SOUTH CAROLINA DIOCESES
AND THE PANDEMIC
The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina are under stress from the pandemic. Exactly how much we cannot know but signs are clear of troubles ahead.
On yesterday, 22 April, the Episcopal diocese released a letter from the chair of the standing committee announcing a suspension ("pause" was the word used) of the search for the next diocesan bishop of the diocese. Find the letter here . The note gave no timeline for the future except to say, "We will reassess this decision on an ongoing basis." Apparently, there will be no election of a new bishop in the next diocesan convention, in November of this year. This means the diocese will be without a seated bishop for the foreseeable future, not good. Meanwhile, EDSC churches remain closed to in-person worship with no clear date of reopening. Online worship continues.
Also, on yesterday, the 22nd, the Anglican diocese urged people to give money to the church, even to "Consider giving above and beyond your tithe." Find their plea in their newsletter here . In addition, the diocese is calling for more money for Camp St. Christopher which has laid off "almost all of its staff" on "unpaid furlough." It announced a loss of "over $800,000." Considering the historic budgetary strains of the ADSC, particularly its huge costs in legal fees and supporting the Anglican Church in North America, it is no surprise that the crisis of the pandemic is having "dire" effects on that diocese that is now pleading to its people for financial rescue.
Meanwhile, local churches controlled by ADSC clergy continue on in lock-down with no certain date of reopening. Interestingly enough, Bishop Lawrence has authorized "communion to go" allowing communicants to collect pre-packaged consecrated wafer and wine to have communion at home. One can wonder how well that is working out.
To be sure, every diocese of the Episcopal Church is suffering under the strains of the pandemic. However, these strains carry special weight in lower South Carolina where, well before the present pandemic, the two dioceses from the old Episcopal diocese were struggling under the heavy after effects of the schism of 2012. These are hard days indeed for the survivors of that historic and costly schism.
The future welfare of the Anglican diocese was already dubious considering the failure of its claim to the historic diocese and its loss of the 29 parishes and Camp under the state supreme court ruling. Once it hands over the 29 and the Camp to the Episcopal Church, which is inevitable, it will be left with 6 parishes. How it survives the pandemic on top of all of its legal losses remains to be seen. To say the least, its future does not look good.
The future welfare of the Anglican diocese was already dubious considering the failure of its claim to the historic diocese and its loss of the 29 parishes and Camp under the state supreme court ruling. Once it hands over the 29 and the Camp to the Episcopal Church, which is inevitable, it will be left with 6 parishes. How it survives the pandemic on top of all of its legal losses remains to be seen. To say the least, its future does not look good.
