NOTES, 12 MARCH 2021
Greetings, blog reader. It is Friday, March 12, 2021.
We have passed the one year mark since the WHO proclaimed COVID-19 to be a pandemic. It has been a terrible and deadly plague unlike any since the great flu pandemic of 1918-19. According to Worldometers, 2,640,119 people in the world have died of the disease. Of these, 543,457 were in the United States. This means that before it is over, this pandemic will probably surpass the mortality of the last great pandemic of a century ago. We should take a moment and remember the lives lost.
In the midst of everything else, let us remember that the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina is seeking a new bishop, the first diocesan since the schism of 2012. The Anglican Diocese of SC is also seeking a new bishop, first as coadjutor then to become the II diocesan, after Mark Lawrence's retirement.
The EDSC has settled on five candidates. Information about them, and the search, is available on the diocesan website. The diocese is requesting questions for the candidates to be submitted by 20 March. The "walk-abouts" (conversations with the candidates) will be held, virtually, on 12-14 April; and the election will be held, virtually, on 1 May.
As for questions for the candidates, here are a few topics and questions that pop in my mind right off. I am sure you could add some to these:
---This is not just another diocese looking for another bishop. This job is probably the most difficult one in all of the Episcopal Church. The schism of 2012 split the old diocese. Since then, there has been a bitter, and expensive, legal war between the two sides. The two great issues are not finally resolved: ownership of the local properties, and ownership of the old diocese. This is a unique, and uniquely difficult, situation.
What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for this particular position?
---The background, events, and aftermath of the schism of 2012 were highly detailed and complicated. Caldwell's history of the schism, at 500 pages and 300,000 words really only covers a fraction of what happened. A bishop to lead a diocese into the future would have to know what happened in the past.
How well do you think you know, understand, and appreciate the history of the schism in SC? How have you prepared yourself to comprehend the schism?
---There are two issues before the courts. The SC supreme court is about to decide the fate of the local properties. The federal court has before it the ownership of the pre-schism diocese. Although odds are that the Episcopal diocese will prevail, it is possible that it will not.
If it does prevail, there will be a tremendous amount of work to do to restore the brokenness of the properties and the diocese. What do you think would be the main challenges in healing that brokenness? How would you go about meeting those challenges?
If it does not prevail, there will be a let down among the Episcopalians who have endured so much for so long. What do you think would be the main challenges in guiding the diocese in that circumstance? How would you go about meeting those challenges?
---The direct cause of the schism was the issue of homosexuality. The Episcopal Church moved to full equality for and inclusion of open homosexuals in the life of the church. The schismatics viewed homosexual acts as sinful and refused to go along with the Church reforms. They barred same-sex marriage in their diocese while the Episcopal Church officially allowed same-sex marriage. As recent events have shown, the issue of homosexuality is still a crucial one in the Anglican world. So, a couple of questions on this topic:
How would you invite and encourage homosexuals to become parts of the diocese and how would you protect their rights?
If the Episcopal diocese wins the court fights, there might be people in the returning parishes who oppose the pro-homosexual policies. How would you minister to them?
---Another issue of contention between the two sides is the role of women in the church. The breakaways joined a denomination that does not allow women to be bishops. The Episcopal Church, of course, has given women equality and inclusion. Yet, the Diocese of South Carolina is far below the national average of women clergy. Nationally about a third of clergy are female.
How would you encourage and facilitate more women in the ranks of the deacons and priests of the diocese?
---Last year, in the covid relief acts passed by Congress, churches were allowed to get "loans" (grants) from the government. This was tax-payer money. Many churches applied for and received these funds. The Catholic Church received more than a billion dollars in this tax-payer money. Many Episcopal dioceses and parishes also collected payments under the program.
What is you position on churches taking tax-payer money?
---Racism is an historic problem in South Carolina and it remains so. The massacre at Mother Emanuel was just the most recent example of this. The Diocese of SC has been part of the problem. It was the last diocese in the entire Episcopal Church to integrate. As with gays and women, blacks have long been victims of discrimination.
How would you address the problem of racism; and how would you encourage and recruit more African American clergy in the diocese?
---Some Episcopalians outside of Charleston think the diocese is too Charleston-centric. Actually, it is true that more than half of the laity live in the Charleston metro area. However, there is a large diocese outside of Charleston running from Georgia to North Carolina.
How would you encourage and promote church life in the non-Charleston part of the diocese?
What questions would you add to these?
Going back to the year of the pandemic, we all found our ways to cope with the changes and losses all around us. One way we coped was by keeping as much as possible to our old habits and routines of life. For me, my garden helped a lot. And, now that spring is here, I am working in my garden with a vengeance. It looks better than it has in a long time. Here are some plants blooming now:
Early spring is the season of the bulbs. There are countless varieties of daffodils. This is a particularly attractive form.
Most camellias are fading out now. I am always sad to see them go. Kramer's Supreme is one of the best choices with it profusion of large bright red flowers.
Flowering Quince, 'Texas Scarlet.' This one is still small and will only get to 2-3 feet. Unfortunately, it is struggling against the juniper ground cover.
Carolina Jasmine is something of a weed in South Carolina as it seems to grow everywhere in the woods. It is a very vigorous grower. I have this one on a trellis and have to fight it to keep it under control, but I do not mind because of the flowers and the aroma in early spring.
Daffodil "King Alfred." Bright yellow color goes well with forsythia, as the one in the distance.
Bradford Pear is a most beautiful tree in early spring. This one is not in my garden, and for good reason. Of all plants NOT to put in your garden or yard, Bradford Pear is #1. This tree is in a park. What is wrong with Bradford Pears? Invasive, short-lived, given to pests, foul odor in bloom, and weak branching making it susceptible to storm damage. That's enough.
