REALITY SETTING IN

The schism in South Carolina occurred five years ago. At long last, reality may be setting in on the independent diocesan side. On October 15, 2012, the leaders of the Diocese of South Carolina declared the diocese to be "disaffiliated" from the Episcopal Church. They were sure they could leave the Church with the diocese and all its properties intact. A month later, a diocesan convention affirmed this belief. It has taken a long time, but reality may be finally arriving to the officials of Coming Street and their allies. The turning point in this long haul was the South Carolina Supreme Court decision of August 2, 2017, returning 29 of the 36 parishes in question, plus Camp St. Christopher, to the Episcopal Church and the Church diocese. The majority of the Court justices declared that the Dennis Canon did indeed become effective in South Carolina, at least as the parishes acceded to it (only one of the five justices, Jean Toal, said the Dennis Canon did not become effective in SC). 

At first, the independent diocese went on a furious backlash against the state Supreme Court, even making a major effort to overturn the Aug. 2 decision by removing the decision of one of the justices, Kaye Hearn, and ultimately the justice herself, from the case. This was extreme, never-heard-of desperation. At the same time, the diocese made a major public relations effort under the banner of "freedom of religion." Exactly what they thought they were going to gain from this furious campaign remained to be seen. Attacking a justice of the Court was more likely to make the other justices rally around her in defense. The double attack appears to have fallen flat.

On August 30, the U.S. District Court judge, Richard Gergel, in Charleston, ordered a mediation between the two sides. Nevertheless, the independent diocese refused even to admit the news of the mediation. There was stony silence on that side.

Then, on October 4 (just 4 days ago), the independent diocese finally admitted to mediation as it announced the organizational meeting for mediation that took place on the 4th. All of a sudden, the whole attitude of Coming Street seems to have changed. From attacking the Episcopal Church, they are now talking conciliation.

Nothing points out this reversal more than the writings of the Rev. Jeff Miller, the rector of St. Philip's Church, in Charleston. In the midst of the all-out barrage in the public relations campaign of August and September for "religious freedom," Miller published an op-ed in the Charleston Post and Courier, "Court Ruling Imperils Freedom to Worship, Sanctions Confiscations." Read it here . The title tells it all, but I encourage you to read it. It was hard-hitting against the Episcopal Church, and even against the Court, at least implying the Church, aided by the Court, was trying to seize the property of the people.

After the mediation meeting of October 4, the whole attitude of the independent diocese apparently changed, and no where more than in Miller's writing. The Rev. Miller wrote a letter to his parishioners at St. Philip's calling for prayers for the Episcopal Church. Absent was the denunciation of the Episcopal Church, of Justice Kaye Hearn; gone was hard-hitting talk of religious freedom. Read Miller's letter to St. Philip's here . Kendall Harmon reprinted it on Oct. 7 under the heading "The Rector of Saint Philips, Charleston, writes his Parish about the proposed mediation process in the South Carolina Anglican-Episcopal Dispute." 

Why the reversal of attitude? Obviously, mediation is a give-and-take process that relies on the good will of both sides to make a compromise. The independent diocese is in the inferior position in litigation. The state supreme court ruled against them. The federal court is likely to side against them. It behooves the diocesan leaders to appeal to the good nature of the other side if they want to gain anything in mediation. Keeping up an all-out attack against their opponents would be self-defeating in mediation. Moreover, it is highly unlikely the state supreme court will agree to a rehearing of the case as DSC is asking. So, having lost in state supreme court, and facing a probably loss in federal court, the diocese needs to make the best deal they can in the mediation. It is their best hope for the future.

This apparent reversal of attitude is stunning. In the first place, Miller told his parishioners not to expect to "prevail": It would be unwise to assume that this will necessarily resolve the litigation or guarantee that we will ultimately prevail. In other words, do not assume the independent diocese will keep the buildings.

In the second place, Miller called on the faithful to pray for the Episcopal Church side! To my knowledge, this is the first time since the schism of five years ago that a leader of the independent diocese has called for this. It may not seem to be much, but from my perspective this is major news. Miller wrote:

Please remember Bishop Lawrence and our legal team as you pray, but also include Bishop Skip Adams and the legal representatives from TEC. It may be difficult to bless our adversaries and pray for those who appear to persecute us, but it is the Christian way. It is our hope that in ALL things Jesus Christ may be glorified, so pray especially that God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven...

To this, we can only say Amen, and thank you to the Rev. Jeff Miller. Even though one may take issue that the Episcopal Church has "persecuted," or is persecuting anyone, (I for one would take issue with that unfounded assertion), surely Miller is right that we all should pray for both sides in the month before mediation begins. Everyone should be glad to see bitterness and hatred being replaced by "the Christian way." It is long overdue. Better late than never.

As I have said before, I think we are at the beginning of the end of a long and sad chapter in an otherwise very long and glorious history of the great Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. One must not let exhaustion cloud the view of a brighter future.