TWO DIOCESES ANNOUNCE SETTLEMENT ON DIOCESAN PROPERTIES
26 September 2022. 3:00 p.m.
A few moments ago, the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina issued a press release stating that it had reached a final settlement with the separatist Anglican Diocese of South Carolina on disposal of diocesan properties but not on all issues outstanding between the two dioceses. Find it HERE . The two sides released no details but said more information on this would be released later this week.
Today's announcement raises far more questions than it answers.
Here are a few questions that come to my mind right off:
---What does the term "properties" mean? For instance does this include financial assets, paraphernalia, and archives? As a student of the schism, I for one would be strongly opposed to allowing the schismatics to keep any of the archives, records, and other such material of the pre-schism diocese. Everything that belonged to the Episcopal diocese before Oct. 15, 2012 should now belong to the Episcopal diocese.
---There were about a dozen local churches that went along with the schismatics but did not enter into the lawsuit against the Episcopal Church. What is to happen to them? Is the Episcopal Church and its diocese going to surrender any claim to them in spite of the Dennis Canon?
---What does this mean for the federal case? The breakaways have appealed Judge Gergel's Order to the U.S. Court of Appeals. That order recognized the Episcopal diocese as the only heir of the pre-schism diocese. Will the Anglican lawyers now withdraw their appeal?
---What does this mean for the case that is still wide open in the SC Supreme Court? The press release said it did not affect the three parishes in question (Old St. Andrew's, Holy Cross of Stateburg, and Good Shepherd). But, what about the rest of the case that is before the SCSC? It has been partially remitted to the circuit court.
---The Anglican side entered a betterments lawsuit in circuit court. Have they withdrawn this? On the other hand, is the Episcopal diocese going to ignore the unreimbursed use of its diocesan properties for the ten years of the schism, let alone the failure to keep up the properties? A decade's use of Camp St. Christopher and the bishop's residence would amount to millions of dollars.
---Will there be a special master to manage the transfers of the properties from one side to the other?
---Exactly who were the people who were in on this deal?
Finally, one wonders why the two sides released the announcement today when they could have waited a few more days and release it with the details. I suppose we have no choice but to wait until we are informed of more. Let us hope they are more forthcoming next time.
