Diocesan leaders meet to talk, pray following decision

Local Episcopal Church leaders gathered at Grace Church Cathedral on Friday to listen, ask questions, and offer prayers following this week’s state Supreme Court decision on church property in eastern South Carolina.

Three leadership bodies of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina – the Standing Committee, Diocesan Council, and Trustees – held a joint meeting for about 2 hours Friday. About 50 clergy and lay leaders were able to attend in person, while several more attended via conference call.

The topic was the decision, issued Wednesday, that a breakaway group cannot take the property of the Diocese of South Carolina or 29 of its parishes out of The Episcopal Church.

On Friday, the court granted the breakaway group an extension of time to file a petition for rehearing; that deadline now is set for September 1. Normally the deadline is 15 days, but The Episcopal Church in South Carolina agreed to allow doubling it to 30 days.

At Friday’s meeting, Bishop Skip Adams, Provisional Bishop of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, talked about the many emotions that he and others are feeling as a result of the decision, and urged leaders to stay focused on the mission of the Church. 

“Our mission has not changed as a result of the decision. We still have gospel work to do,” the Bishop said. “However the legal work unfolds, we have to be who we are.” He encouraged the leaders to keep praying, worshiping, and doing their outreach and mission work.

He also called on leaders to continue the spirit of reconciliation, with graciousness and respect for all, including the people in churches that were part of the breakaway group. “Our desire is to pray with our Lord ‘that we all may be one.’”

Diocesan Chancellor Thomas S. Tisdale Jr. gave the leaders an overview of the lawsuit, which was filed by the breakaway group in January 2013 against The Episcopal Church and the local Episcopalians who reorganized the continuing Episcopal diocese after the breakaway group departed.

Chancellor Tisdale said the decision has significance on a national level because of the constitutional issues involved. Importantly, it upholds the understanding that The Episcopal Church is hierarchical.  “That decision was made loud and clear,” he said. It also makes clear that the diocese led by Bishop Adams and the assembled leaders is the true diocese of The Episcopal Church in this region.

The decision is not considered final as long as avenues of appeal are open. A potential request for rehearing, and the possibility of further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court – there would be a 90 day deadline to petition the court after the state Supreme Court decision reaches finality – means that it may be some time before any actual changes take place resulting from the ruling.

Bishop Adams outlined the tasks of diocesan leaders during this time of waiting. He encouraged them to communicate and encourage conversations in their churches, while discouraging speculation and rumors. He also asked them to continue to pray for all who are affected by the decision, and to take care of themselves and one another through some of the difficulties that lie ahead. “We need to be good pastors of one another for the sake of the people,” he said.

The gathering concluded with Noonday Prayer in the nave of the cathedral. The service opened by singing the words from the Hymnal 1982: “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.”