THE SECOND HOMECOMING:

CHRIST CHURCH, MOUNT PLEASANT

The Episcopal Diocese of SC announced today that the Rev. Furman L. Buchanan has been named to lead the restoration of Christ Church parish, Mt. Pleasant. Find the press release HERE .

This is a great boon to the diocese, and Christ Church, because the Rev. Mr. Buchanan is not just an average clergyman at a nondescript parish. He is outstanding in many ways, as the press release describes. He was also the only clergyperson from the Diocese of Upper South Carolina to be a nominee for bishop of that diocese last year. Find info on this HERE . The lowcountry is fortunate indeed that the Rev. Buchanan has agreed to leave behind an established rectorship of a large and vibrant church to take on the highly challenging task of rebuilding a parish torn by a decade of schism. He should have everyone's respect, admiration, and gratitude.

All signs indicate that Christ Church will be the second parish to return to its ancestral home, after St. John's, of Johns Island which enjoyed a festival of restoration last Sunday. The return of Episcopal church services in St. John's was met with a great amount of interest and support. As of today, Facebook is listing 1,500 views of the 10:30 service in St. John's and 492 views of the separatist service at Haut Gap Middle School.

The present occupants of the Christ Church buildings have said August 28, 2022 will be their last service on the property. They are calling it "A Service of Thanksgiving, Lament, and New Life." They have announced that after that they will be meeting at Jennie Moore Elementary School, on Hamlin Road, in Mt. Pleasant. The present leaders are working hard to keep the congregation together in the move. They recently conducted a multi-week program on their view of the differences between the (orthodox) Anglicans and the (unorthodox) Episcopalians. This anti-Episcopal propaganda program was developed by secessionist diocesan leaders in the wake of the 2017 SC Supreme Court decision.

So, it should go without saying that the Rev. Buchanan will have his hands full dealing with the return and rebuilding of the parish of Christ Church. Now, this leaves five more parishes under orders to return to the Episcopal Church and seven more awaiting final decisions of the state supreme court.

The restoration process has had a good start at St. John's. With God's grace, this will carry over to the numerous other parishes in line to return home. Maybe, just maybe, the battered, bruised, and bleeding old diocese of South Carolina can begin to heal and to evolve into a resurrection of new life. Let us thank God that the Rev. Buchanan has answered the call to be a big part of this.