Category: Leadership Transition

Diocesan Staff Members Transitioning to New Roles

5/11/2022

As we continue forward in the first year of her episcopate, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called Andrea McKellar, who currently serves as Diocesan Ministry Developer, to be Canon for Finance and Administration. Cn. McKellar has served in a number of roles since joining the diocesan staff in 2014. She will assume the responsibilities for financial oversight, office operations, grants, diocesan events, and parish support. In recognition of her long service to the diocese, she will be taking a six-week sabbatical at the beginning of the summer, and will assume these new roles when she returns on August 1.

“Canon McKellar has been an outstanding leader for our diocese helping to guide us through the challenges of the past decade with skill and grace,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. “I am grateful for the work she has been doing and thrilled that she has agreed to take on a new set of responsibilities for a new season of ministry. Her background as a small business owner and a valued member of the financial team of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church position her well to oversee our financial operations of our diocese. It is my joy to name her as Canon for Finance and Administration.”

As Cn. McKellar shifts her focus toward financial and administrative duties, the responsibilities as transition officer will be handled by the Rev. Cn. Philip Linder, who serves as Canon to the Ordinary. Cn. McKellar has begun to work with Cn. Linder so that he can already begin to assume the responsibilities of the transition ministry, effective immediately.

“As we continue to realign our work for a new season, I’m grateful and excited that Canon Linder has agreed to serve as transition officer,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. As Canon to the Ordinary, Cn. Linder supports the Bishop and the Diocese’s work in healthy governance, leadership and development, and pastoral connections. In addition to his new role as transition officer, Cn. Linder is responsible for the following: the ordination process and Commission on Ministry, clergy licenses to officiate and permissions for remarriage, Constitution and Canons, and oversight of Title IV proceedings.

The Rev. Dr. Jim Taylor will continue his role as Comptroller during this time of transition.

The Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley, Jr. Named a Visiting Bishop for the Diocese

1/15/2020

In a letter to all the faithful people of the Diocese of South Carolina, the Rev. Cn. Caleb Lee, President of the Standing Committee, announced today that the Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley, Jr., has been named a visiting bishop for our diocese.

See a copy of the January 15, 2020 letter here. The text of the letter follows:

January 15, 2020

Dear Faithful People of the Diocese of South Carolina,

On behalf of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina, I write to share some very good news with you. The Standing Committee has entered into an agreement with the Right Reverend Henry N. Parsley, Jr. for him to become a visiting bishop for the Diocese of South Carolina during this time of transition as we seek our next bishop. Under the authority and provisions of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution of the Episcopal Church, a bishop may be “requested to perform episcopal acts in another Diocese by the Ecclesiastical Authority thereof.”

Bishop Parsley, who has retired to Wilmington, NC, is a native son of the Lowcountry. He is a graduate of Porter-Gaud School and spent many summers ministering at Camp St. Christopher. Many of his earlier years of ordained ministry were spent in the Diocese at parishes including St. Philip’s, Charleston, All Saints, Florence, and St. Paul’s, Summerville. He was Bishop Coadjutor and Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama from 1996-2012, and served as Chancellor of Sewanee.

In this part-time role Bishop Parsley will be in residence with us approximately one week a month. He will offer occasional services of confirmation and other sacramental rites. These will be jointly held, hosted by deaneries, to celebrate our common life together during this period of transition. All of these special services will be planned in coordination with the Standing Committee.

Bishop Parsley will also serve as a consultant to the Standing Committee and be a pastoral presence in the diocese. Bishop Parsley has a deep understanding of South Carolina and appreciation of our history, as well as hope for our future. We are so delighted that, after all these years, he is returning to serve among us during this next season of our life together.

The Standing Committee remains the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese and Archdeacon Callie Walpole will continue to serve as the pastoral point of contact for the Diocese and provide oversight of the Diocesan office.

We are grateful to Bishop Parsley for his willingness to offer us his gifts of wisdom and experience during this period of transition as we seek our next bishop. More information about future plans for our Diocese will be communicated very soon.

Faithfully yours,

The Reverend Canon Caleb J. Lee
President of the Standing Committee

A Letter From the Standing Committee, December 2019

12/20/2019

See a copy of the Standing Committee's letter of December 20, 2019 here. The text follows:

December 20, 2019

Dear Faithful People of the Diocese of South Carolina,

On behalf of the Standing Committee I write to give you an update on the current status of this time of transition in our diocese. Bishop Adams’ last day as the ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese of South Carolina will be December 31, 2019. We give thanks to God for his ministry among us over the past three years.

Beginning January 1, 2020, there will be a period of time in which the Standing Committee will be the ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese. Historically, and in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, it is the duty of the Standing Committee to be the ecclesiastical authority in the absence of a bishop.

The Standing Committee is hard at work securing the appropriate episcopal oversight for our diocese in its current state of growth and change. We are in conversation with a possible bishop candidate but do anticipate a fair amount of time before this, or any candidate would be available. That is why we are also preparing for this period of transition, assuring that there will be no break in service to you, the faithful people of the Diocese of South Carolina.

The Standing Committee has asked The Venerable Calhoun Walpole to extend her role as Archdeacon by providing day-to-day oversight of the diocesan staff in this period of transition. Archdeacon Walpole will also be the pastoral point of contact for the diocese. All other staff will continue in their current roles, ready to assist clergy and congregations as they have in the past.

The Standing Committee is also in conversation with a couple of bishops who can be available to us during this time for confirmations and other episcopal acts, as well as serve as consultants to the Standing Committee if needed.

As President, and on behalf of the Standing Committee, I will work closely with Callie+ to ensure that the ongoing work and ministry of the Diocese continues not only to function, but to thrive. It is also my intention to communicate information to the diocese in a timely manner when it seems appropriate to do so. Please continue praying for our diocese, and for the members of your Standing Committee, as we move forward together.

Faithfully yours,

The Reverend Canon Caleb J. Lee
President of the Standing Committee

With the Standing Committee:
The Reverend Fred Thompson
The Reverend George Moyser
Mr. Rick Stall
Ms. Emily Guess
Mr. Thomas Richardson
Ms. Diane Wilson
The Reverend Pam Fahrner
The Reverend Courtney Davis-Shoemaker
Ms. Alison Davidow
Mr. Taylor Skardon
The Reverend Tom Wilson
Thomas S. Tisdale, Chancellor
Katie Monoc, Vice Chancellor

A Letter from the Standing Committee

6/11/2019

See a copy of the Standing Committee's letter of June 11, 2019 here. The text follows:

Dear Faithful People of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina,

“The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” - Ephesians 4:11-13

In January of this year, your Standing Committee began exploring options for the future of the Episcopacy in our diocese. Over the course of these past several months we have discerned that our diocese is ready for the next faithful step as we continue to “grow into the full stature of Christ.”

In our meeting on May 23, the Standing Committee voted unanimously to initiate a process that will lead to our calling for the election of a full-time Bishop Diocesan. With that goal in mind, the Standing Committee is working to find a full-time Bishop Provisional who can provide episcopal leadership during the transition period ahead.

As you are aware, Bishop Skip Adams has been our Bishop Provisional for nearly three years and plans to conclude his time with us by the end of 2019, or as soon as a successor is in place. Bishop Adams has been working on a part-time basis for these three years, and both he and the Standing Committee are convinced that our next bishop needs to be full-time to meet the needs of this growing Diocese.

Therefore, the Standing Committee continues to work in consultation with the Right Rev. Todd Ousley of the Episcopal Church’s Office for Pastoral Development on two fronts: First, to identify persons for the Standing Committee to consider for the role of full-time bishop to serve our diocese in the interim, and second, to prepare for an official call to election for a full-time Bishop Diocesan.

As you may know, electing a bishop is to engage in a significant process of discernment. From the time such a call is issued until a new bishop is ordained and consecrated typically takes 18 months to 2 years. The Standing Committee will oversee that process, which typically includes the formation of search and transition committees, the creation of a diocesan profile, and a period of nominations before the slate is announced. An electing convention would be called. The election then must receive consent from a majority of the House of Bishops and a majority of the Standing Committees of the 110 other dioceses of The Episcopal Church. Upon the successful completion of the canonical consent process, the bishop-elect can be ordained and consecrated.

We are developing a plan and timeline for this process in consultation with Bishop Ousley and will be able to announce more details in the weeks ahead. Please know the Standing Committee is committed to keep everyone informed along the way and to be as clear and transparent as possible throughout the process.

Please remember that we are at the very beginning of what we believe to be a major step forward in “building up the body of Christ” in The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. We will continue to update you on the next steps as they unfold.

Your Standing Committee asks that prayers begin for all involved in this process. Pray for +Skip, our bishop, the councils and committees of our diocese; for all diocesan leadership and all who might be called upon to serve in this process. Most of all, we ask your prayers for those persons whom the Holy Spirit will call forward to provide episcopal leadership for our Diocese.

Faithfully,

The Standing Committee of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina

Letters from the Bishop and Standing Committee

5/3/2019

Bishop Skip Adams and Standing Committee President the Rev. Jeff Richardson have written letters to the people of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina regarding transition plans for episcopal leadership. These letters can be found here:
Letter from the Bishop
Letter from the Standing Committee President

The text of the letters follows.

FROM BISHOP ADAMS

Dear People of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina,

I began my time with you as your Provisional Bishop at the beginning of September 2016. As you may recall the Standing Committee at that time requested of me a two-year commitment. September 2019 will begin my fourth year. My time among you has been full of grace and as I fully expected to happen, I have fallen in love with you and this place. God has been good and I find my heart filled with gratitude.

I am not at this point announcing an ending date. What I do want you to know is that I have requested that the Standing Committee, with Diocesan Council’s support, begin to work on a transition plan for episcopal leadership that will not only serve us well in the short term, but also well into a healthy future as a diocese. We do this work with the assistance of the Presiding Bishop’s office, with which the Standing Committee is already in conversation. We also do this work fully aware that we yet have many unknowns before us.

I am with you in this process and will continue to function as I have in my half-time capacity as your Provisional Bishop. When the time comes to name the specifics of the process we will be following, the Standing Committee will communicate with you in a timely manner. Until then, please continue to hold all diocesan leadership in your prayer as we seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus who gives us hope.
Blessings and peace in Christ,

+Skip

The Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. Adams III

FROM THE STANDING COMMITTEE

Dear Fellow Members of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina,

In regard to the information that Bishop Adams has recently shared with you, I am now writing to apprise you that the Standing Committee of our Diocese has begun the process of developing plans for the search for future episcopal leadership for our Diocese. For several months, we have been in conversation with Bishop Adams concerning the timing involved both from his standpoint and from the point of view of our ongoing life together as a diocese.

In January, the Standing Committee met with Bishop Todd Ousley, Bishop for the Office of Pastoral Development of The Episcopal Church, for some direction on how to proceed. We are considering various possibilities. Our intention is to be thorough and to proceed in a timely manner.

It is my plan to keep you informed as things progress. Meanwhile, the Standing Committee will be most grateful for your prayers for Bishop Adams, for this endeavor, and our diocese.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Jeffrey R. Richardson
President of the Standing Committee

Diocesan Staff Members Transitioning to New Roles

The Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley, Jr. Named a Visiting Bishop for the Diocese

A Letter From the Standing Committee, December 2019

A Letter from the Standing Committee

Letters from the Bishop and Standing Committee

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