 Article excerpted from the Episcopal News Service: This article was written before the final vote on February 19, but on that date, the Executive Council did vote to forgive about $2.7 million in debt accrued from a loan given to the Diocese of South Carolina after the 2012 diocesan schism. The following article was written the day prior.
Executive Council is poised to forgive about $2.7 million in debt that the Diocese of South Carolina accrued after a 2012 diocesan split, in which theologically conservative church leaders led a large group of Episcopalians to leave the church. After that split, The Episcopal Church had responded in part by lending money to the remaining Episcopal diocese and its congregations as they fought a decade-long legal battle to retain possession of their historic properties. Those court cases were largely resolved in the Episcopal diocese’s favor in 2022. Since then, some congregations have moved back into their historic churches, and the diocese has pursued church planting efforts in other communities. On Feb. 17, South Carolina Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley appeared on Zoom to address two committees of Executive Council, which is meeting here at the Maritime Conference Center. Woodliff-Stanley emphasized that South Carolina is one of The Episcopal Church’s original nine dioceses, dating to 1785, and now with the court fight resolved, Episcopalians in South Carolina are focused on rebuilding congregations and growing ministries in their communities. “We could not have done what we had to do without the church being with us. And we are now asking you to be with us in this season of rebuilding,” Woodliff-Stanley said. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe spoke briefly to the committees, arguing strongly in favor of forgiving the diocese’s outstanding church loan. “I am in complete support,” Rowe said, adding that acting on the proposal was about more than forgiveness of past debts. “I believe this would be, on our part, an investment in the mission of that diocese.” Executive Council’s committees on Finance and Governance & Operations voted unanimously to advance the proposal, to which Woodliff-Stanley responded, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” The measure will proceed to likely approval by the full Executive Council on Feb. 19, the final day of this meeting. Read the full story on ENS at this link.  Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley shares a word about the remarkable life of Chancellor Emeritus Thomas S. Tisdale, Jr. who died on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
January 30, 2025 Dear Beloved People in the Diocese of South Carolina, Thomas Sumter Tisdale, Jr., beloved child of God and Chancellor Emeritus of the Diocese of South Carolina, has gone home to be with our Lord. As the son of the Rev. Cn. Thomas Sumter Tisdale, an Episcopal priest who served for 50 years in the Diocese of South Carolina, Chancellor Tisdale’s roots run deep in this state and diocese. Tom’s family has been a part of this diocese and The Episcopal Church for generations. He demonstrated tremendous love and loyalty to the Church and to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina throughout his lifetime. He was a devoted member of Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston. An accomplished lawyer, Tom shared his time and his immense talents in the name of service to the Diocese of South Carolina for decades. He served as chancellor from 1970-1985 during the episcopates of Bishop Temple and Bishop Allison, before returning to this role after the schism in 2012 to serve under our provisional bishops, Bishop von Rosenberg and Bishop Adams, and through my early tenure as your bishop. In total, Tom served under five bishops of the Diocese of South Carolina. In November 2022 at the 232nd Convention of The Diocese of South Carolina, it was my distinct honor to present Chancellor Tisdale with the Bishop’s Cross in recognition of his devotion to our diocese, and most notably his tireless efforts to ensure The Episcopal Church would continue to be present in South Carolina for generations to come. Tom served as a delegate to multiple General Conventions of The Episcopal Church over the years, beginning in 1972, and most recently in 2015. He also served on The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church and as Chair of the Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance. Additionally, he served on the Board of Trustees at various institutions of our diocese, including Porter-Gaud School, Voorhees College (now University), and his alma mater, Sewanee: The University of the South. In addition to his legal talents, Tom was a gifted writer and publisher. He authored numerous books about the Lowcountry over his lifetime. In 2013, he wrote the play “Truth in Cold Blood,” which told the remarkable story of the eighth bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, Bishop William Alexander Guerry, who was shot in his own office by a priest who opposed the bishop’s efforts to advance racial equality. As described on his publishing site, the play attempted to “restore the memory of this tragedy to a place where it can, as all history strives to do, lead people to a better understanding of how to face the future while, at the same time, confronting the past and present.” In 2014, the play was brought to the stage at the historic Dock Street Theater here in Charleston. Like Bishop Guerry, Chancellor Tisdale was also drawn to the cause of racial equality, working as a tireless advocate throughout his lifetime for those who faced discrimination and injustice. During my tenure in South Carolina, people have shared stories with me about countless times Tom provided legal or financial assistance when he saw there was a need, often when he saw a racial injustice that he wanted to make right. In many of these instances, he offered his time and talents without expecting anything in return other than seeing justice prevail and humanity restored. He was a good man and a faithful servant of our God. His legacy in guiding this diocese through perilous waters is unparalleled. A loving husband, father, friend, and churchman, Tom will be missed dearly by us all. Our hearts are with his beloved wife, Nina, and their family members, including children and grandchildren, as they grieve such a tremendous loss and celebrate a life well lived. Faithfully yours, The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina  November 6, 2024
Dear beloved members of the diocese, Our country has elected a new president. And today, we rise. Our work continues and the Gospel endures. In these times, no matter our internal disposition, let us be the Gospel we proclaim. May we commit ourselves to continuing the work of race justice, to defending the rights of our siblings in the LGBTQIA community, to supporting immigrants with compassion and kindness, and to protecting the most vulnerable among us. We are called to live our faith and the call of our baptismal covenant to respect the dignity of every human being. This is what Jesus calls us to do. Today, we rise. Love your neighbor and yourself. Let us continue to pray for peace and unity in Christ. The work continues and the Gospel endures, forever. Faithfully yours, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley  Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley at a portion of the Small Western Wall during an August 2023 visit to the Holy Land. Following the horrific events that have unfolded since Hamas began attacking the people of Israel on Saturday, October 7, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley offers the lament below: Dear faithful Episcopalians, Just in August, I had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land. It was a compelling trip. Now, mere weeks later, we watch in shock as the terror and agony unfolds. We in the Diocese of South Carolina join with people around the globe in lament. We denounce the atrocious acts of violence committed by Hamas against Israel and innocent civilians. We pray fervently for an end to the brutal, senseless violence. We lament the tragic loss of lives of Jews, Palestinians, and all those who have died in the violence of these days. We pray for the wisdom and skill of capable global leadership to forge a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. Faithfully yours, +Ruth The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina A Prayer from the Archbishop of Jerusalem: The Most Rev. Hosam Naoum
O God of all justice and peace we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land. Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths - Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land. While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace, we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples. Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children for, to all of us, you are our Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. On March 29, 2023, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley traveled to our state capitol to speak before members of the state legislature as they consider bills currently before the House and/or Senate. She was allowed to speak directly to subcommittees against two of the three bills against which she wanted to voice her opposition. A video of her testimony against Senate bill S.623 is below, and the text of her remarks against the other two bills is below as well. S. 623 - A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-63-100, RELATING TO THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH A PERSON MAY MAKE CHANGES TO HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT GENDER CHANGES TO A PERSON'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE MAY ONLY BE TO CHANGE FROM MALE TO FEMALE OR FROM FEMALE TO MALE AND TO PROVIDE FOR AFFIDAVITS THAT MUST ACCOMPANY A PETITION TO MAKE A GENDER CHANGE TO A PERSON'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE Testimony of The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley To the Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee Against Senate Bill 623 March 29, 2023 Thank you, Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, and I serve as Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina—the lower and coastal parts of this beautiful state. I am here to speak in opposition to Senate Bill 623 because it creates hardship and pain for our transgender and gender non-binary citizens by establishing obstacles that hinder their efforts to identify themselves accurately in official documents of the state. And because, more broadly, I believe it sets the stage for discrimination later in life, in a society where all subsequent official documentation, such as passports and drivers licenses are based off of the primary document of the birth certificate. Senate Bill 623 also rejects the possibility of any nonbinary identity. And, it uses definitions that are unclear or problematic, including using a definition of “gender change” itself as something that can only occur due to clerical error or within one year of birth. Initial biological identity at birth is ambiguous for physical, hormonal, genetic, or other reasons close to 1% of the time, which affects millions of people. This bill fails to recognize that in some cases the consequences of gender assignment do not emerge for several years. This bill narrows options rather than creating them. It makes life harder for people who already have a hard path, in order to bolster the comfort of some who do not understand gender difference. There is no reason for any of this. I don’t think this bill is about love. The Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church says, “If it’s not about love, it’s not about God.” So, I say, let’s be about love. We have enough suffering; we don’t need to legislate more. In the Episcopal church, we promise to respect the dignity of every human being.We join with our transgender and gender nonbinary siblings and their loved ones in opposing government interference in their lives that compromises their dignity and creates suffering. With them, we ask you to vote NO on Senate Bill 623. Be about love. S. 627 – A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-300 SO AS TO DEFINE GENDER, SEX, AND OTHER TERMS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-310 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE PROVISION OF GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES TO A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-320 SO AS TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-330 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-340 SO AS TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 59-32-36 SO AS TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL STAFF AND OFFICIALS FROM WITHHOLDING KNOWLEDGE OF A MINOR'S PERCEPTION OF THEIR GENDER FROM THE MINOR'S PARENTS. Testimony of The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley To the Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee Against Senate Bill 627 March 29, 2023 Thank you, Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, and I serve as Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina—the lower and coastal parts of this beautiful state. I am here to speak in opposition to Senate Bill 627 because it creates hardship and pain for our transgender youth and their parents by creating obstacles to their efforts to obtain the care these youth need from medical professionals. This bill makes an already challenging journey much more difficult by taking options away, even when everyone directly involved agrees that these options would be the best choice for a particular youth. From decades of experience in ministry, I have come to know transgender youth and been witness to their courage. I have sat with youth and families in enough situations to understand that often it is very clear that a person is transgender before adulthood. To create a law that denies this experience and delays time sensitive, much needed medical care creates avoidable suffering. In addition, this bill puts teachers in the untenable position of outing trans or possibly trans youth to their parents even when doing so might put the youth at risk. In some cases, such disclosures could put these youth at risk of physical, psychological, or sexual violence or of being turned out into the streets to face a myriad of dangers. I do not think this bill is about love. The Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church says, “If it’s not about love, it’s not about God.” So, I say, let’s be about love. We have enough suffering; we don’t need to legislate more. In the Episcopal church, we promise to respect the dignity of every human being. We join with our transgender and gender nonbinary siblings and their loved ones in opposing government interference in their lives that compromises their dignity and creates suffering. With them, we ask you to vote NO on Senate Bill 627. Be about love. H.3728 - A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY IN EDUCATION ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 29, TITLE 59 SO AS TO EXPRESS RELATED INTENTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, TO PROVIDE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS, TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN CONCEPTS FROM BEING INCLUDED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL INSTRUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TO PROVIDE MEANS FOR ADDRESSING VIOLATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC REVIEW OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-28-180, RELATING TO PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS IN THE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN REGARDING MORALS, ETHICS, AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO PROVIDE A PARENTAL PLEDGE OF EXPECTATIONS MUST BE PROVIDED TO PARENTS AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT PROCESS. Testimony of The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley
To the K-12 Subcommittee of The Education Committee Against House Bill 3728 March 29, 2023 Thank you, Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, and I serve as Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina—the lower and coastal parts of this beautiful state. I am here to speak in opposition to House Bill 3728 because it compromises the education of our children and youth by threatening the ability of public educators to teach the full truth. In addition, it subjects educators to interference in their teaching, burdens them with a cumbersome complaint process, and risks the loss of state funding. I have recently returned from a visit to the Legacy Museum and lynching Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. While there, I was utterly flooded by the sheer magnitude of the numbers of lives destroyed, the countless families ripped apart, the unspeakable horrors of physical torture and mental anguish imposed by those who enslaved on their fellow human beings. The very idea that we would be more concerned to create laws that shield us from the deepest possible understanding of how these horrors came to be than to create laws that would foster such understanding boggles my mind. In a state that was the entry point to nearly half of all enslaved people and where indigenous people were driven out violently from their homeland, it is deeply troubling that we are more concerned to protect sensibilities of those who may disagree with particular concepts or approaches to our hard history than to engage the pain of those who continue to experience the impacts of our long legacy of racism. To heal this land, we must speak the truth in love to one another. I do not believe this bill fosters such loving truth telling. This is not a bill about love. The Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church says, “If it’s not about love, it’s not about God.” So, I say, let’s be about love. We have enough suffering; we don’t need to legislate more. I urge you to vote NO on House bill 3728. Be about love.  Last month at our 232nd Diocesan Convention, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley recognized Lonnie Hamilton III and Thomas Tisdale for their decades of faithful service to the diocese with the Bishop's Cross. The Presentation of The Bishop’s Cross is a tradition observed across the Church, and it is presented each Convention, by the diocesan bishop, to a person whose outstanding service to the diocese has changed the course of history for the diocese for good, helping the diocese in a significant way to proclaim and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. The bishop bestows this cross to a person whose manner of sacrificial giving so exemplifies Christ-like love as to be set forth to the entire Diocese as an example of exemplary Christian leadership. To learn more about why these two men were honored with this special recognition, watch the Bishop's presentation at Diocesan Convention last month at this link: https://bit.ly/EDSCBishopsCross22
Unfortunately, neither gentleman was able to attend Diocesan Convention, so on Sunday, December 18, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley was able to present the Bishop's Crosses to these remarkable individuals at two separate parish events. First she visited a celebration at Calvary Episcopal Church in Charleston where she had the opportunity to present the Bishop's Cross to Lonnie Hamilton III, who has served the diocese in a number of ways over his amazing life, including remaining as the sole lay delegate to General Convention from our diocese in 2012 when the rest of the delegation left in protest (this discontent led to the schism in our diocese later that year, but Lonnie Hamilton and Thomas Tisdale were champions in the effort to continue the presence of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina). Then she attended the Christmas Lessons & Carols Service at Grace Church Cathedral where she was able to surprise Thomas Tisdale, who served as chancellor for the diocese for five different bishops since 1970 before retiring earlier this year. The surprises continued when the Very Rev. Michael Wright, Dean of Grace Church Cathedral, named Mr. Tisdale a Canon of the Cathedral in honor of his tremendous service to the diocese and Grace Church Cathedral. View photos from both events on our Facebook page at this link. The crosses were patterned after that of the Rt. Rev. William Alexander Guerry, the eighth bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, whose efforts to advance racial equality led to his death in 1928.  Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley shares a word about recent decisions made on behalf of our diocese regarding St. Matthew's, Fort Motte, and what it means for the future of our diocese.
October 29, 2022 Dear Faithful People in the Diocese of South Carolina, After prayerful consideration, onsite visits, and in-depth conversations with many to whom St. Matthew’s, Fort Motte is particularly dear, the Standing Committee and I have made the decision to allow the ACNA congregation to purchase the St. Matthew’s church property. While it is very difficult to let this historically Episcopal property go, we believe that it is the best way to care for the needs of the local community, as well as that of the entire Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. Our decision also reflects an understanding of the context of the wider Episcopal Church’s struggle with respect to these issues, particularly as we recognize that this season is coming to a close. As these properties have been returned to us according to the Court’s ruling earlier this year, our first responsibility in all associated negotiations has been to care for individual Episcopalians and the congregations with which they are associated – their unique contexts, particular gifts, hopes, sorrows, and pastoral needs. St. Matthew’s, located in rural Calhoun County, has historically been a very small congregation. Today, the number of people who would hope to have an Episcopal presence is extremely small. The rural setting of St. Matthew’s also has a bearing. In small, rural, stable communities, relationships are close and memories are long and often have multi-generational impact. While St. Matthew’s was an Episcopal Church until 10 years ago – and while it is true that the South Carolina Supreme Court decided this property should be returned to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina – we recognize that, without a seed congregation ready to reopen as an Episcopal church, the displacement of the ACNA congregation would undermine the healing we seek to foster in this particular community. Our missional responsibility is to have Episcopal churches across our diocese’s geographic area. With respect to this region, our most thoughtful approach is to plant a church where there is anticipated growth. Given the loss of several Episcopal churches in what was the Orangeburg Deanery, we will prioritize exploring a church plant in that area. In addition to our focus on the particular needs of Episcopalians in the Ft. Motte region, we have a responsibility for the overall strength and health of the entire diocese. We are in the midst of visioning a new season of ministry in The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. Although we are fortunate to have several strategically located properties returned to us, there are significant areas of the diocese which do not have an Episcopal presence – among these are several new, growing areas. These areas present significant opportunities for new church plants and the development of large, regional resource congregations which can support our common life in a number of ways. We believe that such investments will only make our diocese stronger, allowing important ministries to flourish while spreading the good news of the Gospel to even more people in this state. Our choice to allow the ACNA congregation at St. Matthew’s to buy this property provides us with resources that may be used to plant a new church that, in time and God willing, can bring strength and gifts to the benefit of the Episcopalians resident in that area and in the entire diocese. This was not an easy decision, but it is one that provides the best opportunity for the health and future of our diocese, while hopefully allowing for healing across our differences on a path to reconciliation. I am excited about the future of our diocese and our next season of ministry together, focused on the mission of the church to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. Faithfully yours, +Ruth The Rt. Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina  St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Hartsville Decisions by the South Carolina Supreme Court in April and August of this year initiated the return of at least seven churches, as well as diocesan property and the St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center on Seabrook Island. Below is an update on each of the transitions.
The return of each church requires a tremendous amount of transitional work and negotiation, and since the Orders of the Court, the following churches have returned to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina: St. John’s, Johns Island (July 2022); St. David’s, Cheraw (August 2022); Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant (September 2022); and Holy Trinity, Charleston (September 2022). Episcopal worship services have resumed at each church, with the exception of Holy Trinity, where diocesan leadership is still in discernment about the best path forward. The Acorn School continues to operate at Holy Trinity and the diocesan office is working with the school’s leadership. St. Bartholomew’s in Hartsville was scheduled to return at the end of September, but the date of transition has been moved to the end of October to accommodate the departing members of the ACNA congregation and their rector. Due to unforeseen circumstances that resulted in a delay in the ACNA congregation moving to their new worship space, the Episcopal congregation at St. Bartholomew’s graciously allowed them to remain for one more month. St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church is scheduled to reopen on Sunday, October 30. The Rev. Michael Bye, interim priest-in-charge at St. David’s, Cheraw, will be serving St. Bartholomew’s as well, as the diocese continues to search for permanent leadership. Of the remaining returning congregations, St. James, Charleston is expected to reopen next, with an anticipated date of All Saints Sunday, November 6, 2022, under the leadership of the Rev. Taylor M. Smith. Discernment is in process regarding how best to serve Episcopalians in and surrounding Fort Motte and the best use of returning property there. The diocese is awaiting a further decision of the Court regarding Good Shepherd, Charleston, as well as Old St. Andrew’s, Charleston, and Holy Cross, Stateburg. Details on a settlement between our diocese and the ACNA diocese regarding diocesan properties were announced by Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley on September 27, 2022. Since that time, St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center was returned to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina on October 1, 2022, led by seasoned Episcopal Camp and Conference Center executive directors, the Rev. Deacon Helen and Rick Hargreaves. All staff except for the most recent executive director have been asked to continue their employment, and they have been most helpful as we continue through this transition. The camp and conference center, and barrier island programs, continue operating without interruption. Bishop Woodliff-Stanley has named a strategic Steering Committee, led by the Rev. Laura Rezac, that will report to the bishop and the Trustees regarding the operation of St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center. In addition, the bishop, with the support of the Trustees, has engaged Rob Watson and Stuart Campbell, veteran executive directors and consultants from Episcopal Camps & Conference Center ECCC Ministries, to help the bishop, the bishop’s steering committee, and St. Christopher’s interim executive directors frame the scope of work at the camp and conference center for the coming months. “While these transitional issues have been taking much of the focus lately, I am thrilled about what the Spirit is doing across our diocese, among all of the congregations of our historic diocese,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. “The returning congregations are a part of this emerging vision, and I am excited for us all to embark on this next season of ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. I can’t wait for the people of the diocese to learn more at our Diocesan Convention next month.” In the message below, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley offers a pastoral word for the people of the diocese regarding the settlement agreement she announced yesterday along with the bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, Bishop Chip Edgar. Read yesterday's joint announcement on our website at this link.
The entire letter below can be viewed as a .pdf at this link. September 27, 2022 Dear Friends in the Diocese of South Carolina, Yesterday, Bishop Chip Edgar of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina and I announced that our two dioceses have reached a final settlement agreement resolving numerous outstanding legal issues between our two dioceses (read the announcement at this link). This settlement was made possible after extensive, good-faith discussions between the leadership of each diocese, each of which was engaged in an open dialogue of mutual respect and good will toward one another. While the settlement does not end the ongoing negotiations on a parish level, including betterments litigation, it does bring resolution to all issues involving diocesan property. While each diocese has had to leave things on the table to get to this moment, and while we experience pain over losses of some of the historic churches our members hold dear, we have seen the Spirit at work in drawing us toward God’s redemptive way of love at every juncture. I remain hopeful that we can bring remaining parish issues to full resolution and move into a new season of ministry as two distinct dioceses working alongside each other in the same communities for the sake of the gospel. Reflecting on the process, Bishop Edgar noted in yesterday’s announcement, “This settlement agreement allows us to invest our diocesan energy, time, focus, and resources in gospel ministry rather than litigation … I am grateful that the work we have done has brought an end to litigation between our dioceses.” Following Jesus entails a willingness—an eagerness, even—to engage those who have been our opponents with the goal of repairing the breach between us. From the very beginning of this process, I have been grateful for the gracious spirit of Bishop Edgar in doing just this work with us. I am grateful for his leadership and his generosity. I am deeply grateful to the leadership of our diocese for their determined efforts that helped us arrive at this resolution. Our Diocesan Chancellor Bert “Skip” Utsey has worked skillfully and tirelessly to help achieve this agreement. His efforts both prior to and throughout these negotiations have been instrumental in allowing us to accomplish this settlement. Our Standing Committee and Trustees have been involved throughout this process, and both have given their unanimous support to this final agreement. The resolution of these matters would not have been possible without the outstanding legal work and continuous guidance of our retired Chancellor, Tom Tisdale and the Presiding Bishop’s Chancellor, Mary Kostel, over many years. We owe them, and our whole legal team, a debt of gratitude. It is difficult to express adequately my tremendous gratitude for their great work, and I know this would not be possible without each of them. It is often difficult to find common ground with those with whom we disagree. Yet, it was uplifting to see both sides in this resolution willing to make concessions that allowed us all to move forward. While the full details of the settlement remain confidential, we release today certain elements, including the following:
It has been nearly a decade since the schism in our diocese brought about heartbreak and loss, as many in our diocese no longer felt welcome to worship in their church homes. Over the past five months, we have reopened at St. John’s, Johns Island; St. David’s, Cheraw; and Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant. In the coming weeks, we hope Episcopalians can fully return for worship again at St. Bartholomew’s, Hartsville, and St. James, Charleston. We are working to determine how to best use all of our returning assets to support our mission and ministry across the diocese in the days ahead. Please know I am fully committed to supporting your future as The Episcopal Church where you have so faithfully kept our presence alive and growing, whether your property is being returned to you or not. I have great hope for the future of our diocese and our next season of ministry together. As we continue to go forth, may we remain focused on that which brings true reconciliation, believing in the power of the gospel to right the wrongs of injustice, heal the broken, and build a beloved community of God. Faithfully yours, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley  In the message below, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley offers a pastoral word for the people of the diocese regarding the opinion published today by the South Carolina Supreme Court (learn more about the decision at this link).
August 17, 2022 Dear Friends in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, Nathan and I are away and I have just received the news of the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision today. I am very disappointed, as I am sure are many of you. I am keenly aware of the many connections across our diocese to the six churches that were referenced in the Court’s decision. The cost to all of our communities is significant, particularly to those with direct links to these churches. The Court today referenced these churches as property, but the people of the diocese know all too well that it’s not about simple real estate. These are the houses of worship that many Episcopalians have called a spiritual home for generations. For those of you for whom this is the case, I grieve the potential loss of these church homes. I am particularly mindful that when a decision we understood to be final, is subsequently reversed again, it creates a distinct kind of pain and anger. Know that we will be reviewing all possible courses of action as we move forward. To those who have loved these churches and called them home, please know of my strong commitment to supporting your future as The Episcopal Church in each place where you so faithfully have kept our presence alive and thriving. Despite this very difficult decision, I remain convinced that the God who began a good work among us, will continue to strengthen us and make our diocese flourish. We have a future filled with hope rooted in the love, mercy, and justice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am excited to continue this journey with you. It is my great joy to serve among you. Faithfully yours, The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina |
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