NOTES, 19 JANUARY 2023
Greetings, blog reader. It is Thursday, January 19, 2023. Unfortunately, I have no news to report today. This is just to let you know I am still here and waiting on announcements concerning the state of the schism in South Carolina. The South Carolina Supreme Court, which made a mess of the case in 2022, is now sitting on three petitions before it which have been there since September: EDSC's petitions on Old St. Andrew's and Holy Cross and the ACNA congregation of Good Shepherd, Charleston. These are asking for a rehearing or reversal. So far, no word from the SCSC. Your guess on when we will hear from them is as good as mine.
Apparently, negotiations are ongoing between the two dioceses on disposal of mission properties. The EDSC has turned over deeds to three to the local ACNA congregations: St. John's mission, Charleston, St. Andrew's mission, Charleston, and St. Alban's, Blackville. By my count, this is five properties that the EDSC has turned over or is about to turn over to the separatists: St. Matthew's, of Ft. Motte, the rectory of Cheraw, and these three missions. My guess is arrangements are being made for other properties.
So, with both the SCSC and the diocesan settlements, we have no choice but to bide out time and await news announcements.
In case you missed the news yesterday, the bishops of the Church of England are recommending the blessings of same-sex unions in church but are not recommending same-sex weddings in church. This is a major breakthrough even though it is illogical. If homosexual unions are good enough to be blessed in church, they are good enough to be solemnized in church. The English are typically reasonable and logical people, so I expect it is just a matter of time before common sense prevails and same-sex marriages are allowed in the Church of England. Same-sex marriages have been legal in Britain since 2014. Find the ENS article about yesterday's news HERE .
My brother and sister, who live in Bay St. Louis MS, were fishing on the sea wall of the bay a few days ago when this heron decided to join them. He got within arm's length. After it posed for the picture, they rewarded it with bait shrimp which it caught in mid-air. They did not catch any fish but they enjoyed their friend's visit. So, we should be like the heron, patiently biding our time in the expectation that this will pay off, perhaps in unexpected ways. Like the heron, we should make the best of the time that God has given to us for our lives. Peace.
