint of England. This service of Evening Prayer set to music will include the Evening Canticles ‘Collegium Regale’ by Herbert Howells, and a setting of the 15th century text ‘Alleluya, a new work is come on hand’ by Peter Wishart.

May 25: Choraliers Music Club in Concert
St. Mark's, Charleston, 8 pm (additional performances on June 1 and June 8)
As one of the city's most seasoned choral groups, The Choraliers will present a dynamic
one-hour Gullah-Geechee performance of Gullah Folklore including both arranged and unarranged Spirituals, gospel, blues, and excerpts from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Admission $15 adult, $12 senior & student, children under 6 free. (Ticket information)

May 27: Lee Kohlenberg Organ Recital
Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, 10 am
Lee Kohlenberg, who was coordinator for the Piccolo Spoleto L'Organo series for 11 years as well as the Festival of Churches and Choral Artists Series, will perform a recital featuring English composers: Herman Berlinsky’s “Burning Bush” and Marcel Dupre’s “Variations sur un Noel.” Free admission.

May 27: Atlanta Schola Cantorum in Concert
Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, 2 pm
Headed up by new music director, Chris Walters, Atlanta Schola Cantorum performs a capella choral works and later works by contemporary composers such as Lauridsen, Part, and Whitacre at this unique event. Free admission.

May 30: Choral Eucharist for the Feast of the Ascension
Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, 12 pm
The St. Gregory Choir will sing at this noonday service; the Rev. Martin L. Smith will be guest preacher.

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.

June 1: Choraliers Music Club in Concert
St. Mark's, Charleston, 8 pm (additional performance on June 8)
See details under the May 25 listing.

June 8: Choraliers Music Club in Concert
St. Mark's, Charleston, 8 pm
See details under the May 25 listing.

2019 Bishop's Lock-In

4/16/2019

Diocesan Ministry Developer Andrea McKellar, who coordinates youth ministry for our diocese, reports on the youth lock-in held April 12-13 at Grace Church Cathedral:

The fourth Annual Bishop’s Lock-in was another huge success. There were more than 30 participants from four congregations. Bishop Adams was sad to have to miss the event this year, but he sent the youth a video message.

The evening included food, games, music, and lots of laughter. The youth taught each other activities that they have learned through their own involvement in church, diocesan, and Province IV events. At Holy Eucharist, the group got more serious and focused on our own faith and Holy Week. The group was led through five stations with hands-on activities.

After a little sleep, Saturday morning included an overview of upcoming opportunities for youth, a service activity, and praying for our graduating seniors, Kathryn Hart and Matthew Kyzer, who have been active in diocesan ministry since the first lock-in.

If you are interested in learning more about opportunities for youth in our diocese, please visit the Youth Page on our website or contact Diocesan Youth Coordinator, Andrea McKellar at [email protected].

Upcoming dates:
July 30-August 3: Province IV Youth Event – High School students will travel to Fayetteville, NC to do hurricane relief work.
October 4-6: Fall Youth Retreat for middle and high school youth. Applications for the leadership team will open May 1.
December 5-8: Province IV Youth Leadership Weekend at Camp Gravatt
February 28 - March 1: Happening #2 at Camp St. Christopher

Clergy Transitions

4/15/2019

The Rev. Jason Roberson has been called to serve as associate rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Fr. Roberson has served as assistant rector at Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island, since his ordination in 2017. At the Grace/La Gracia parish, he will be primarily involved with Spanish-language liturgies, as well as serving at liturgies in English and in pastoral care. Prior to attending Virginia Theological Seminary, he taught Spanish and worked as an interpreter. He serves on the board of the Dominican Development Group and has organized and led several mission trips to the Dominican Republic. Fr. Roberson's final Sunday at Holy Cross Faith Memorial will be June 23, and he begins at Grace on July 7.

Response filed to Petition for Writ of Mandamus

4/12/2019

Attorneys for a group that left The Episcopal Church have filed their response to a petition before the South Carolina Supreme Court in which The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECSC) and The Episcopal Church are seeking enforcement of the high court’s 2017 decision to return control of diocesan property and 29 parish properties to The Episcopal Church.

The “Intervenors’ Return to Petition for Writ of Mandamus,” filed Thursday, asks the court to deny the petition filed on March 20 by TECSC and The Episcopal Church that asks the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus that would require First Judicial Circuit Judge Edgar W. Dickson to take action and execute the decision that the justices remitted to the court nearly 17 months ago.

Thursday’s legal response suggests that the Circuit Court should be given discretion to interpret the August 2017 opinion and make new determinations regarding the merits of the case. It generally repeats earlier arguments that the August 2017 opinion is unclear and unenforceable as written. And it argues that granting the petition would deny due process to the breakaway group.

The diocesan and parish properties in dispute are currently 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 and returning the properties to The Episcopal Church is continuing to cause harm to TECSC, the Petition for Writ of Mandamus says.

Racial Justice and Healing: Two Sundays in June

Reply filed in support of Petition for Writ of Mandamus

Music Around the Diocese: Easter, Spring and Spoleto

2019 Bishop's Lock-In

Clergy Transitions

Response filed to Petition for Writ of Mandamus

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