NOTES, 22 SEPTEMBER 2022
Best wishes to you, blog reader. I am writing this on Thursday, the 22nd of September, 2022. There is no big news to relate so I am just touching bases to let you know I am here and keeping vigilant on happenings relating to the schism. In case you have forgotten, we will be marking ten years of schism next month. Who would have thought ten years ago that we would still be in the midst of conflict all these years later? Oh well, best not to think about that today. We will get back to that sad topic soon enough.
As for legal happenings, we are waiting on two issues with the South Carolina Supreme Court. The first is the reply of the Episcopal lawyers to the responses of Old St. Andrew's and Holy Cross (Stateburg). On 17 August, the SCSC issued an order recognizing local ownership of the properties of these two parishes. The Episcopal side then asked the SCSC for reversal of this or a rehearing. The two responded by filing papers against this with the SCSC; and now the Episcopal side is preparing a reply to these responses. They lawyers have until Friday, 30 September to file their reply, so I doubt we hear anything from the SCSC before then.
The second issue is the response of SCSC to Church of the Good Shepherd's petition for rehearing with the court. In the order of 17 August, the SCSC recognized Episcopal ownership of this parish. Subsequently, GS asked the court for reconsideration. We are now awaiting the court's decision on this.
Meanwhile, eight parishes are in transition back to the Episcopal diocese as per the SCSC order of 17 August (7 if one wants to hold Good Shepherd aside until the SCSC rules on its petition for rehearing).
Three of the eight have already made the move back to the Episcopal Church and appear to be thriving. The first back was St. John's, of Johns Island, Charleston.
The second parish to return home was St. David's, of Cheraw. Last Sunday, the congregation met in the main sanctuary after meeting in the chapel for several weeks. It was a joyous homecoming for the long-suffering Episcopalians of that area.
The third parish to return to the Episcopal diocese was Christ Church, of Mt. Pleasant. Last Sunday was the first for the Episcopalians returning home there.
Two others among the eight have announced dates for transition. The present occupants of Holy Trinity, of Charleston, posted 11 September as their last service on the property and 18 September as their first service at their new meeting location, at Porter-Gaud School.
The occupants of St. Bartholomew's, of Hartsville, have announced that their last service in the church will be on 23 October and their first in an as yet an undisclosed location, on 30 October.
This leaves three of the eight that have not posted dates for transitions:
St. Matthew's, of Ft. Motte
St. James, of James Island, Charleston
Good Shepherd, Charleston.
On top of all the problems of the schism, churches in South Carolina, and everywhere else, are struggling to bounce back from the closures of the covid pandemic. Many congregations have been slow to return and rebuild. Resources are being strained.
In some places, such as in my county, some churches are finding it impossible to keep on maintaining their expensive facilities. Two congregations that used to be among the largest and strongest of the county are abandoning their too-large properties. The First Baptist Church of Jacksonville AL was the largest and most prominent in the town covering a block.
A few weeks ago, the congregation sold their property for $6m to the adjacent Jacksonville State University. The people are going to meet at a mission church they established a few years ago on the southwest part of the town as they talk about ways to build a smaller facility out on the edge of town.
In nearby Anniston AL, the First Presbyterian Church is up for sale, assessed at $3m.
Built in 1964, it stands as a significant example of modern church architecture. It would be a shame to demolish this beauty. Unfortunately, the membership has declined too far to maintain the place properly. This congregation too wants to build a new, smaller facility.
So, perhaps your congregation is also struggling to build back to its pre-schism level. if so, you are not alone. Many congregations these days are being seriously challenged to get people back into the buildings and also to keep the buildings, or if not, decide what to do next. In a way, all churches are victims of covid too.
As people in South Carolina have learned the hard way, a building does not a church make. Church is the people. Countless Episcopalians learned this reality when they had to leave their church homes as the schism hit. Now, lots of "Anglicans" are leaving their church homes for the wilderness. They two will learn what "church" means.
So, despite the odds, we all go on doing the best we can to serve God and our fellow human beings, buildings or no buildings. Peace.
