LEAVING CHRIST CHURCH ALL GUNS BLAZING

The non-Episcopal clergy who have been occupying Christ Church parish, of Mt. Pleasant, held their last service today on the property. They held nothing back at their departure. They went out in a blaze of self-righteous anger and bitterness. The Rev. Ted Duvall delivered a homily blasting the Episcopal Church and doing his best to rally the congregation:  "We will not serve their gods!"

Find Duvall's address HERE  @ 35:30-55:30.

Among the highlights (or lowlights as the case may be) of his sermon, he ridiculed toleration and inclusivity---if you oppose those who claim toleration and inclusivity, you will be excluded, he declared. (He gave no evidence or example.) He went on to denounce lawsuits and other "assaults of sin." (In fact, the Anglican diocese started the lawsuit in SC.) Then he arose to a pitch to rail against "revisions, distortions, and heresies of faith" to loud applause. He even threw in the two previous presiding bishops for good measure before declaring boldly: "We will not serve their gods!" Whew, no one could miss the meaning of all this.

Interesting that Duvall did not address the direct cause of the schism. He did not mention gays or homosexuals one time. Nor did he mention that his father was Episcopal bishop of Central Gulf Coast for twenty years.

He seemed especially bitter about the court decision but then veered into what sounded like a slight dig at the Anglican diocese for not standing together. (The Anglican diocese refused to appeal to the SCSC for a rehearing of the April 20 decision. The diocese left it up to the 8 parishes alone to ask for rehearing.) Actually, Duvall has plenty of reason to feel badly toward the Anglican diocese considering that he would not be leaving the property if the diocese had accepted the Episcopal Church offer in 2015 to surrender claim of the parishes in return for the entity of the old diocese. The Anglican diocesan leaders offhandedly rejected this generous offer. He has no one to blame but his own leaders. 

Finally, Duvall called on the congregation to stand (literally) together, clasp hands and go forth as one. Apparently, this was the point of the whole service, to bond the congregation so that they all leave the premises together and no one stays behind for the Episcopal restoration.

Over the summer, the parish had carried out the anti-Episcopal Church teaching program that had been developed by the Anglican diocesan leaders in 2018 when they thought they would be surrendering 29 parishes. So, there has been plenty of anti-Episcopal propaganda at Christ Church. Today was simply the parting shot on the property that belongs to the Episcopal diocese. 

The attitude at Christ Church today was a contrast to the two earlier instances of parish restoration. St. John's, of Johns Island, and St. David's, of Cheraw, both showed commendable good will to the clergy and people who would come behind them. Both cases made the transition cordially.

The Rev. Furman Buchanan will become the new priest at Christ Church upon appointment of the Episcopal bishop. If today's event was a warning, I would say he is in for a lot of work in rebuilding this ancient parish that has been deeply racked by schism.

All the while we are seeing the human toll of the schism in South Carolina. At the time of the schism, it was the Episcopalians who had to leave the 50 local churches that went along with the break. In 10 cases, they formed worshiping communities that met wherever they could find space. It was not easy for them. Now we are seeing the effects on the other side. No one has been left untouched by the destruction of the old diocese.

Yet, the schism did not have to happen. Those who opposed the reforms of the Episcopal Church did not have to leave. Provision was made for them to remain and keep their own views. This remains the case.

I estimate that the schism has cost around ten million dollars in legal fees. This is nothing compared to the human cost. And, all for something that did not have to happen at all. It is a shame and a scandal.

Finally, I think we should all keep the Rev. Duvall and the others out there hurting today in our prayers. They are obviously upset. Let us pray they, and all people caught up in this unfortunate schism find peace.

There are only two great commandments, love God and love one's neighbor as oneself. Love is the operative word in both. I think we need to remember that today.