FACING TRANSITIONS;

THE REV. CALHOUN WALPOLE TO LEAD RESTORATION OF ST. JOHN'S

There are signs that, at long last, transitions are about to begin that will eventually lead to the settlement of the ownership of the various parts of the pre-schism diocese of South Carolina. The circuit court has received the partial remittitur from the SC Supreme Court. This orders the restoration of the diocesan assets and properties as well as seven parishes, of the fourteen in question, to the Episcopal diocese. It is just a matter of time before circuit judge Edgar Dickson implements the SCSC remit order.

There are still seven of the fourteen with open petitions for rehearing before the SCSC. On tomorrow, 20th June, the Episcopal lawyers are to submit a counter-argument to the court opposing the petitions. Then, the justices will decide on the disposition of these seven. Odds are they will deny rehearing. If so, this will add seven parishes in the remit to the circuit court bringing the total to be restored to fourteen. The SCSC will probably make a final decision on the last seven in the next few weeks.

Some parishes to be returned to TEC are already making plans for the transfers. In fact, the officers of the Anglican diocese have been holding dinner meetings with the clergy, and their spouses, of the fourteen parishes in question. The Rev. Todd Simonis, ADSC Canon for Church Planting, has been talking to the groups about ways to keep the congregations together as they leave the properties behind. He estimates that between two-thirds and three-fourths of the congregation will leave with the departing clergy. Find this HERE @34. He stresses bonding the people in an "identity" of being "God's people" by "purpose and posture" which means a lot of personal contact.

In order to keep most of their congregants with them as they leave the premises, the departing Anglican clergy will try to differentiate their religion from that of the Episcopal Church. For instance, for years before the schism, during it, and ever since, the Anglicans in SC have insisted that TEC no longer believes in the basics of the Christian religion, i.e. that Jesus Christ is the unique source of salvation. This assertion is not true. TEC has not changed its religious beliefs. Such as this would require resolution(s) of the General Convention, something that has not happened and certainly will not happen. The Anglicans' accusations are really a smoke screen to cover their real objections of TEC, granting full equality and inclusion of homosexuals and women in the life of the church. The schism was triggered not by a religious conflict but by a difference in social policy. Nevertheless, the Episcopal clergy will have their hands full counteracting years of scurrilous propaganda embedded in the fourteen parishes and aimed at invalidating the ancestral church. The congregants who remain in the buildings will find out that the Episcopal religion has not changed but its social policy has. They will have to decide whether to stay in a church that opens itself to non-judgmental equality and inclusion of all people.

This effort at differentiation is well under way at one of the seven in the remit order, Christ Church, of Mt. Pleasant. The clergy are screening "The Differences Video Series," a six-part set of videos, 20-25 minutes each, so that parishioners can "Learn about the differences between our church and our former denomination." Apparently this is a re-run of the hateful anti-Episcopal propaganda program Anglican diocesan leaders produced in the wake of the 2017 SCSC decision. (NOTE. Rector of Christ Church announced in church this morning that a new corporation has been registered under the name "Christ Church Anglican" and that the present parish would not accept donations made to "Christ Church" or "Christ Episcopal Church." Apparently, the parish leadership plans to continue operating in Mt. Pleasant under the name of Christ Church, Anglican after the move out of the buildings. No mention was made about dates or plans to move.) 

If the Anglicans want to know what is in store for people who leave their home churches, they have only to consult anyone in the ten worshiping communities of Episcopalians forced out of their church homes in 2012-13. Then, the people who refused to go along with the schism and its anger, fear, and discrimination assembled wherever they could find space: living rooms, funeral homes, banks, old schools, boat docks, bar-b-que restaurants, borrowed churches, you name it. Several of these ten communities will soon be returning to their home churches in the upcoming transitions. Having endured nearly a decade in the wilderness, this will be a great homecoming for the long suffering faithful. They took the hard way because it was the right way. They endured. They kept the faith and now they can prepare to return home.

The one of the ten with which I am most familiar is St. Catherine's, in Florence SC. Unfortunately the faithful of this community will not be returning to their home churches since all three local churches remain with the schismatic diocese. Nevertheless, they are about to christen their new church quarters. On Thursday, 23 June, the good folks of St. Catherine's will welcome Bishop Woodliff-Stanley to their new home at 1806 West Palmetto Street. The bishop will consecrate the new facility and install the Rev. Eunice Dunlap as vicar. I will be there in spirit.

The story of St. Catherine's is similar to the rest of the ten. In late 2012, a group of Episcopalians in Florence and nearby towns began meeting in living rooms as the ongoing Episcopal Church in that area. My daughter was in this group. For a while they met in an old school beyond the edge of town and they flourished. Then, a local Lutheran congregation kindly and generously offered to share their church building with the Episcopalians. For several years they met at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, on far West Palmetto St. Finally, they moved into an old shoe store near Five Points. They have renovated it as an attractive church. So, after nearly ten years, the intrepid and resolute Episcopalians of Florence have their own church building, their very own sacred space. These people are my heroes.

Apparently, the first parish among the fourteen to return to the Episcopal Church will be St. John's, of Johns Island, Charleston. The present rector there has announced that the Anglicans' last day will be July 10th. Presumably, they will turn over the keys after that and on July 17th an Episcopal clergyperson will appear for Episcopal prayer book services. 

We now know who this person will be, the Rev. Canon Calhoun Walpole, presently at Grace Cathedral Church, in Charleston, and for years after the schism Archdeacon of the diocese. She announced the news in church this morning.

The Rev. Callie Walpole is the perfect person for this task. St. John's is her home church. She will be going home as the parish goes home to the Episcopal Church. Since this will be the first of the wayward parishes to return home and the start of a long restoration process, the service on July 17th will be a joyous occasion of celebration. Maybe, just maybe, the desperately-needed healing of the harsh and deep wounds of division will start. The homecomings will begin.

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NOTE. 11:30 a.m.     The senior warden of St. John's announced in church this morning that the dates are still on. The last Anglican service will be on 10th July, and the first service beyond will be at Haut Gap Middle School, at 10:00 a.m. on 17th July. He said this would be a "temporary arrangement" awaiting proceedings on to some future permanent quarters. He added that the search committee of the vestry had unanimously chosen, and the vestry had agreed, as next rector, the Rev. Jeremy Shelton, present assistant. It is apparent the present parish leadership is working hard to move the congregation out en masse. In his remarks, Shelton told the congregation this morning "I see all of your faces," at Haut Gap on July 17.

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PERSONAL NOTE.     Happy birthday to my wife Sandy who was born 80 years ago today. We have been married for 55 years. (Believe it or not, that is her natural hair color.)