THE POST-SCHISM LINE UP OF THE LOCAL CHURCHES
Numerous people have asked me about the placement of certain local churches after yesterday's SC Supreme Court ruling. So, I think it would be appropriate today to go over a line up of the local churches that were in the pre-schism diocese. This would not include the congregations that have formed since the schism of 2012.
I must emphasize this is UNOFFICIAL. This is my own accounting. I speak for no one other than myself.
I assume the final settlement of the local churches has been made. However, both sides could challenge yesterday's ruling. They could ask the SCSC for a rehearing. It is exceedingly unlikely the court would agree. They could hardly wait to get rid of that hot potato. They do not want it back. The sides could also ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case. This is equally dim. For years SCOTUS has refused to take TEC cases. Bottom line---it is all but certain yesterday's decision is final. I am proceeding on that assumption.
There were 36 parishes in the original lawsuit of the secessionist entity against the Episcopal Church. 7 of these were given their properties in the 2017 SCSC decision (there were 8 listed in the lawsuit but 2 referred to one parish leaving a total of 7 parishes). This was the only part of that decision that Judge Dickson implemented upon the Remit from SCSC. One of these 7 was St. Andrew's, of Mt. Pleasant, that is now in the ACNA Diocese of the Carolinas. That leaves 6 in the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina (Christ the King, Pawleys Island; St. Matthew's, Darlington; St. Paul's, Conway; Prince George Winyah, Georgetown; St. John's, Florence; St. Matthias, Summerton).
On yesterday, 15 parishes were added to the 6, for a total of 21 in ADSC. However, there were local churches that were not parts of the lawsuit but remained with the secessionist party. I count that number at 11. If we add the 21 to the 11, we get a total of 32 local churches from the pre-schism diocese that are now parts of the ADSC.
I will return to the 11 momentarily.
On the Episcopal Church side, 20 pre-schism local churches remained with the continuing Episcopal diocese. 14 were added yesterday, for a total of 34.
Final score = ADSC 32; EDSC 34.
I must emphasize these numbers are only for the local churches that existed before the schism. Both dioceses added numerous missions and parishes after the schism of 2012. These were not considered in this accounting.
As of the SCSC decision of 4-20-2020, this is how the local churches of the pre-schism diocese now line up in the two dioceses:
THE 21 CHURCHES OF THE LAWSUIT NOW IN THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF SC:
1- Beaufort, St. Helena's
2- Bennettsville, St. Paul's
3- Bluffton, Church of the Cross
4- Charleston, Church of St. Luke and St. Paul
5- Charleston, St. Michael's
6- Charleston, St. Philip's
7- Conway, St. Paul's
8- Darlington, St. Matthew's
9- Edisto, Trinity
10- Eutawville, Church of the Epiphany
11- Florence, All Saints
12- Florence, St. John's
13- Georgetown, Prince George Winyah
14- Johns Island, Our Saviour
15- Orangeburg, Church of the Redeemer
16- Pawleys Island, Christ the king
17- Pinopolis, Trinity Church
18- Summerton, St. Matthias
19- Summerville, St. Paul's
20- Surfside, Church of the Resurrection
21- Yonges Island, Christ/St. Paul's
THE 11 CHURCHES NOT IN THE LAWSUIT:
1- Barnwell, Holy Apostles
2- Dillon, St. Barnabas
3- Florence, Christ Church
4- Goose Creek, St. James
5- Grahamville, Holy Trinity
6- Hagood, Church of the Ascension
7- Marion, The Advent
9- Orangeburg, St. Paul's
10- Pineville, Church of the Redeemer
11- Sullivans Island, Holy Cross
Since these 11 were not parts of the lawsuit and were not listed in the settlement, what is their status? At the moment, they align themselves with the Anglican Diocese of SC. I do not know if the Episcopal Church will initiate legal action to recover these properties. This will be up to the diocesan authorities.
THE 34 CHURCHES OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE:
1- Allendale, Church of the Holy Communion
2- Charleston, Calvary Church
3- Charleston, Grace Church
4- Charleston, Church of the Holy Communion
5- Charleston, St. Mark's
6- Charleston, St. Stephen's
7- Charleston, Church of the Good Shepherd
8- Charleston, Old St. Andrew's
9- Charleston, Holy Trinity
10- Charleston (James Island), St. James'
11- Charleston (Johns Island), St. John's
12- Cheraw, St. David's
13- Denmark, Christ Church
14- Denmark, St. Philip's
15- Estill, Church of the Heavenly Rest
16- Fort Motte, St. Matthew's
17- Hampton, All Saints'
18- Hartsville, St. Bartholomew's
19- Hilton Head, St. Luke's
20- Hilton Head, All Saints'
21- Kingstree, St. Alban's
22- McClellanville, St. James-Santee
23- Mt. Pleasant, Christ Church
24- Myrtle Beach, Trinity Church
25- North Charleston, St. Thomas
26- North Myrtle Beach, St. Stephen's
27- Pawleys Island, Holy Cross Faith Memorial
28- St. Stephen, St. Stephen's
29- Stateburg, Church of the Holy Cross
30- Summerville, St. George's
31- Summerville, Church of the Epiphany
32- Sumter, Church of the Holy Comforter
33- Walterboro, St. Jude's
34- Wedgefield, St. Augustine's
I must stress again this is my own accounting. It is not official.
I have much more to say about yesterday's ruling of the SCSC but will save it for other blog pieces. I suggest for the moment we just process what has happened. There will be plenty of time later to talk about "winners" and "losers" and do post-mortems and Monday morning quarterbacking.
The faithful Christians of both dioceses in lower South Carolina have gone through a great deal of stress and heartache for many years now. Exhaustion is the universal feeling these days. I think at this crucial moment in the history of the schism, we should take a moment to decompress and exhale and remember that God is still with us. Peace.
