tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35721614406018238042024-03-19T04:27:02.379-05:00 ------ Ron Caldwell's Blog ------ By Ronald James Caldwell, Ph.D., Professor of History, Emeritus, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama.
An independent blog unaffiliated with any church or diocese. E-mail: ronaldcaldwell1210@gmail.comRonald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-5365398231807301522024-03-13T12:00:00.090-05:002024-03-14T06:11:17.133-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b>ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA REAFFIRMS ITS MISOGYNY</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina held its annual meeting last weekend. The highlight of the event was to reaffirm the diocese's historic misogyny. Misogyny is defined as contempt for, dislike of, or ingrained prejudice against women. The schism of 2012 came about in part because of this. Then, the diocese solidified its stand by joining, in 2017, the Anglican Church in North America that does not allow women to be bishops, that is, for females to exercise ecclesiastical authority over males. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Only a few weeks ago, I, for one, held out high hopes of a change of heart with the incident at the Mere Anglicanism conference in Charleston. An invited speaker got up and trashed Women's Ordination (ordination of women to the diaconate and the priesthood) in his presentation. The conference manager and Bishop Edgar promptly bounced the man from future speaking on the grounds of his offensive remarks on WO. However, it may have been more complicated than that since the manager had apparently wanted the speaker to trash Critical Race Theory and the speaker had unexpectedly veered off into an anti-WO attack. At any rate, some of the women present apparently gave the speaker pieces of their minds. At that, I thought, great, wonderful, the ADSC is finally seeing the light on equal rights for women. Alas, I was wrong. The ADSC has not changed. The diocesan convention of last weekend has brought me back down to reality.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Among the resolutions presented to the 300-plus attendees of the convention were R-4, R-5, and R-6. These had been drawn up by a task force of two men and two women and had been approved by the Standing Committee. The resolutions were entirely about creating gender neutral language. Words like "clergymen" would be changed to "clergy." "Chairman" would become "chairperson," and so forth. At first, I thought to myself, these are slam dunk votes. Who in the world would oppose such common sensible revisions in this day and age? I was wrong, again. The resolutions required a two-thirds vote in both orders. All three were voted down. Yes, that is right. The ADSC reaffirmed its long-standing misogyny by rejecting even as innocuous resolutions as ones for gender neutral language. Unfortunately, the <a href="https://adosc.org/diocese-holds-2024-convention-in-bluffton/">REPORT</a> gives us no details about the votes, just to say they all failed.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In his Bishop's Address to the convention last week, Bishop Edgar said the diocese was "growing." He described the two new local churches. I suppose one could say in terms of numbers of local churches, the ADSC is expanding but what about overall popular participation? Are people joining or leaving the ADSC? From the data provided by the ADSC itself and posted on their website, we see that, in the decade after the schism, the ADSC baptized membership fell from 23,181 to 18,130. Its communicant numbers declined from 17,798 to 11,673 while its Average Sunday Attendance slipped from 9,292 to 8,353. Find the details <a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2023/07/a-decade-of-schism-decade-of-decline-in.html">HERE</a> . By what stretch of the imagination could anyone call this "growing"? </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The unwelcomed truth is staring Bishop Edgar in the face. The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina is now and has been since the schism, on a trajectory of relentless and alarming decline in membership. No amount of Trumpesque spin can change the facts. Instead of denying reality, the diocesan leadership would be better off embracing this existential crisis head on right now. That is not happening. Ignoring and/or denying the facts will only magnify the problem that in the not too distant future the ADSC will be forced to confront whether they want to or not.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">There were several other points in the convention that caught my eye, namely in the proposed resolutions. R-1 started: "Whereas this diocese...[is] a historic diocese in the ACNA and the larger Anglican Communion." WRONG. "This diocese" was created when the majority of clergy and laity of the Diocese of South Carolina left the Episcopal Church in 2012. It joined ACNA in 2017. That is not "historic." Moreover, the ADSC is not now and has never been in the Anglican Communion. It has gained recognition and support of some provinces of the Anglican Communion but it is not in the Anglican Communion. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Even more concerning from a legal standpoint is R-2 which read "Whereas, in 1973 the Diocese incorporated as a non-profit corporation." WRONG. The diocese that incorporated in 1973 was the Diocese of South Carolina, aka the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. That diocese continued on during and after the schism of 2012. The entity that now calls itself the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina did not exist before October 15, 2012. If the ADSC has been incorporated since then, I am not aware of it. Perhaps someone else knows if it has been. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This is no small issue. In 2019, the federal court in Charleston ruled that the Episcopal diocese was the one and only heir of the historic, i.e. pre-schism, diocese. Moreover, the judge issued an Injunction forbidding the new diocese from claiming in any way to be the historic diocese. By and large, the Anglicans ignored it. Then, the judge found TWICE that the ADSC was in contempt of court by continuing to refer to itself as the historic diocese. If the ADSC is now claiming that it incorporated in 1973, it seems to me the Episcopal diocese can haul them into court for a FOURTH time. And we were told the war was over. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">While the secessionists were retreating into their questionable defenses, the Episcopal diocese forged ahead enacting the principles it had championed all along. Nothing showed this better than the recent hiring of a rector at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, in Conway. A partnered, gay, man was unanimously chosen by the search committee and the vestry. To my knowledge, sexual orientation was never even mentioned in the hiring process. It was irrelevant, as it should be. Again, as far as I know, this is the first time a gay, partnered rector has been hired in the EDSC. It is high time after all it has been a decade since the schism. In my view, St. Anne's is very fortunate to gain this young man. He is Phi Beta Kappa from Sewanee.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In the end, all of this brings us back to the big picture of what we have known all along. The schism in SC was a local aspect of a much larger culture war going on in America, and to some extent, in the world. The Twentieth Century produced a massive impetus towards democracy in which freedom, equality, and inclusion was extended to all elements of society. The Episcopal Church picked up the ball on this and reformed the prayer book, gave women rights to ordination all the way to bishop, gave blacks equality and inclusion for the first time, and extended equal rights and inclusion to homosexual persons. However, a backlash formed led by the people who felt most threatened by the huge rush of democratic reforms, mainly white men. Historically, they had seen America as their own country. Now, they were going to be required to share power with others. It was more than many would accept. Hence, the rise of a strong anti-democratic reaction, most visibly shown in the candidacy of Donald Trump who openly promises to end our constitutional democracy. The Election of 2024 will decide which of the two historic forces is stronger, democracy or anti-democracy.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nothing on the local scene tells us more about the strength of the anti-democratic reaction than the ADSC's convention vote last Saturday to reject gender neutral language in the constitution and canons of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. <i>Plus ça change, plus c'est la mème chose.</i></span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-10769702017273123242024-03-12T03:00:00.001-05:002024-03-13T15:55:00.889-05:00<h2 align="center">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>By Ronald J. Caldwell, PhD, Emeritus Professor of History</strong></span></h2>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">(last revised March 13, 2024)</span></strong></div>
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<strong></strong> <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>A listing of events in chronological order apropos the Episcopal Church schism in South Carolina.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1973</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 14---The State of South Carolina issued a Certificate of Incorporation to The Protestant Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina: "The purpose of the said proposed Corporation is to continue the operation of an Episcopal Diocese under the Constitution and Canons of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1975</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- What is now known as Trinity School for Ministry Ambridge, Pennsylvania, was established as a conservative, evangelical school in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition. Mark Lawrence was an early alumnus. In time, many strong ties developed between Trinity and the Diocese of South Carolina and numerous alumni moved to serve as priests and deacons in the diocese. These ties became strongest in the episcopate of Mark Lawrence.</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1976</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---GC passed AO69 declaring homosexual persons to have "full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1979</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---The General Convention (GC) of the Episcopal Church (TEC) passed Resolution 3: "There should be no barrier to the ordination of qualified persons of either heterosexual or homosexual orientation...we believe it is not appropriate for this Church to ordain a practicing homosexual..." Forty-four bishops signed a statement rejecting the resolution.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---GC also adopted the Dennis Canon into the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church: "All real and personal property...is held in trust for this Church and the Diocese..." The Diocese of South Carolina renewed this as the first article in its Constitution and Canons every year until the DSC convention of Oct. 15, 2010 voted to remove it from the diocesan Constitution and Canons.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1980</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong> May 17--- Christopher FitzSimons Allison (b. Mar. 5, 1927) elected Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of South Carolina (DSC)</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 25---Allison consecrated Bishop Coadjutor.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1982</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan 1--Retirement of Bishop Gray Temple.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 2---Allison became Bishop of DSC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1985</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---GC defeated a resolution: "No one shall be denied access to the ordination process in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation..."; passed DO82 calling for "support" of homosexuals.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">September 26-28---The Diocese of South Carolina (DSC) meeting in its One-Hundred Ninety-Fifth annual convention, in Charleston, passed a resolution: "That the 1985 meeting of the Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina respectfully notify the Presiding Bishop-Elect that we do not approve the ordination of practicing homosexuals."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 1---George Edward Haynsworth became Assistant Bishop of DSC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1987</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---TEC issued a booklet "Sexuality: A Divine Gift." Critics were outraged. Bp Allison condemned it.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1988</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---DSC annual convention requested the Presiding Bishop (PB) to withdraw "Sexuality: A Divine Gift." It was withdrawn.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1989</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 7---Edward Lloyd Salmon, Jr. (b. Jan. 30, 1934) elected Bishop.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 16---Bishop John Spong, of Newark, ordained Robert Williams, an open and partnered gay man, to the priesthood. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1990</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>February---In <em>Jubilate Deo</em>, the Rev. Kendall Harmon, Assistant at Holy Comforter, Sumter, posted an editorial strongly denouncing Williams' ordination, Bp Spong's part in it, and even the Presiding Bishop's failure to intervene. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb. 22-24---DSC annual convention: Bp. Allison condemned the ordinations of homosexuals; convention passed a resolution that it "deplores the ordination of Robert Williams by Bishop Spong as a violation of the teaching of scripture and the Episcopal Church" and asked the House of Bishops to take disciplinary action against Spong; another resolution called on the House of Bishops and the Presiding Bishop to "censure the Bishop of Newark."</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>February 24--Bp Allison retired. Edward L. Salmon, Jr., consecrated Bishop of DSC (served until 2008) with Presiding Bishop Browning as chief consecrator.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April---In <em>Jubilate Deo, </em>the Rev. Kendall Harmon, Assistant at Holy Comforter, Sumter, posted a book review of <em>Dirt, Greed, and Sex</em> in which he denounced homosexuality among other expressions of sex.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Fall --- the Rt. Rev. Walter Righter, Assistant Bishop of Newark, ordained Barry Stopfel a deacon in the Diocese of Newark. Stopfel was an open and partnered homosexual man. In 1991, Stopfel was ordained a priest by the Rt. Rev. John S. Spong of Newark.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 19-20---Episcopalians United, a self-styled traditionalist group, held a conference in Charleston at St. Philip's and St. Michael's.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 31---Bp Haynsworth retired.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1991</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--GC, meeting in Phoenix AZ, dominated by widely competing views on sexuality in contentious sessions; no consensus on the ordination of homosexual persons. It called for deeper dialogue on human sexuality.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 8---the Episcopal Synod of America, a traditionalist group, met in Fresno CA (Diocese of San Joaquin) and formed a "missionary diocese." The Presiding Bishop asked them not to implement their plan as it would lead to schism. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 14---Canon Michael Malone and Mrs. Rosemary Drakeford conducted a workshop in Pinopolis for parish facilitators to discuss the issues raised by the GC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1992</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">March 13-14---DSC annual convention passed a resolution including: "Genital sexual expression is to be understood and taught as God's gift exclusively for men and women united in Holy Matrimony."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1993</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 20---DSC Standing Committee voted to direct its President (Rev. Ladson Mills III) "to respond to S.J. [sic] George's Parish, Maplewood, New Jersey expressing grave concern over their calling an openly practicing homosexual as their rector and allowing him and his partner to live in the rectory."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1994</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---GC met in Indianapolis and amended Canon I.15.5 to read: "No person shall be denied...equal place...[in] this Church...because of...sexual orientation." It also issued a study document on human sexuality affirming only heterosexual relations. At the meeting, 106 bishops, including those from SC, signed a statement that said in part: "Marriage is a union of husband and wife, one man and one woman..." and "Sexual relationships between members of the same sex are also a denial of God's plan, and cannot be condoned by the Church."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1995</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">February---Ten conservative bishops filed charges of heresy against Bishop Righter. On May 15, 1996 a Church court dismissed charges against Righter holding that neither the doctrine nor the discipline of TEC prohibited the ordination of a homosexual person in a committed relationship.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 7---the Very Rev. William Skilton elected Bishop Suffragan over four other candidates.</span></strong> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---the Rev. Kendall Harmon joined the "Editorial Advisory Board" of <em>Jubilate Deo</em>, the DSC newsletter. He remained on the Board until 2002 when he became "Editor."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 2---Skilton consecrated Bp Suffragan; served until 2007.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: red;"></span><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1997</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 23-26---SEAD (Scholarly Engagement with Anglican Doctrine) met at the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul. This conservative group had met annually at Virginia Theological Seminary. Later this was replaced by Mere Anglicanism.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb. 28-Mar. 1---At DSC annual convention, Bp Salmon declared "We expect Holy Matrimony to be the context for sexual relations." and "We do not bless single-gender relationships as Holy Matrimony."</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---GC met and passed resolution apologizing to homosexual persons "for years of rejection and mistreatment by the Church."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">September 8-9 --- Representatives of various traditionalist groups met at All Saints, Pawleys Island. Host was Chuck Murphy. Issued "First Promise" denouncing the 1997 General Convention on: new presiding bishop, ordination of women, and sexuality. Attendees included Bp Allison, Dow Sanderson, Kendall Harmon.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>October --- The Council of DSC adopted three resolutions in reaction to TEC General Convention: 1-local churches could withhold money to TEC, 2-seek associations outside TEC, 3-opposition to the mandatory ministry of ordained women in every diocese.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1998</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 27-28---At DSC annual convention, Bp Salmon deplored the recent vote of GC "which now makes the ordination of women mandatory" and added that many voices were calling to "...remove funding from the National Church..."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---Lambeth conference issues statement that homosexual practice was contrary to Scripture: "cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug.-Sept.---Bp Salmon announced that he and thirty other conservative bishops had signed a "Declaration to the Church" dissociating from "John Spong and his '12 Theses' as they in no way represent the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church." Spong was a leading liberal bishop.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">1999</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 5-6---DSC annual convention passed a resolution endorsing the Lambeth statement: "...hereby accept and declare that this Diocese...will not enact or continue in force any policy or take any action in conflict with the above said Resolutions of Lambeth 1998."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 1 --- Cambridge Accord defended equal rights for homosexual persons; signed by many Anglican bishops around the world.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 29--- Allison one of six bishops to consecrate as bishops Charles H. Murphy, III, rector of All Saints, Pawleys Island, and John H. Rogers, Jr., dean emeritus of Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge PA, in Singapore. The Archbishop of Canterbury (ABC) expressed grave disappointment. the Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, said "I am appalled."</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 11-12---at DSC annual convention, Bp Salmon recognized Murphy as a bishop and said that while he was not officially a priest of DSC, he continue on the staff of All Saints, Pawleys Island.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---GC approved: Resolution DO39 to "acknowledge" homosexual couples; and CO43 supporting the Cambridge Accord (Oct. 1, 1999) promoting rights for homosexuals.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>August --- Murphy and Rogers form Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) under the auspices of Rwanda and South East Asia.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>September --- DSC filed notice that All Saints, Pawleys Island, holds its property in trust for DSC and TEC. All Saints sued to claim the property.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 27-29---US Anglican Leader's Summit met in Atlanta. The Rev. Frank Limehouse III represented DSC at the request of Bp Salmon. It was meant to rally and unify "orthodox," or traditionalist Episcopalians and Anglicans.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 4 --- DSC Standing Committee gave consent to election of the Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori as Bishop of Nevada.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 8-10---at the annual DSC convention a resolution was offered: "Diocese of South Carolina's strong objections to the actions of the House of Bishops and the General Convention of 2000 and warns that if further action is taken to implement the proposed changing of the Book of Common Prayer to include a "marriage" service for same-sex couples, the blessing of same-sex couples and the authorizing of non-celibate homosexual persons...South Carolina will be forced to reconsider its relationship with the Episcopal Church..." This resolution was tabled and therefore not passed.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 24 --- Allison one of six bishops consecrating two new bishops for AMiA in Denver. Bp Salmon wrote in <em>Jubilate Deo</em>, "I profoundly regret the decision of the Anglican Mission in America leadership to take such a step."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 15 --- a state judge ruled against DSC in All Saints, Pawleys Island, case. DSC appealed.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan.---the Rev. Kendall Harmon became Editor of <em>Jubilate</em> <em>Deo,</em> a post</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">he kept until 2009 when be became Assistant Editor.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 12---Salmon, Skilton, and Allison among 19 bishops issuing "An Appeal for the Preservation of Godly Union" ["traditional orthodox faith"] at the House of Bishops meeting, Camp Allen TX.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2003</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 18---the House of Bishops adopted a report, "The Gift of Sexuality: A Theological Perspective," compiled by its Theology Committee: "Because at this time we are nowhere near consensus in the Church regarding the blessing of homosexual relationships, we cannot recommend authorizing the development of new rites for such blessings." While it took no explicit stand on the ordination of homosexual persons, it implied opposition: "we believe it is imperative that the Episcopal Church refrain from any attempt to 'settle' the matter legislatively." </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 7---Diocese of New Hampshire elected Rev. Gene Robinson, an openly gay and partnered priest, as its next bishop.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---Salmon, Skilton, and Harmon issued a letter strongly condemning Robinson's election.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 9---Salmon, Bishop Duncan of Pittsburgh, and Harmon issued a joint statement strongly advising the rejection of Robinson's election.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 15---Salmon, Skilton, and Allison among 24 bishops issuing a statement declaring "impaired communion" with the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster that had recently approved liturgies for the blessings of same-sex unions.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 23---Salmon, Skilton, and Harmon attend conservative meeting in Fairfax VA calling on GC to reject Robinson.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug.-Sept.---in <em>Jubilate Deo</em>, Bps. Salmon and Skilton denounced the election of Robinson as "clear repudiation of the teaching of Holy Scripture and the tradition of the church" and called on GC to reject the election.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---GC revised Canon III.1.2 to read: "No person shall be denied access to...any ministry...in this Church because of...sexual orientation..."</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Aug. 5 --- House of Bishops (HOB) at GC voted 62-43 to confirm Gene Robinson as the next bishop of New Hampshire. Before the vote, deputy the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence, of San Joaquin, spoke on behalf of the minority report composed by himself and two others. Their report condemned same-sex relationships.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug. 6---the Rev. Kendall Harmon made a speech on the floor of the House of Deputies at GC calling the vote on Robinson "catastrophic."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug. 18---Salmon met with the clergy of DSC on a "deadly serious situation" [Robinson].</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug. 18 --- DSC Standing Committee passed a resolution to call a special diocesan convention in the Fall; passed another resolution declaring the acts of the recent GC on Robinson and blessing of same-sex unions "in conflict with the Canons of the Diocese of South Carolina and have no binding effect in the Diocese."</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 2 --- DSC held a special convention to condemn the actions of General Convention (GC). Bp. Salmon said "The General Convention has endorsed a new religion." The Standing Committee offered a resolution: "Episcopal Church has exceeded its authority and departed from its constitution, in confirming the election, as bishop, of a non-celibate homosexual man and in permitting same-sex blessings..." and "urges recognition by the International Primates, of those orthodox dioceses and parishes...as the legitimate expression of the Anglican Communion ...in the United States." The first part condemned the confirmation of Bp Robinson; the second part called for splitting TEC.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The Rev. Tommy Tipton, of Holy Cross/Faith Memorial in Pawleys Island, presented a statement protesting the resolution signed by 19 clergy. Steve Skardon also presented a substitute resolution. All were voted down. With the change of one word, "apostasy" to "actions" the resolution passed.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 7-9---American Anglican Council held a meeting of "orthodox" leaders at Plano TX.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 18---80-page report issued by panel of 17 called by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams called on the 50 bishops who consecrated Robinson to express regret but did not expel TEC from the AC. Kendall Harmon said this was not sufficient.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 23---Kendall Harmon attended meeting of conservatives at Truro Episcopal Church in VA that agreed to form a "network of confessing dioceses and parishes."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 2---Robinson consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire. Kendall Harmon sent as representative of American Anglican Council alternative meeting of 500 protesters.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 4---Salmon, Skilton, and Allison among 38 bishops issuing a statement condemning Robinson's consecration.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 20---Salmon one of four bishops issuing a "Memorandum of Agreement on Establishing a Network of Confessing Dioceses and Congregations in the Episcopal Church" at "The Mainstream Meeting." The statement of the meeting called on the Global South primates to recognize the Network, to separate from the Archbishop of Canterbury if he did not support them, and to campaign in the Anglican Communion against TEC. The bishops said "We commit to the guerilla warfare of the next year."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 25 --- DSC Standing Committee passed resolution to join the "Network of Confessing Dioceses and Congregations." </span></strong><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>SC one of four dioceses forming the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, in opposition to Robinson.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec.---Group of five friends met and resolved to set up organization to keep link between TEC and DSC: Barbara Mann, Marcy Walsh, Tom Myers, Dottie Pagliaro, and Lynn Pagliaro. Episcopal Forum of South Carolina formed with stated goal "to insure that the Episcopal Diocese of SC continues to exist in full participation with ECUSA..." Lynn Pagliaro served as first president.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 23 --- Bp Salmon reported that only St. Stephen's of Charleston, and Holy Cross/Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island, may want to transfer to another bishop while Grace Church, Charleston, and All Saints on Hilton Head were divided.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 28---The Chapman Memo, by Rev. Geoff Chapman, rector of St. Stephen's, Sewickley PA, Diocese of Pittsburgh, on behalf of the American Anglican Council and its Bishops' Committee on Adequate Episcopal Oversight (AEO): "Our ultimate goal is a realignment of Anglicanism on North American soil...We believe in the end this should be a 'replacement' jurisdiction [to replace TEC]. It then laid out a plan in three stages to accomplish this goal. The Memo was secret and stressed keeping it secret while passing it around only "orthodox" clergy (the Memo was immediately leaked). It is possible that the Chapman Memo became the blueprint for the parochial and diocesan secession movement that exploded after Robinson's affirmation.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2004</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 8-9---"The Future of the Anglican Communion" conference met at St. Philip's, sponsored by the Anglican Communion Institute, an orthodox think tank. This evolved into the annual conference in Charleston called Mere Anglicanism.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 19-20---Bp Salmon attended the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Congregations meeting in Dallas (Plano). SC one of twelve dioceses represented. The group elected Bishop Duncan, of Pittsburgh, its moderator, and drew up a Ten Point Plan opposing the recent decisions of GC. Chapman (see Dec. 28, 2003) addressed the conference. This group was soon commonly called the Anglican Communion Network. Salmon and Harmon soon figured prominently in the leadership of ACN. DSXC delegation in Plano: Rev. Steve Wood, Rev. John Burwell, Bp. Skilton, Lydia Evans, and Clayton Burroughs.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>--- All Saints, Pawleys Island, voted to withdraw from TEC and DSC and align with AMiA, under Province of Rwanda.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb. 23 --- Episcopal Forum of South Carolina hosted a meeting "Seeking Unity in Diversity" in Charleston seeking common ground after the disagreements on Robinson.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">March 3---The Barfoot Memorandum called for alternative primatial oversight from overseas as a step to replacing TEC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 5---The first newsletter of the Episcopal Forum of SC suggested that the ACN may well be schismatic.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug. 27-Sept. 11---The Anglican Communion Network, which formed in reaction to Robinson's approval, held meetings at St. Philip's, Church of the Cross in Bluffton, and Church of the Holy Comforter in Sumter led by prominent conservatives in opposition to the decisions of TEC. (While Episcopal Forum represented the pro-TEC forces, the ACC came to represent the anti-TEC side). <em>Jubilate Deo</em> began carrying frequent news from ACC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 18---The Windsor Report was issued: recommended a moratorium on acceptance of homosexual persons as bishops and on the blessing of same-sex unions; recommended an "Anglican Covenant" whereby provinces would consult with the AC; recommended those promoting "disunity" to "express regret"; did not recommend discipline against TEC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 1---Standing Committee voted resolutions supporting the Windsor Report and calling on bishops who supported Bp Robinson to "express regret" and remove themselves from "representative functions in the Anglican Communion." At the same time it brushed aside the cross-boundary interventions as "...actions to be of lesser concern..."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2005</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 12-13---House of Bishops met in Salt Lake City. Salmon served as chief spokesman for the Anglican Communion Network that denounced the affirmation of Robinson. Salmon, Skilton, and Allison among 29 bishops who issued a statement criticizing the HOB for it weak stand on the Windsor Report and strongly endorsing the Report.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">March 4-5---at the annual DSC convention, Bp Salmon endorsed the Windsor Report. The Rev. Greg Kronz was appointed to head a bishop's search committee. Resolution passed: "this Diocese honor the moratoria, as expressed in the Windsor Report, 1)the consecration of all candidates to the episcopate who are engaged in same-sex relationships..., 2)the blessing of same-sex relationships, and 3)...we will neither encourage nor initiate cross-boundary interventions..." The Rev. Canon Kendall Harmon offered two resolutions that passed identifying DSC with the wider Anglican Communion.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">The bishop's search committee: Rev. Greg Kronz, chair; the Very Rev. Craige Borrett; the Rev. Paul Fuener; the Rev. Anthony Kowbeidu; the Rev. Jeffrey Miller; the Very Rev. John Scott; the Rev. David Thurlow; John Bowden; Lydia Evans; Martha Flowers; Frances Fuchs; Keith Lackey. All but Lackey came from parishes that later "disassociated" from TEC. [Lackey later left the parish, DSC and TEC for the Ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church.]</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 18-20---the Anglican Communion Network met in Bedford TX. SC was represented.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 18-21---Salmon one of 19 bishops meeting in Los Angeles. No agreement.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 11-12---the Anglican Communion Network met in Pittsburgh. SC represented. A group associated with ACN issued a DVD that was distributed to the 2000+ attendees. It followed the themes of the Chapman Memo in strongly denouncing TEC and clearly suggesting that Episcopalians should abandon the Church. Harmon was a featured speaker on the DVD. It also included two videos, "Choose This Day" and "The Decision." Lawrence reiterated the themes of the videos in his two essays below of 2006.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2006</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>January---Bishop Salmon reached the mandatory age of retirement. At the request of the Standing Committee, Salmon continued to serve as the acting bishop of the diocese until Lawrence's consecration on Jan. 26, 2008.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 30---Rev. Mark Lawrence, rector of St. Paul's, Bakersfield, issued "A Prognosis for This Body Episcopal" that called for the end of the independent Episcopal Church: "Our very survival, let alone our growth, necessitates the surrender of our autonomy to the governance of the larger church--that is, the Anglican Communion."</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 27 --- DSC Standing Committee noted that All Saints, Pawleys Island, had rejected two offers of a compromise settlement.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March ---at a service in St. Paul's, Bakersfield CA, where he was rector (1997-2007), Mark Lawrence said he received a revelation from God that he was to embark on a journey. In May he allowed his name to be submitted for bishop of SC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 10-14---ACC held meetings in Holy Comforter Sumter, St Helena's Beaufort, and St. Philip's, to discuss issues in the upcoming GC.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June --- Katharine Jefferts Schori elected Presiding Bishop (PB) of TEC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---GC passed: BO33 calling on dioceses to "exercise restraint" by not consenting to homosexuals; A167 affirming equality for homosexuals; AO95 calling for civi protection of same-sex couples.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June---Bps Salmon and Skilton published a pastoral letter revealing shock at the election of Bp Jefferts Schori and dismay at GC's failure to conform to the Windsor Report. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 21---Salmon, Skilton, and Allison among 24 bishops issuing statement condemning the "failure" of GC to take adequate action.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 23---Rev. Lawrence posted an essay "Remaining Anglican: In Defense of Dissociation" holding that TEC was hopelessly in error and endorsing "alternative primatial oversight" [outside of TEC].</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 26 --- DSC Standing Committee voted unanimously to request from the Archbishop of Canterbury an Alternative Primatial Relationship. This was approved by resolution of the DSC convention of Nov. 9-10.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 6 --- DSC Standing Committee interviewed four candidates for bishop: Mark Lawrence, John Burwell, Ellis Brust, and Steve Wood. Lawrence, Brust and Wood were approved.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">August 26 --- DSC Standing Committee received a petition to make the Rev. Dow Sanderson a candidate for bishop. The Committee unanimously rejected it.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 11-13---Salmon among conservative bishops meeting in New York at invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Presiding Bishop. No agreement. (See Nov. 27)</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 16 --- Special convention of the DSC. Mark Lawrence elected bishop of over Ellis E. Brust (chief operating officer of the American Anglican Council) and Stephen D. Wood (rector, St. Andrew's, Mt. Pleasant). [all three later left TEC]. TEC rules allowed 120 days after formalities to receive consents from the majority of 111 dioceses (minimum of 56).</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 22---Salmon among 21 bishops who met at Camp Allen TX and sent a letter to HOB supporting the Windsor Report and endorsing the Anglican Covenant.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 28---Episcopal Forum held a meeting in Charleston.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 19 --- Via Media USA, affiliated with Episcopal Forum, sent letters to all dioceses stating that Lawrence would be a threat to the unity of the church.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 27---The Bishop of Dallas withdrew his request for Alternate Primatial Oversight.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 9-10 --- Annual meeting of the DSC. In his Bishop's Address, Bp Salmon criticized the new PB for her theological "relativism" and her philosophy of social gospel. The Convention passed Resolution # 1, "in requesting from the Archbishop of Canterbury and Alternative Primatial Relationship" (see June 26). </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 27---Outcome of Sept. 11-13 meeting, PB and bishops issued a proposal for a Primatial Vicar to serve those dioceses that requested Alternative Primatial Oversight. The proposal was sent to the ABC and the petitioning bishops.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. --- Bp Suffragan Skilton resigned office (effective Dec. 31) at the request of the DSC Standing Committee upon its agreement with the bishop-elect. Skilton wrote "I believe my departure will enable Father Lawrence to create a diocesan staff that will more effectively respond to is developing vision..." As Bishop of SC, Lawrence did hire a new staff, a new Canon to the Ordinary, and a new Visiting Bishop.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 26---St. Stephen's Church, Anson Street in Charleston, adopted a resolution to support TEC.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 7---Lawrence sent a letter to the Standing Committees of TEC: "...my intention is to remain in The Episcopal Church."</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 12---deadline for consents from Standing Committees for election of Lawrence as Bishop. 56 was the minimum number for approval. As of 3-3-07 46 consents had been made. 55 received by 3-12-07. PB added three days to deadline.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 15 --- PB declared Lawrence's election null and void. Several dioceses had submitted electronic consents when the Canons required written signatures. PB announced that 50 votes were legal, six less than required. Lawrence blamed his loss on smear campaign of liberals.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 9---HOB Task Force on Property Disputes issued a report, "Connecting the Dots," detailing a well-organized plan among conservatives to remove property of TEC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 17---DSC Standing Committee resolved unanimously to reconvene the diocesan convention in June.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 26---Salmon one of seven bishops calling themselves "The Steering Committee of the Windsor Bishops" who wrote the ABC affirming their strong support for Windsor.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 5---the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence addressed the annual meeting of the Episcopal Church Women in Beaufort.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 7---Episcopal Forum sent a letter to the PB asking her to appoint an interim bishop. (Salmon had retired at mandatory age of 72.)</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 9---meeting of "Re-Convened 216th Convention" that decided on a new convention to elect a bishop to be held on Aug. 4.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 11-14---The Executive Council of TEC resolved: -every diocese is required to give unqualified accession to the Constitution and Canons of TEC; -any amendment to a diocesan constitution that attempts to change this is null and void. </span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>August 4 --- DSC convention elected Lawrence as Bishop. His was the only name on the ballot.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 18 --- DSC Diocesan Council passed a resolution inviting Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori to the diocese in February of 2008.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 19---PB announced that 8 bishops had agreed to serve as "episcopal visitors" to dioceses that had requested pastoral oversight other than the PB. [see Sept. 20]</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 20-25---HOB met with ABC in New Orleans. Salmon issued a letter criticizing the meeting and rejecting the PB's offer of alternative oversight [Sept. 19] as not meeting the "needs of those who asked for it."</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 29 --- PB announced Lawrence had received the consents necessary for him to become the next bishop of DSC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 3---Episcopal Forum held a conference at Middleton Place.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 8 ---Diocesan convention in San Joaquin voted to leave TEC for the Province of the Southern Cone. Mark Lawrence, of St. Paul's in Bakersfield, was not present as he was on sabbatical in North Carolina. St. Paul's voted for secession.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 11---PB inhibited Schofield (Bp of San Joaquin). </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 26 --- Lawrence consecrated Bishop of DSC at Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul, Charleston. The PB was not invited. Chief consecrator was Bp E. Clifton Daniel, of East Carolina. David Booth Beers present to guide officials in legalities.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb. 25-26 --- PB visited DSC. Lawrence met with PB.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 7-12 --- </strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Lawrence attended meeting of HOB. Discussion of Windsor Report.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">March 12--- Bp Schofield of San Joaquin deposed by vote of the House of Bishops.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar. 27 --- DSC Standing Committee and Bp Lawrence sent a letter to PB protesting the deposition of Schofield. [Almost all minutes of all meetings of the DSC Standing Committee are still held secret, unavailable to the public; only a few selected lines have been released.]</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 14-17---Lawrence at Trinity School for Ministry (Ambridge PA) for Board of Trustees meeting.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 21-24---Lawrence at Nashotah House in Wisconsin to receive an honorary doctor's degree and meet with conservative bishops on the Board of Trustees.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 3-4---Lawrence attended Province IV bishops' meeting at Kanuga. Discussion of upcoming Lambeth conference.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 23-27 --- Lawrence attended the GAFCON conference [GAFCON I]in Jerusalem. Conference issues "The Jerusalem Declaration" that includes: "marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family" and "we reject the authority of those churches and leaders who have denied the orthodox faith [e.g. The Episcopal Church]." Many bishops at GAFCON refused to attend Lambeth.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 6---Lawrence journeyed to England for meetings.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 17-Aug. 3 --- Lawrence attended the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">August 3---Lawrence was quoted as saying GAFCON was the heir apparent to assume leadership of the AC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 11---Lawrence meets with the DSC clergy and stressed building bonds with Anglicans beyond TEC.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 17-19 --- Lawrence attended a meeting of HOB in Salt Lake City and protested the depositions of Schofield and Duncan. HOB deposed Duncan by vote of 88 yes, 35 no and 4 abstaining.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 1-3---Lawrence in Ambridge PA for Board of Trustees meeting of Trinity School for Ministry</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 6-8---Lawrence in Sewanee TN to receive honorary doctor's degree and meet with Board of Trustees.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 6 ---DSC Standing Committee unanimously passed resolutions: -supporting the Jerusalem Declaration as set forth in the GAFCON Conference, 2-non-recognition of the deposition of Duncan.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 3-5---Lawrence attends Province IV bishops' meeting in Jacksonville FL. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 3---Common Cause Partnership, led by Robert Duncan, formed the Anglican Church in North America, an association of various independent conservative groups.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 8-9 --- Lawrence attended the Anglican Communion Network convention in Overland Park, KS. [This is the tenth meeting Lawrence attended in 2008 outside of SC.]</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2009</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><strong> </strong><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb. 16-18---Lawrence in Belleville IL for a Men's Conference and Clergy Pre-Lenten Retreat for the Diocese of Springfield.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 12-13 --- In his first address to an annual convention of DSC, Lawrence denounced TEC for what he called "compromises toward the Uniqueness of Christ, " "non-Canonical actions," and "controversies regarding Human Sexuality," but gave no specifics. In the same moment, he first publicly raised the idea that DSC might not continue to accede to and adopt the Constitution and Canons of TEC.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---In the convention, the Revs. Borrett and Harmon introduced a resolution to "Request that General Convention be suspended." This was defeated in the house of clergy. [This was the last resolution to be defeated in Lawrence's tenure.] However, resolutions were passed supporting the proposed Anglican Covenant and the Uniqueness of Christ.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---Convention also approved the office of Canon to the Ordinary. Bp. Lawrence appointed the Rev. Jim Lewis.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 15-18---Lawrence attends House of Bishops meeting at Kanuga.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 30-April 1---Lawrence in Bakersfield CA for ordination of his son Chad at St. Paul's Anglican Church, where Lawrence had been rector 1997-2007. St. Paul's was one of the parishes of San Joaquin that had left the Episcopal Church in 2007 under Bp Schofield. (St. Paul's returned to TEC in 2013.) </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 15-17---Lawrence in Houston TX for meeting of Anglican Communion Partners and the Anglican Communion Institute.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 22 --- Lawrence and 14 other bishops released 13-page document "Bishops' Statement on the Polity of the Episcopal Church" asserting virtual sovereignty of the individual dioceses.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>May 18-21---Lawrence at Lake Logan NC for College of Bishops meeting.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 29-30 --- DSC Standing Committee approved transfer of $3.5m in property to an irrevocable trust at St. Andrew's Church, Mt. Pleasant. This passed after Lawrence offered prayers for the discernment of the Committee.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 2-4---Lawrence at Kanuga for Province IV bishops' meeting.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 22---Anglican Church in North America formed. Robert Duncan chosen archbishop.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July-7-18---Lawrence in Anaheim CA for General Convention. GC passed DO25 and CO56 favoring homosexuals in the ministry and the blessing of same-sex unions. Lawrence one of several bishops of the Communion Partners writing the Anaheim Statement, issued on July 16, condemning the resolutions; 35 bishops signed the Statement.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 19-21---Lawrence in Bakersfield CA to attend St. Paul's Anglican Church.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July --- St. Andrew's, of Mt. Pleasant, transferred property worth $3.45 million into a land trust.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 28---Lawrence, DSC Standing Committee, deans, and Harmon met in wake of GC. Drew up resolutions to present at Oct. convention (see Oct. 24).</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Aug. 13 --- In response to GC, Lawrence addressed the clergy of DSC condemning "the false gospel of indiscriminate inclusivity [rights for homosexuals]" and calling on DSC to distance itself from TEC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 1-3 --- In the wake of GC, Lawrence and other Anglican Communion Network bishops met with the Archbishop of Canterbury in London.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---In late 2009 the final draft of the Anglican Communion Covenant was sent to the Anglican provinces for approval.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 18 --- SC Supreme Court reversed the trial court's decision and ruled in favor of All Saints, Pawleys Island, against DSC. The Court said All Saints held title to its property and the Dennis Canon had had no effect on that. Neither DSC nor TEC appealed to the US Supreme Court. [see Feb. 12, 2010.]</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 21-23---Lawrence in Albany NY to address a clergy retreat in the Diocese of Albany.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. --- Lawrence invited Tom Tisdale to lunch; 2 1/2 hour conversation on issues in the DSC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 20 --- DSC Standing Committee discussed resolutions for upcoming special convention; Calvary Church, Charleston, sent letter opposing withdrawing from governing bodies of TEC; Committee spent much time rewording R-5, "The Rubric of Love" and offered an amendment.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 22 --- Bonnie Anderson, president of TEC House of Deputies, sent letter to DSC--decisions of General Convention are binding on the dioceses.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 24 --- DSC held special convention and voted -to begin withdrawing from all bodies of TEC that are in error, -declared DO25 and CO56 null and void in DSC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 3-4---Bishops and other representatives of seven conservative dioceses, including SC, met in Charleston to plan strategy.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 17--- Attorney Alan Runyan formally retained as counsel for DSC; became lead lawyer for DSC in litigation 2013+.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. --- David Booth Beers retained Tom Tisdale as counsel for TEC in DSC.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 1 --- St. Luke's, Hilton Head, voted to remove all references to TEC.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. --- Trinity Church, Myrtle Beach, voted to remove all references to TEC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 5 --- Mary Glasspool elected by Diocese of Los Angeles to be Suffragan Bishop. [Consecrated in May 2010]. She was the second openly homosexual person to be made a bishop in the Episcopal Church.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 5 --- Episcopal Forum held a symposium in Charleston, "I an Episcopalian."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 12 --- Andrew Waldo elected bishop of Upper South Carolina. John Burwell was also a candidate (DSC Standing Committee had unanimously rejected consent to Waldo's election).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 17 --- St. Andrew's of Mt. Pleasant voted as a congregation to leave the Episcopal Church for the ACNA. [see Mar. 28, 2010.]</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 31 --- Tisdale met Wade Logan for conversation.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2010</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>January --- Mere Anglicanism conference in Charleston with theme of gender, identity, and sexuality focused on the evils of homosexuality.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 25-29 --- Thomas S. Tisdale, attorney for TEC sent 9 letters requesting information on certain parishes. Logan showed letters to Lawrence. Lawrence declared a crisis. DSC refused to give any information to Tisdale.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 9---Lawrence announced he was postponing diocesan convention from Mar. 4-5 to Mar. 26.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 12 --- Vestry of All Saints Episcopal Church, Pawleys Island, filed a motion in the U.S. Supreme Court for appealing the SC Supreme Court decision on All Saints Waccamaw. Neither DSC nor TEC joined.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 19-22 --- PB met with the Executive Committee of TEC. Discussed SC. No agreement.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 22-25---Lawrence in Birmingham AL to preach at Cathedral Church of the Advent, Very Rev. Frank Limehouse, dean.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 6 --- Episcopal Forum hosted conference in Charleston, "Enthusiastically Episcopalian."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 17 --- Lease agreement between the Trustees of DSC and Mark Lawrence. Episcopal residence at 50 Smith Street, Charleston, leased to Lawrence for one dollar a year for five years with option for another five years. In effect regardless of his status as bishop. [Entered as Exhibit DSC-28, Circuit Court trial, July 8, 2014]</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---Trustees also adopted new Bylaws naming the Bishop as the President of the Corporation (see Jan. 4, 2013).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">M</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: large;">ar. 19-24 --- Lawrence attended the HOB meeting in Camp Allen TX.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">-----The Theology Committee of the HOB issued a report "Same-Sex Relationships in the Life of the Church," an 87-page study from leading authorities on both the "Traditionalist" and "Liberal" sides. This report is to date the most scholarly, balanced discussion of this topic but it drew no conclusions.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">-----Andrew Waldo (bishop-elect of Upper South Carolina) and Lawrence had 1 1/2 hour get-acquainted meeting at HOB.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. --- All Saints Episcopal and All Saints Anglican, Pawleys Island agreed on settlement: property valued at $10m and name to Anglicans, $375,000 to Episcopalians. All Saints Episcopal dropped appeal to Supreme Court [see Feb. 12].</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar. 26 --- DSC convention met after being postponed (from Mar. 4-5). Demanded PB withdraw her attorney; declared DSC a "sovereign" diocese.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar. 28--- St. Andrew's, of Mt. Pleasant. Vestry formally enacts disassociation from DSC and TEC (congregational vote of Dec. 17).</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April-May---Episcopal Forum held five regional meetings around diocese. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 17-32 --- Lawrence attended the Global South to South Encounter, in Singapore, a meeting of conservative Anglican bishops.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>May 12-14---Lawrence in Sewickley PA for Trinity School for Ministry Board of Trustees meeting.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 15---Mary D. Glasspool, consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles. Glasspool was the second openly homosexual person to be made a bishop of TEC.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>May 20---Lawrence at Nashotah House, Wisconsin, to attend commencement.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 22 --- Andrew Waldo consecrated bishop of Upper South Carolina in Christ Church, Greenville. Lawrence did not attend.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 16 --- DSC Standing Committee resolved non-recognition of Mary Glasspool as a bishop of the Episcopal Church.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>August 25-26---Lawrence at Virginia Theological Seminary; Washington DC where he met a group at the Heritage Foundation; and Sewickley PA.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 2 --- Clergy conference, St. Paul's Summerville. Alan Runyan made a presentation attacking the Title IV revisions in the canons of TEC. These charges were background to the six proposed resolutions for the next diocesan convention.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 9 --- Standing Committee met and approved the six proposed resolutions for the next convention. All alter the basic documents of the diocese: constitution, canons, and corporate charter. Resolutions published.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 15-19---Lawrence in Phoenix AZ for House of Bishops meeting.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 22 --- Episcopal Forum sent a letter to the Executive Council and to each member of the HOB asking for an investigation of Lawrence.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 23 --- Lawrence sent a letter refuting all charges made by Forum.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 30-Oct. 7 --- Lawrence in Cairo, Egypt to address the Diocese of Egypt... in Cairo strengthening his ties with conservative Anglican Bishop Mouneer Anis (Egypt and North Africa and the Horn of Africa).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 13 --- Lawrence sent a letter to PB. PB sent back an e-mail.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 14 --- Lawrence sent an e-mail to PB and drafted a letter to her that he did not send.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 15 --- Reconvened Diocesan Convention passed six resolutions amending the DSC constitution. These assert the independent self-rule of DSC and removed accession to the canons of TEC. The Dennis Canon was removed from the DSC Constitution and Canons. The corporate charter was amended to drop TEC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 19 --- DSC officially amended its charter with the state of SC to remove all references to the Episcopal Church.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 21 --- DSC amended its Bylaws: -Standing Committee to be known as "Board of Directors"; Lawrence is the President of the Corporation; Directors have sole authority to choose a bishop; only Directors can remove any members of the Board; Lawrence can be removed only by unanimous vote of the Board. (see Dec. 16)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 9---Episcopal Forum sent a letter to the Province IV bishops appealing for help in defending TEC in DSC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 15-16 --- Lawrence attended meeting of Communion Partner bishops, a conservative league, in Orlando.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov, 18-19---Lawrence attends Province IV bishops' meeting in Miami FL.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 16 --- DSC amended its Bylaws: Board of Directors (Standing Committee) have sole authority to determine identity and authority of the Bishop; Board may make an employment contract with the Bishop (see Feb. 1, 2011); Bishop can be removed only by unanimous vote of the Board; Bishop's employment contract may be terminated only by unanimous vote of the Board and the calling of a special convention of the diocese where two-thirds of both orders approve the termination.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2011</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb. 1 --- Bishop's Employment Agreement. Standing Committee made agreement to employ Lawrence as bishop and/or chief executive officer in perpetuity and regardless of his status as bishop. Could be terminated only by death, total disability, Lawrence's request, or the terms of the Bylaws (see Dec. 16, 2010). Salary set at base $121,170 plus family medical insurance, annual annuity of $10,000, retirement contribution equal to 18% of income, and $35,000 travel (near $200,000 package). If he were removed as bishop his employment would continue as chief executive officer of the diocese. [Entered as Exhibit DSC-29, circuit court trial, July 8, 2014].</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb. 18-19 --- DSC convention passed a second time two resolutions from the Oct. convention removing accession to the Canons of TEC and removing "annual" before "convention."</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 19 --- Lawrence meets with Standing Committee.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 1 --- Lawrence complained to DSC Standing Committee about upcoming Episcopal Forum meeting and its "false statements and misrepresentations."</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar. 10 ---Episcopal Forum held "Enthusiastically Episcopalian: conference.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 18-19---Lawrence in Springfield IL for the consecration of Bp. Daniel Martins.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 28-29 --- Lawrence attended HOB meeting, Kanuga NC and discussed the pending Anglican Covenant, a cause he strongly advocated.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>May 13---Lawrence in Ambridge PA for Trinity School for Ministry Board of Trustees meeting.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>May 25 --- Melinda Lucka wrote to PB and Executive Council of TEC outlining charges against Lawrence.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 2 --- Lawrence reads book by Robert Gagnon, <em>The Bible and Homosexual Practice</em>.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 6-8 --- Lawrence attends meeting of Province IV bishops, Kanuga NC and makes talk he entitles "Sex and Salvation."</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 1 --- Title IV revisions to the TEC Constitution and Canons became effective. New Disciplinary Board for Bishops established (10 bishops, 4 priests or deacons, 4 laypersons).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Aug. --- Executive Council of TEC informed Lawrence that votes of DSC to override the C and C of TEC were null and void (see June 11-14, 2007).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 26-27---Lawrence in Washington DC for China-USA Church Leaders Forum.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 28 --- Lawrence sent letter rejecting the Executive Council's ruling.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 29 ---Lawrence was informed by the President of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops (Rt. Rev. Dorsey Henderson, Jr., former bishop of Upper SC) that he was being investigated on charges of abandonment of communion. Committee collected 63-page document of evidence against Lawrence. 12 allegations.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 30 --- Josephine Hicks, attorney for the DBB wrote to the Standing Committee of DSC requesting documents.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 4 --- Lawrence met with Standing Committee, 11:30-4:00.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 7 --- Wade Logan, Chancellor of DSC, wrote to Hicks challenging her credentials.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 11 --- Lawrence held meeting of DSC clergy.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 14 --- Hicks recused herself from the case. Replaced by Jack W. Burtch.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 21 --- Convention of Diocese of Upper South Carolina passed a resolution calling on the PB and Lawrence to meet.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 24 --- Bp Waldo, of Upper SC, met with Lawrence in Columbia SC to deliver the resolution.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 1 --- Lawrence meets with Standing Committee, 10:30-4:00. The SC unanimously voted to call a special convention of DSC within 30 days of any action of TEC against Lawrence. The purpose of the convention would be to disassociate from TEC.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 2 --- Bp. Waldo, of Upper SC, met with the PB in NYC.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 15 --- Lawrence announced he had issued quitclaim deeds to all parishes in DSC. Logan sent letters to parishes on Nov. 16.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 22 --- DBB met by conference call.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 28 ---DBB announced that it could not certify that Lawrence had abandoned the communion.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 29-Dec. 1 --- Provincial bishops met and discussed the quitclaim deeds. Lawrence did not attend.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 5 --- Bp Clifton Daniel, of East Carolina, wrote to Lawrence asking for a meeting.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 6 --- Lawrence met with Standing Committee, 10:30-5:00.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 9 --- Standing Committee of DSC sent a letter to Daniel challenging his right to "interfere" in DSC.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 14 --- 6 bishops met with Lawrence in Charleston to discuss the quitclaim deeds, 1:00-3:30 p.m. No outcome.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2012</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 10 --- Standing Committee met 10:30-3:30.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 14 --- Church Pension Fund presentation 10:00-4:30.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 2 --- Diocesan Council met 10:30-1:15; Deans met 1:15-3:45.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 7 --- Standing Committee met 10:30-4:15.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 8-11, Lawrence in Virginia to meet with students and faculty of Virginia Theological Seminary.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 19-23 --- Lawrence in Pennsylvania to visit Trinity School for Ministry.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 10 ---at the annual DSC convention Bp Lawrence criticized TEC on issues of "Fatherhood of God, the Uniqueness of Christ, liturgical innovations, the ordination of women, the blessing of same-sex unions, communion of the unbaptized," but emphasized "The possible departure from Christian Teaching on Marriage is the most disconcerting of all." Resolution passed: ..."we commit ourselves to the defense of Christian marriage as it has been traditionally understood..."</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar. 13 --- Lawrence in Toronto, Canada, as guest of Ephraim Radner.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar. 15-19 --- Lawrence in Camp Allen TX for House of Bishops.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 21-24 --- Lawrence in Orlando for consecration of Greg Brewer as new bishop of Central Florida.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 23 --- Melinda Lucka, an attorney in Charleston, sent a letter of Complaint against the Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence to the Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, Bishop for Pastoral Development, of TEC, charging Lawrence had operated DSC in violation of the canons of TEC, specifically Title IV, Canons 3 and 4. This Complaint was advanced to the Disciplinary Board for Bishops. It was signed by: Robert R. Black, Barbara G. Mann, David W. Mann, Robert B. Pinkerton, Mrs. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, the Rev. Colton M. Smith, III, John Wilder, Virginia C. Wilder, Eleanor B. Koets, John Kwist, Margaret S. Kwist, M. Jaquelin Simons, Patricia P. Riley, Thomas W. Riley, Charles G. Carpenter, Margaret A. Carpenter, Frances L. Elmore, Cynthia L. Harding, Flint Harding III, Dolores J. Miller, Warren Mesereau, Eleanor Horres, and the Rev. Roger W. Smith. This letter became the basis for the action of the DBB; on Sept. 18 the DBB voted to charge Lawrence with abandonment of communion.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 26-27 --- Standing Committee held retreat at Camp St. Christopher.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 23-27 --- Lawrence attended GAFCON Leaders Conference in London;</strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong> Lawrence addressed the Guildford Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship of the Church of England Evangelical Council on Apr. 25.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 1 --- Standing Committee met 10:00-3:00; directed delegates to GC to: file a minority report, refrain from worship, and walk out immediately after the passage of the same-sex blessing rites. Committee also discussed a booklet by Greg Snyder, "When Should We Divide?"</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 2 --- Lawrence met with deputies to General Convention, 2:00-4:15.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 22-25 --- Lawrence traveled to Wisconsin for Nashotah House meetings.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 5-7 --- Lawrence attended the Province IV bishops' meeting at Kanuga, NC.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 9 --- Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) named Steve Wood, rector of St. Andrew's, Mt. Pleasant, as bishop of its Diocese of the Carolinas.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 11 --- Lawrence in Atlanta for Summit on Immigration.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 15 --- Standing Committee of DSC issued statement condemning the upcoming blessing of same-gender unions in the GC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 17-22 --- Lawrence took vacation to mountains of VA and TN.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 26 --- Lawrence met with deputies to General Convention, 1:00-3:00.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 30 --- TEC started disciplinary proceedings against 9 bishops including former SC Bp Salmon for their role in supporting court actions against TEC in the case of Ft. Worth.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 3 --- Lawrence in Indianapolis for General Convention.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 10 --- DSC delegates spoke in opposition to Resolution AO49, the authorizing of liturgy for the blessing of same gender unions. Resolution adopted. The rite was to be optional at the discretion of the diocesan bishop. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 11 --- Lawrence and 5 DSC delegates walk out of GC. 2 remain. 12 bishops drew up a declaration condemning the passage of the same-sex blessing resolution; Salmon and Skilton signed, Lawrence did not.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 12 --- Lawrence returned to Charleston.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 13 --- Lawrence wrote letter to the diocese.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 15 --- Lawrence's letter was to be read in all churches in DSC. Condemned CO29, AO49, DO02, DO19 (the first deals with communion, the others with rights for homosexuals and transgendered persons).</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 16 --- Lawrence met Council of Advice (Standing Committee), 1:00-5:30.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 17 --- Lawrence met Standing Committee, 10:30-1:30.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 18 --- Lawrence met deans, 1:15-3:45.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 25 --- Lawrence met with clergy of DSC at St. Paul's of Summerville, 1:00-4:15. He reported that he told the House of Bishops in executive session at the GC that he could no longer in good conscience continue in the convention and that he had grave doubts that he could continue as a bishop in the Episcopal Church. He told the clergy that TEC had crossed a line he could not cross, and announced a few weeks absence "on mountaintops and in deserts." Lawrence thus made it clear to the clergy that in all probability he would not continue in TEC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 30-August 15 --- Lawrence on vacation in California, Utah, Colorado, Nevada in "discernment for diocese and my ministry."</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Aug. 21 --- Lawrence met with DSC Standing Committee, 10:30-3:00 and with his lawyers 3:00-4:00. Lawrence presented a plan of action. The Committee unanimously approved it. No other information was revealed at the time.</strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong> All of the meetings of the bishop and his executive committees between August 21 and Oct. 18 were private and the proceedings were kept secret except for selected leaks. The decisions of the committees were not revealed to the public, even to the clergy of the DSC, before Oct. 19. Thus by all appearances the move to "disassociate" from TEC came in August and September from Lawrence himself. It was approved by the small diocesan leadership at the top. No one else was consulted at the time.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">----- Members of the Standing Committee ("Board of Directors") 2012-13: Rev. Paul Fuener, Chair; Clergy: John Barr, Tripp Jeffords, Greg Snyder, Ken Weldon, Andrew O'Dell; Laity: Reid Boylston, Ed Mitman, Elizabeth Pennewill, Bill Lyles, Ann Hester Willis, Suzanne Schwank.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug. 22 --- Lawrence met deans, 1:30-4:00, apparently to give them the Standing Committee's resolution.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug. 25 --- Lawrence attended, but did not participate in, the consecration of Steve Wood as bishop of the ACNA Diocese of the Carolinas.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug. 27 --- Lawrence and Wade Logan met in Columbia SC with Bishop Waldo and Belton Ziegler. Lawrence agreed to talk with the PB. Afterwards, Waldo arranged a meeting of Lawrence and Waldo with the PB on Oct. 3. Lawrence did not tell Waldo about the "secret plan" of Aug. 21.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Aug. 28 --- Lawrence met the Diocesan Council, 10:30-2:00.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 9 --- Cathedral church of St. Luke and St. Paul voted 55-10 to break from TEC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 13 --- Lawrence met Board of Trustees, 11:00-2:00.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 18 --- the DBB certified that Lawrence had abandoned the communion of TEC on three counts: 1-having presided over a diocesan convention , Oct. 10, 2010, that voted to remove accession to the canons of TEC, 2-having amended the corporate charter on Oct. 19, 2011 to remove reference to the Episcopal Church, and 3-having issued quit claim deeds he showed open renunciation of the Episcopal Church.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 18 --- Lawrence in conference with Logan and Runyan; Lawrence met Standing Committee; Standing Committee requested of Lawrence an interpretation of Canon XXXVII, concerning right of diocese to secede from TEC [Lawrence presented a response to SC on Oct. 2]. Lawrence announced to Committee suspension of ordinations "because of the vow to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 19 --- Lawrence met Bishop Waldo, 11:00-1:15, had lunch in Waldo's home. Lawrence did not reveal his secret plan to Waldo.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 22 --- Lawrence issued a statement saying he and Standing Committee were in agreement on a plan of action. No other information was released to the clergy or the general public.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 27-30 --- Lawrence in Fort Worth TX to lead a retreat.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 2 - a.m. --- Lawrence met his lawyers and Standing Committee 9:30-12:30. Lawrence presented a 16-page response to questions from standing committee of Sept. 18: he ruled DSC is sovereign and free to secede from TEC. The Committee unanimously voted in secret session to leave TEC if any action were taken by TEC against Lawrence. The DSC "withdraws its accession to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and disaffiliates with the Episcopal Church by withdrawing its membership from the Episcopal Church. The decision shall be effective immediately upon the taking of any action of any kind by any representative of the Episcopal Church against The Bishop..." This was the action that prompted Lawrence's rejection of TEC measures on Oct. 17.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 2 - p.m. --- Lawrence traveled to NYC.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 3 --- 10:00 PB met with Waldo and Lawrence in NYC. Lawrence did not reveal the Standing Committee resolution to the other two [they learned of it on Oct. 17]. Discussed "creative solutions" to a way forward. No specific proposal. Lawrence flew to Pittsburgh in the evening.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 4-5 --- Lawrence in Pennsylvania for Trinity School for Ministry board meeting. He returned to Charleston on the evening of the 5th.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 9 --- PB asks for private meeting with Lawrence in Atlanta on Oct. 13. On Oct. 10 Lawrence rejected the offer of the meeting. (Nick Zeigler, former Chancellor of DSC, died on Oct. 8. His funeral was on Thursday, Oct. 11 at St. John's of Florence, Lawrence participating. Lawrence told an assembly at St. John's on Oct. 27 [I was present] that Zeigler's death was "providential" because it gave him a reason to decline the proposed meeting with the PB.) Thus, the final in-person meeting of Lawrence and PB was on Oct. 3.</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 10 --- Lawrence met Council of Advice (Standing Committee), 10:00-12:45.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 10 --- PB received a certification from DBB on Lawrence.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 11 --- Lawrence in Florence for funeral of Nick Ziegler.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 11 --- PB requested a phone call with Lawrence and chancellor of DSC Oct. 15-17.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 15 --- 12:00 p.m., Lawrence in conference call with Presiding Bishop, the Disciplinary Board for Bishops, and Wade Logan. PB placed a restriction on the exercise of ministry by Lawrence. Hard copies sent. PB asked this to be kept confidential and she wanted another meeting. This restriction temporarily removed Lawrence from all ministry in TEC. He would have 60 days in which to make a written appeal to the PB who could remove the restrictions at her discretion; or he would be formally tried by the HOB at its next meeting, in March 2013. A meeting of PB was to be held with Lawrence, Waldo and their chancellors in NYC on Oct. 22. Lawrence immediately ignored all that the PB had said.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">By rejecting the PB's order, Lawrence abandoned his consecration vow to conform to the discipline of TEC.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- 1:30 p.m., Lawrence held a conference call with the Council of Advice (Standing Committee), ending confidentiality. Apparently Logan, Lawrence and Standing Committee agreed that the diocese automatically disassociated from TEC under terms of the resolution of Oct. 2. That afternoon proceeded with bishop's duties.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 16 --- Lawrence met deans 10:30-12:30, and Council of Advice (Standing Committee), 2:00-6:30.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 17 --- In phone call, Lawrence told PB that confidentiality was impossible because of previous secret resolutions of the Standing Committee; announced to PB the resolution's "disassociation" of the diocese from TEC retroactive to noon on Monday October 15, the moment of the "restriction." Thus, Oct. 15 was the time of the schism. Since Lawrence remained as bishop of the "disassociated" diocese, he made a de facto renunciation to the PB on Oct. 17 of all ties to the Episcopal Church as of Oct. 15. He did not make a written renunciation.</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">p.m.--- Lawrence released to the public the news of the "disassociation" of DSC from TEC. Press release from the DSC office announced the call of a special convention to be held November 17, St. Philip's, Charleston "for relevant constitutional and/or canonical changes."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---News of Disciplinary Board action and of the purported disassociation first publicly announced, posted on major Internet outlets. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---The names of the members of the committee making the complaint (see Mar. 23) to DBB were revealed by Lucka.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 19 --- Lawrence met with clergy of DSC and informed them of the restriction of the PB, which he called irrelevant, and the previously made secret resolution of the Standing Committee that had automatically severed ties of DSC and TEC. He announced to the clergy that the DSC had already separated from TEC. Thus, the clergy had had no input into the decision to leave TEC. He also said he had cancelled a scheduled meeting with the PB on Oct. 22 (see Oct. 15).</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 20 --- the Rev. Kendall Harmon, Canon Theologian of DSC, issued a press release for DSC declaring "The Diocese of South Carolina is no longer part of TEC." </strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">---3:45, Lawrence spoke by phone with PB.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- The Rev. Canon James B. Lewis released a news report that the committee of 14 represented the Board of the Episcopal Forum. Thus, he asserted, the "attack" on Bp Lawrence was initiated and directed by the Forum. This was not correct.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct, 22 --- Lawrence held a conference call with Council of Advice (Standing Committee).</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- 1:00 Lawrence spoke by phone with the PB.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 25 --- Letter of support for Lawrence from the Chair and the Secretary of the Global South Primates Steering Committee, the Most Rev. Mouneer Hanna Anis and the Most Rev. Ian Ernest.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 26 --- Representatives of PB met with a group of laypeople and clergy to discuss steps for a Steering Committee to reorganize the ongoing TEC diocese of SC. Tisdale was leader in setting up the Committee.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Oct. 27 --- Lawrence held a "forum" at St. John's of Florence where he announced "I am no longer an Episcopalian" and went on to say "I am a bishop in the one holy Catholic, and Apostolic Church," therefore entitled to conduct services. He declared he was in an all-out war with TEC. Afterwards, he presided at the altar and conducted a confirmation in disregard of his "restriction.'. [I was present.]</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 29 --- DSC Standing Committee (meeting as Board of Directors) amended the Bylaws of the Corporation (see Dec. 16, 2010). Ruled out any "outside influence" (TEC) over the Board.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 6 --- 10:30-4:00, Lawrence met Standing Committee. Committee directed Runyan to take all legal measures necessary to "protect" the diocese and its property.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 7-9 --- Lawrence at clergy conference, Camp St. Christopher.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 7 --- an e-mail was sent to most of the clergy of DSC announcing a Clergy Day for the Diocese" at Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston. It used the seal and names of the DSC. Retired Bp vonRosenberg (vonR) [retired Bp of East Tenn] was to attend the meeting as "advisor."</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 8 ---DSC office issued a statement denouncing the Nov. 7 e-mail. Holy Communion declined to host the meeting.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>DSC filed petition in Office of Patents and Trademarks in the U.S. Department of Commerce to trademark the titles of Diocese of South Carolina. Later dropped.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 9 --- TEC issued on "Perspectives." a "Fact Sheet: The Diocese of South Carolina."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 11 --- Several newspapers published a letter from the Steering Committee of the ongoing Episcopal diocese. Members of the committee:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Hillery P. Douglas, Chair; Erin P.Bailey, Secretary; Rev. James E.Taylor, Treasurer; Holly H. Behre, William P. Baldwin, Dr. Charles C. Greer, Lonnie Hamilton III, Margaret S. Kwist, Rev. Richard C. Lindsey, Rebecca S. Lovelace, Rev. Wilmot T. Merchant II, John D. Sands, Rev. Calhoun Walpole, Virginia C. Wilder.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 14 --- DSC published in newspapers an open letter from Lawrence, co-signed by 69 clergy denouncing TEC and calling meeting of Nov. 17.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 15 ---Conservative Bp Daniel Martins, of Springfield, called on Lawrence to "step back from the brink."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>PB issued a pastoral letter "to the saints in South Carolina." She declared that a diocese could not leave TEC "by its own action," that the clergy would be bound by the canons, and TEC would support the ongoing diocese.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Continuing diocese held a clergy day at St. Mark's, Charleston, presided over by vonR. 60-70 in attendance.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 17 --- special convention of DSC, St. Philip's, Charleston. 42 parishes and 12 missions were represented by 170 lay delegates. Lawrence announced DSC had withdrawn from TEC but remained "an extra-provincial diocese" in the Anglican Communion. Three resolutions passed 1-ended all ties to TEC and reaffirmed Lawrence as bishop, 2-changed diocesan constitution to remove all references to TEC, 3-likewise amended the canons of the DSC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 20 --- DSC Standing Committee passed resolution directing Runyan to file a lawsuit against TEC.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Nov. 27 --- Lawrence met Board of Trustees.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>--- The Anglican Communion Institute, a conservative think tank strongly critical of TEC, sent an open letter to the bishops of TEC denouncing the PB and leadership of TEC while defending Lawrence.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 28 --- Lawrence officiated at the funeral of Rt. Rev. Haynsworth in chapel of Bishop Gadsden (Church retirement home, James Island). Bp Allison gave eulogy. By Skilton attended. By Salmon did not attend.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 30 --- Lawrence held conference calls with Trustees and Council of Advice (Standing Committee).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 4 --- Lawrence met Standing Committee, 10:30-2:30.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 5 --- 12:45 p.m., PB informed Lawrence by phone that she had accepted his renunciation of the ordained ministry in TEC and had released him from all Holy Orders in TEC effective immediately. She issued an official "Release and Removal." This was based on Lawrence's actions and words of Nov. 17. She had consulted with all the heads of the provinces of TEC and found a majority vote among them to support the decision. In spite of official revocation of ordination as a bishop, Lawrence and DSC insisted Lawrence was still a bishop, and the only legitimate bishop of DSC.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>--- Lawrence issued a letter to DSC rejecting the PB's assertions as "superfluous" and proclaiming continued function as the bishop of DSC.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 8 --- the ongoing diocese announced a special convention on Jan. 26 at Grace Episcopal Church, Charleston, to elect a provisional bishop. The PB was to attend.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 11-16 ---Lawrence in CA (Lawrence's mother died on Dec. 12).</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 19 --- PB announced the call of the special convention of the diocese on Jan. 26, 2013.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 20 --- DSC issued a statement denouncing the PB's use of term "Diocese of South Carolina" and claimed ownership of the term.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Dec. 27 --- "Gay Christian Movement Watch, a Blog Upholding Biblical Standards of Sexuality" named Lawrence to its "12 Heroes of the Faith" list for 2012 along with the likes of Don Cathy, owner of Chick-fil-A.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2013</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 3 --- Lawrence reported to Standing Committee that LARCUM (consortium of Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Methodist bishops in SC) had told L he could not read scripture or say prayers in their meetings. L announced he would not attend. Bishop vonR was later recognized by LARCUM.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan 4 --- DSC filed suit in state Circuit Court (The Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial Circuit), in St. George, Dorchester County, against TEC claiming ownership of all official titles and seal and property. Co-signed by 17 parishes. This was the first lawsuit: DSC sued TEC.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 4 --- DSC Trustees issued new Bylaws naming Mark J. Lawrence personally (rather than as bishop) as the President of the corporation (see Mar. 17, 2010).</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 8 --- The Living Church magazine announced that a petition was online asking for non-litigious resolution of the problem in SC. It called for 1,000 signatures. Two months later, 220 had signed.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 10 --- ongoing Episcopal Church diocese announced the nomination of vonR as provisional bishop to be elected by the special convention of Jab. 26.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 22 --- DSC entered an Amended Complaint in the Circuit Court (see Jan. 4) adding 15 parishes and St. Andrew's of Mt. Pleasant as plaintiffs. This brought the number of parishes participating to 32.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 23 --- Circuit Judge Diane S. Goodstein issued <em>ex parte</em> a Temporary Restraining Order barring anyone from using official names of the DSC except Lawrence and 24 others. Hearing set for Feb. 1. The Order was personally served to TEC faithful: George Hawkins, Virginia Wilder, Callie Walpole, Lonnie Hamilton, James E. Taylor, Erin Hoyle, Barbara Mann, Melinda Lucka, Charles vonRosenberg, John Buchanan, Steve Skardon, and Michael Wright.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 25-26 --- Visit of the PB. Jan. 25, Special Convention of "The Episcopal Church in South Carolina" at Grace Episcopal Church, Charleston.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Special Convention [I attended]:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Festival Choral Eucharist with the PB as Celebrant and Preacher [sermon followed by loud protests from Lawrence's supporters who claimed she maligned him].</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The election and investiture of the Bishop Provisional, vonR.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Election of the Standing Committee, 6 clergy and 6 lay (Revs. Richard Lindsey, David Williams, Colton Smith, J. Michael A. Wright, Wilmot T. Merchant II, Calhoun Walpole; Virginia C. Wilder, Melinda A. Lucka, Hillery P.Douglas (Chair), Rebecca Lovelace, Erin Elizabeth Bailey, Lonnie Hamilton III).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Election of the Diocesan Council, 6 clergy and 6 lay (Revs. Mark Brinkman, George Tompkins, Roy Hills, Wil Keith, Jeff Richardson, John Zahl, Nancy Bailey, Holly Behre, Alesia Rico Flores, Mary Ann Foy, Dr, Charles Geer, Barbara Mann).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Jan. 31 --- Judge Goodstein issued a Temporary Injunction extending the Jan. 23rd Temporary Restraining Order indefinitely. Both parties had agreed to this earlier in the day. vonR has until April 4 to respond. The Injunction was personally served to: Charles vonRosenberg, Melinda Lucka, and Michael Wright.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb.-Mar. --- about 11 parishes and missions remained in "discernment" as to which of the two bishops to follow. Typically both bishops visited, separately, the local churches. Old St. Andrew's was one. It printed a 15-page transcript of Lawrence's remarks. It voted 189-64 on Feb. 24 to follow Lawrence.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Feb. 27 --- the DSC lawsuit of Jan. 4 was amended to include The Episcopal Church in South Carolina(ECSC) as a defendant. TEC and ECSC have until April 4 to respond. This is the Second Amended Complaint (Jan. 4 and Jan. 22). It added 3 parishes as plaintiffs for a total of 35, including the non-DSC parish of St. Andrew's, Mt. Pleasant. The Second Amended Complaint was personally served to: Thomas Tisdale, Charles vonRosenberg, and Virginia Wilder.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 5 --- vonR filed suit ("Complaint") in the federal court in Charleston (United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division) against Lawrence asking the court to declare vonR has authority to act as bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina and not Lawrence. The Complaint is 21 pages. (See Sept. 19, 2019)</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 7 --- vonR filed a motion for a preliminary injunction (Plaintiff's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction) with the U.S. District Court in Charleston against Lawrence (see also Mar. 5). Court papers totaled 276 pages. Lawrence has until Mar. 25 to respond. Lawrence asked to have until April 13 to respond. The Motion asked for an injunction to prevent Lawrence from acting as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Mar. 8 --- TEC issued a press release that an Accord had been reached in the matter of Conciliation involving the dioceses of Fort Worth and Quincy. Salmon was one of the nine bishops who signed the Accord.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 8-9 --- annual convention of ECSC at Grace Episcopal Church, Charleston. 42 clergy present, 18 parishes, 12 missions, 5 worshipping communities. St. Mark's Chapel, Port Royal, was admitted as a mission. The Episcopal Church Executive Council approved grant up to $185,000 to the diocese. The Executive Council granted a line of credit of $250,000. Resolutions to return accession to TEC C and C.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 8-9 --- annual convention of DSC, in Florence. 35 parishes and 13 missions present; 2 worshipping communities (North Charleston and North Myrtle Beach). Preacher at Mar. 8 Eucharist was the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman, Bishop Vicar of the [Anglican] Diocese of Quincy. Resolutions to remove all accession to TEC C and C and to support "Anglicans for Life," an anti-abortion group.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- DSC Standing Committee (meeting as Board of Directors) 2013-14: Rev. Greg Snyder, Chair; Clergy: Shay Gaillard, Tripp Jeffords, Arthur Jenkins, Andrew O'Dell, Ken Weldon; Laity: Dorothy Bowen, Frank Kirk, Ed Mitman, Elizabeth Pennewill, Suzanne Schwank, Bill Lyles.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 19 --- DSC filed a "Motion for Partial Summary Judgment" in the Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial Circuit (state, County of Dorchester). This was a "move for partial summary judgment that the control of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina...is in its duly elected and authorized Board of Directors all as alleged in Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint." Served to Tisdale, vonR, and Virginia Wilder. [Note-there has been no response to this motion. Apparently pending.]</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>DSC filed a "Motion for Contempt on Behalf of the Plaintiffs the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina, and the Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina, a South Carolina Corporate Body," a move for a "citation of contempt" against TEC, ECSC, and "persons in active concert or participation with them" [these persons were not enumerated]. [Note-there has been no response to this motion. Apparently pending.]</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 28 --- TEC filed "Answer and Counterclaims of the Episcopal Church to Second Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief," in the Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial Circuit (state court, Dorchester County). ECSC filed "Answer, Affirmative Defenses, and Counterclaims of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina to Second Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief" in the same court.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>March 28 --- Lawrence filed "Motion to Dismiss or in the Alternative to Abstain or Stay Proceedings" and "Defendant Lawrence's Memorandum in Support of his Motion to Dismiss or in the Alternative to Abstain or Stay Proceedings" in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina Charleston Division. Lawrence claimed the right of state jurisdiction. (See Mar. 5 and 7, 2013).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 3 --- ECSC filed "Notice of Removal" from the Court of Common Pleas, County of Dorchester, First Judicial Circuit, State of South Carolina to United States District Court, District of South Carolina (Charleston).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 7 --- vonR began sending out letters to the canonically resident clergy of the old Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina asking for clarification of each one's allegiance and gives a two-week period for response. vonR offered to meet with each of the clergy persons. The majority of the recipients who had adhered to Lawrence refused to respond to the letters.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 10 --- the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina (DSC) and co-plaintiffs filed "Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand" and "Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Remand" in U.S. District Court. Lawrence argued that this is a property dispute and must properly be decided in state court. (See Mar. 5 and 7, 2013).</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 16 --- DSC Standing Committee resolved to compose a letter for all clergy to return to vonR as a mutual response (see April 7).</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 22 --- vonR filed "Reply to Defendant's Response to Plaintiff's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction" in the U.S. District Court. (See Apr. 10, 2013).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>April 29 --- ECSC filed "Defendant's Response to Plaintiff's Motion to Remand" in the U.S. District Court arguing in favor of First Amendment protection.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 6 --- Hearing was held in U.S. District Court, in Charleston, by Judge C. Weston Houck on the issue of whether the court lawsuits should be continued in the U.S. District Court (federal) or in the Circuit Court (state). In the 45-minute hearing, Houck heard arguments from the two sides and asked questions of the lawyers. vonR was present with four lawyers. Lawrence was present with 25-30 lawyers. Lawrence's lawyers, primarily Alan Runyan, argued that the issue was a local one that should be decided by state court under "neutral principles of law." This implied the matter was essentially about ownership of properties. Presumably this would lean to the Lawrence side. vonR's lawyers argued the issue was a federal one as a national religious organization claimed first amendment rights to manage its own affairs. This implied the matter was essentially about the rights of an hierarchical church. Presumably this would lean to the vonR side. Houck concluded that he expected to provide a written ruling within about a week.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 10 --- Judge Houck issued an Order granting the Plaintiff's (Lawrence) motion (of March 28) to remand the lawsuit to the Circuit (state) court. Houck rejected vonR's claim of a First Amendment issue and cited the All Saints Waccamaw (All Saints, Pawleys Island) ruling of 2009 applying "neutral principles" regarding religious denominational property disputes. The Order means that the adjudication will proceed in the Circuit (state) court where the DSC side expects to have the advantage.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 10 --- The Executive Council of TEC voted to respond to a request from ECSC and expand the credit line to ECSC by $300,000 to a total of $550,000 by the end of 2013. Council members also asked the presiding officers to appoint a covenant committee to report on the work of ECSC to the council's Joint Steering Committee on Local Ministry and Mission. The Council also allocated an additional $785,000 for San Joaquin.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June --- Hearing set in Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial Circuit (Dorchester County, Judge Diane Goodstein) for July 11, 2013. Five actions were pending before Goodstein at this point:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>1-DSC and 35 parishes v. TEC and ECSC for legal status as Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (see Jan. 4).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>2-DSC "Motion for Partial Summary Judgment..." (see Mar. 19).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>3-DSC "Motion for Contempt..." v. TEC, ECSC, and "persons in active concert..." (see Mar. 19).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>4-TEC "Answer and Counterclaims..." (see Mar. 28).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>5-ECSC "Answer, Affirmative Defenses..." (see Mar. 28).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June --- Hearing set in U.S. District Court (Judge C. Weston Houck) for August 8, 2013. Two actions were pending before Houck: </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>1-vonR v Lawrence for legal right as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (see Mar. 5).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>2-vonR "Motion for a Preliminary Injunction..." v Lawrence to prevent Lawrence from acting as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (see Mar. 7).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 21 --- Lawrence attended the Anglican Church in North America's Provincial Council meeting and House of Bishops meeting at Nashotah House in Wisconsin announcing "we are presently an 'extra-provincial' diocese, not in any formal or officially ecclesial way..." thus postponing indefinitely a union of DSC with ACNA or any other "Anglican" group.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 21 --- the Standing Committee of ECSC voted to initiate action against the 103 priests and deacons of the old diocese who had not adhered to vonR. vonR then sent a Notice of Restriction on the 103 clergy. These clergy have 60 days in which to declare loyalty to the Episcopal Church and its representative vonR or be removed from the ordained ministry of TEC. Sixty days would end on August 20.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 23 --- ECSC announced its list of "Clergy in Good Standing in The Episcopal Church in South Carolina as of June 21, 2013." The list contains names of 63 priests and 11 deacons, about one-third of the pre-schism diocese. The names include: the Rev. Ladson Mills II, a frequent critic of TEC at virtueonline.org; the Rev. Dr. Robert Munday, a former dean at Nashotah House, a rector of a DSC parish, and an assistant rector of a DSC parish. </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 25 --- vonR issued a letter giving a Notice of Restriction on the 103 clergy of the old diocese found to have abandoned TEC.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>June 26-27 --- Meeting of the bishops of TEC Province IV, the twenty dioceses in the southeastern U.S., in Charleston. Twenty-five bishops and one bishop-elect announced their intention to attend, including retired Suffrigan Bishop of SC, Skilton.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 10 --- virtueonline.org, a conservative website, posted a copy of the June 25 letter from vonR stating that the Standing Committee of ECSC had voted to declare that 103 priests and deacons of the old diocese had abandoned the Episcopal Church. Names were listed in alphabetical order.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>July 11 --- Judge Goodstein set a timetable allowing 90 days to complete written discovery and allowing 120 additional days for the taking of depositions, concluding Feb. 5, 2014. After that, a trial date will be set. Goodstein asked the two sides if they would settle with mediation. Tisdale and Beers agreed; Runyan refused.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>August 8 --- Judge Houck of the U.S. District Court in Charleston heard arguments from both sides on Lawrence's March 28 motion asking the court to dismiss or to abstain from the March 5 suit of vonR against Lawrence. Houck did not hear arguments on vonR's March 7 motion against Lawrence. Houck announced he would rule in about a week on Lawrence's March 28 motion.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>August 23 --- Judge Houck issued an "Order" dismissing the suits filed by vonR against Lawrence (Mar. 5 and 7) stating "the Court Declines to exercise jurisdiction over this action in deference to the pending state court action." However, the ruling left the door open for vonR to reinstate the case if the state court does not dispose of all issues involved. Houck stated in his Order that Lawrence had renounced his ordained ministry and that the Episcopal Church is hierarchical.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>August 23 --- the Standing Committee of ECSC met and approved vonR's recommendation that the 103 restricted clergy be "released and removed" rather than "deposed." (Under Title IV, Canon 16 (8), Section 4 of the C and C of TEC.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>August 26 ---this week, Notice of Removal letters, signed by vonR, were sent to the 103 previously restricted priests and deacons (app. 60% of old diocese).</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 9 --- Lawrence met at Camp St. Christopher with bishops of four Episcopal splinter groups, ACNA, Reformed Episcopal Church, PEARUSA [Rwanda], and Diocese of the Holy Cross, all with interests, and overlapping jurisdictions in the Lowcountry. Apparently Bishop Charles Murphy, of Pawleys Island, was not present.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Sept. 16 --- vonR filed a "Motion for Reconsideration" in the U.S. District Court in Charleston asking Judge Houck to reconsider his August 23 ruling. </strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 19---ECSC made a motion in Circuit Court to compel DSC to produce all correspondence between Lawrence and Alan Runyan prior to Nov. 17, 2012. (denied on Nov. 7, 2013; see below)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 30 --- vonR filed a motion to vacate the Temporary Injunction (see Jan. 21) in the Circuit Court.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> --- vonR filed a motion in Circuit Court asking for an injunction to stop DSC from using official names and marks of the Diocese of South Carolina.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 2 --- Judge Goodstein, of the Circuit Court, denied a motion of ECSC to add as defendants twenty-three persons of the Standing Committee and Trustees of DSC stating that this was not necessary and that these individuals are immune under state law from being sued.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 11 --- Judge Goodstein, of the Circuit Court, denied vonR's motions (see Sept. 30) to vacate the Temporary Injunction against ECSC and to make an injunction against DSC.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. --- Lawrence attends GAFCON II conference in Nairobi, Kenya (Oct. 21-26). </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: large;">On Oct. 23, the Archbishop of Canterbury made a video address to the assembly defending western attitudes towards sexuality: "We all live in different contexts and the challenge overlaps but is slightly different wherever we live. We are dealing with very rapid changes of culture in the Global North and the issue of sexuality is a very important one. How we respond rightly to that - in a way that is holy, truthful, and gracious - is absolutely critical to our proclamation of the gospel." On biblical literalism, he said "It doesn't mean being unanimous, all saying exactly the same thing in exactly the same way." Both of these points are scarcely veiled criticisms of the distinctly conservative attitudes of Third World oriented GAFCON, a potential rival to the traditional Anglo-centric Lambeth conferences. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">GAFCON issued two statements: GAFCON 2013: The Nairobi Communique," and "The Nairobi Commitment." These created a new administrative structure in the Anglican Communion for conservatives and reiterated their condemnation of homosexuality.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 7---Judge Diane Goodstein, of the Circuit Court issued "Order Denying the Defendant TECSC's Motion to Compel Dated September 19, 2013 (see Sept. 19 above). (See Jan. 13, 2014 for the appeal of this order.) </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 25---ECSC filed a motion in the First Circuit Court of Common Pleas (state court) to have four names added as parties in the lawsuit filed by DSC (see Jan. 4) against TEC: Mark Lawrence, Jim Lewis, Jeffrey Miller, and Paul Fuener. It contained two very serious charges that could potentially change the whole trajectory of the litigation: "In or around 2006, Lawrence made an agreement with members of the Standing and Search Committees of the Diocese to lead a scheme to withdraw the Diocese from The Episcopal Church in return for their votes electing him Bishop of the Diocese;" and "Beginning in or around 2009, the Additional Parties began executing a conspiracy to take away the Diocese's assets..." Thus, the motion holds that Lawrence and the others carried out a premeditated conspiracy to defraud the Episcopal Church and should be held liable</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: large;">. (Judge Goodstein denied this motion on Dec. 30. see below)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 18 ---The Rev. Thomas M. Rickenbaker made an affidavit for the Circuit Court stating that in 2005, when he was rector of St. Paul's, in Edenton, North Carolina, he was visited by the Rev. Gregory Kronz, the chair, and the Rev. Paul Feuner, a member, of the SC Bishop's Search Committee. In interviewing him for possible candidacy, he said they made it clear they wanted the new bishop to lead the diocese out of TEC and to take the property along. He rejected the idea and was dropped from consideration. Feuner disputed this claim in a Charleston <em>Post and Courier</em> interview of Dec. 30, 2013.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 27 --- ECSC filed in Circuit Court "TECSC's Memorandum in Support of its Motion to Join Additional Parties," 14 pages.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 30 --- DSC filed in Circuit Court "Plaintiff's Response to Defendant the Episcopal Church in South Carolina's Notice and Motion to Join Additional Parties," 14 pages.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- Judge Goodstein, of the Circuit Court, 1-denied ECSC's motion to add four names as parties; 2-set the date of May 2, 2014, for the conclusion of the discovery phase; 3-said that July 2014 would be the earliest time she could announce a date for the trial. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2014</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 9---U.S. District judge Patrick Michael Duffy ruled that the Church Insurance Company of Vermont must provide coverage for ECSC in the lawsuit brought by DSC against the Episcopal Church and then ECSC (see Jan. 4, 2013).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 13---Attorney Tisdale, for ECSC, filed "Appeal from Dorchester County, Court of Common Pleas," in the Court of Appeals, state of South Carolina (in Columbia, SC) seeking to have Judge Goodstein's order of Nov. 7, 2013, overturned. If the appeals court should agree, all correspondence between Lawrence and Runyan prior to Nov. 17, 2012 would have to be turned over to the lawyers of ECSC. (See Mar. 18; court rejected ECSC appeal.)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 14---Judge C. Weston Houck, of the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division," issued an "Order denying ECSC's motion (September 16, 2013; see above) for reconsideration of Houck's ruling of August 23, 2013.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 15---DSC filed a motion in the Court of Appeals, state of South Carolina to dismiss ECSC's motion of Jan. 13. This leaves two official motions pending in the appeals court 1-ECSC's motion to overturn Goodstein's ruling of Nov. 7, and 2-DSC motion to dismiss ECSC's motion.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 17---Judge Goodstein, of the circuit court, denied a request from the DSC lawyers to proceed with the taking of depositions from persons on the pro-ECSC side pending a ruling from the appeals court (see Jan. 13).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 24---ECSC filed a response to the DSC motion of Jan. 15 in the Court of Appeals.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 5---ECSC filed an appeal of Judge Houck's Jan. 14 ruling in which he refused to reconsider his decision of Aug. 23, 2013. It was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. ECSC made the original lawsuit in the U.S. court on March 5, 2013 (<em>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence</em>).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 6---DSC asked the SC Supreme Court to intervene in ECSC's appeal to the SC Court of Appeals. DSC claims that Judge Goodstein's ruling is "unappealable" and that ECSC is only using delaying tactics. ECSC did not oppose this motion.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 21-22 --- ECSC held its annual diocesan convention at All Saints, Hilton Head. Delegates voted again to restore all ties to TEC. Five missions were admitted into union with the diocese: The Episcopal Church on Edisto, Good Shepherd of Summerville, St. Anne's of Conway, St. Catherine's of Florence, and St. Francis of Charleston (West Ashley).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 5 --- U.S. District Judge Patrick Duffy denied a motion to reconsider his Jan. 9 ruling.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 15 --- DSC held its annual convention at Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant. Resolutions offered: R-1, join Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans and affirm the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008; R-2, Bishop will appoint a discernment committee to recommend an affiliation; R-3, Global South oversight council; C-1, standards for clergy; C-2, standards of parish membership; C-3, the rector has authority over the parish, including property; C-4, on removal of parishes and missions from union with DSC; C-5, worship by TEC service books only; C-6, standards for lay pensions. All passed unanimously or nearly so except for C-3 that gave the rector control of the property. It was tabled, that is, withheld from vote.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 18 --- The SC Court of Appeals rejected ECSC's motion of appeal entered on Jan. 13, 2014. Soon thereafter, DSC asked Judge Goodstein to lift her "stay" order of Jan. 17. Goodstein did not respond.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- DSC began issuing subpoenas "commanding" depositions from at least 14 persons on the ECSC side: Holly Behre, Robert Black, Bishop John C. Buchanan, Lonnie Hamilton III, George M. Hearn, Jr., Bishop Dorsey Henderson, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Melinda Lucka, Barbara Mann, Steve Skardon, James E. Taylor, Bishop Charles vonRosenberg, Callie Walpole, Michael Wright.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 25 --- ECSC filed a Petition for Rehearing of the Order Dismissing the Appeal with the South Carolina Court of Appeals on the grounds of the merits of the case (see Jan. 13, Jan. 15, Jan. 24, Mar.18).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 25 --- The Episcopal (TEC) Diocese of Fort Worth announced a plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the Texas Supreme Court's Mar. 21 decision against the TEC diocese. The deadline to apply in the U.S. Supreme Court is June 19, 2014. If the high court chooses to accept the case, their decision would have immediate impact on the South Carolina litigation.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 27 --- DSC filed a motion with Judge Goodstein to lift the stay (see Mar. 18).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 28 --- ECSC filed an opposition with Judge Goodstein on the DSC motion of Mar. 27.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 31 --- On or about Mar. 31, lawyers for DSC issued 14 subpoenas (see Mar. 27) commanding persons on the ECSC side to appear and give official depositions to DSC lawyers in preparation for the trial set in the Circuit (state) Court in July 2014. Subpoenas were officially sereved to: 1-George M. Hearn, Jr. (Apr. 11), 2-Holly Behre (Apr. 30), 3-Robert Black (Apr. 29), 4-Bishop John C. Buchanan (Apr. 16), 5-Lonnie Hamilton III (Apr. 29), 6-Bishop Dorsey Henderson (Apr. 24), 7 "Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori (Apr. 23), 8-Melinda Lucka (Apr. 30), 9-Barbara Mann (Apr. 28), 10-Steve Skardon (Apr. 14), 11-James E. Taylor (May 2), 12-Bishop Charles vonRosenberg (Apr. 22), 13-Callie Walpole (Apr. 21), 14-Michael Wright (Apr. 25).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 31 --- ECSC filed "TECSC's Notice and Motion to Quash Subpoenas Issued by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina and the Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina and to Hold Them in Contempt of Court" with the Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial Circuit (state court, Dorchester County, Judge Goodstein). This asked Judge Goodstein to 1-stop DSC's subpoenas for depositions (see Mar. 18) and 2-hold DSC in contempt of court for ignoring Goodstein's "stay" order of January 17.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 1 --- ECSC filed "Certificate of Service" with the Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial Circuit (see Mar. 31). This was to certify that ECSC had sent notices of the action on Mar. 31 to all forty lawyers of DSC and its parishes.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 4 --- The Supreme Court of South Carolina issued an Order that the ECSC appeal to the SC Court of Appeals be moved to the SC Supreme Court.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 7 --- ECSC filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (Richmond VA) an "Opening Brief of Appellant" (vonRosenberg) for its appeal from the U.S. District Court in Charleston (Judge Houck) (see Feb. 5). The brief is 53 pages. It argues that Lawrence violated the Lanham Act and relies heavily on a 1976 U.S. Supreme Court decision, <em>Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church v. Milvojevich</em> in which the court deferred to a hierarchical church.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 8 --- Judge Goodstein announced a trial date of July 7 and 8, 2014, in the Circuit Court, Dorchester County Courthouse, St. George, SC. This is the suit originally brought by DSC against the Episcopal Church, Jan. 4, 2013.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 8 --- ECSC filed with Judge Goodstein, "TECSC's Notice and Motion for Immediate Hearing" requesting immediate action on ECSC's motion of Mar. 31.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 11 --- The first deposition of a person on the ECSC side was scheduled for this day: George M. Hearn, in Myrtle Beach. 13 other depositions have bee scheduled until May 2. Hearn was subpoenaed and "commanded" to appear for the deposition.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Apr. 18 --- Through her law clerk, Judge Goodstein advised all the attorneys on both sides that because ECSC's petition for reconsideration (see Mar. 25, Apr. 4) is before the SC Supreme Court, the proceedings in her court are stayed, or suspended until the Supreme Court issues a ruling. This means that for the time being, DSC will not be allowed to take depositions from the other side (see Mar. 31).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Apr.23 --- ECSC announced its next annual diocesan convention will be Fri. Nov. 14 and Sat. Nov. 15, 2014, at Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Apr. 27 --- GAFCON Primates' Council issued a "Communique" denouncing homosexuality and equating the backlash against the new Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda to the earthquake in Chile and terrorist violence in Kenya. Abp. Duncan of ACNA signed the Communique.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Apr. --- Bp vonRosenberg one of five bishops in South Carolina to sign an open letter to the people of South Carolina entitled "Statement on Public Education" giving their unqualified support to public education in the state.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 2 --- The virtueonline website reported that Bishop Nazir-Ali, Visiting Bishop in DSC, told a conference in PA "I think it is very unlikely that the Archbishop of Canterbury will recognize the ACNA [Anglican Church in North America] in any formal sense." DSC is the only one of the five secessionist dioceses that has not joined ACNA.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 3 --- Episcopal Forum hosted conference "Enthusiastically Episcopalian in South Carolina," Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church, Pawleys Island, led by Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori, Bishop vonRosenberg, the Rev. Gay Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, and a delegation from the Episcopal diocese of Pittsburgh.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 7 --- The South Carolina Supreme Court issued an "Order" denying ECSC's request for a rehearing of the dismissal of the appeal in the SC Court of Appeals (see Mar. 25 and Apr. 4). The proceedings can now resume in the Circuit Court, Dorchester County.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 8 --- Bishop Andrew Waldo, of Upper South Carolina, announced a process by which clergy of the diocese may perform blessings of same-sex unions. (see July 10, 2012). Waldo called Lawrence and informed him of the new policy.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 16 --- Judge Goodstein issued an order denying ECSC's motion to add four individuals to the suit. (See Nov. 25, 2013). ECSC filed a motion to reconsider with Judge Goodstein (see June 6).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May --- Bp Lawrence appointed the Task Force for Provincial Affiliation: Craige Borrett, chair, Bruce McDonald, Peet Dickinson, Elizabeth Pennewill, Tripp Jeffords, John Benson, Jeffrey Miller, Karen Kusko, Ken Weldon, John Foster, David Thurlow, Julius Thompson. 8 of the 12 are on the standing committee and diocesan council. 10 of the 12 are males (the 2 women are on the standing committee). 7 of the 12 are clergy. The chair serves at Christ/St. Paul's with Kendall Harmon.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 3 --- Lawrence made a deposition in Thomas Tisdale's law office for the Circuit Court. The process lasted five hours. The transcript of remarks ran to 188 pages. Entered as Exhibit D-24 in the court trial on July 23, 2014.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 6 --- Bishop vonR led a large delegation to TEC Province IV synod at Kanuga NC and presented a report.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- Judge Goodstein denied ECSC's motion to reconsider her denial (May 16) of their motion to add four individuals to the suit (see June 23).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 19 --- Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth announced it had filed an appeal of the Texas Supreme Court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 23 --- Separatist diocese of Ft. Worth waived right to respond to TEC appeal of June 19.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 23 --- ECSC filed an appeal with the SC Court of Appeals seeking to overturn Judge Goodstein's denial of request to add four individuals to the suit (see May 16, June 6).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 3 --- Judge Goodstein ordered that the trial in the Circuit Court must begin on July 8.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- SC Court of Appeals dismissed ECSC appeal of June 23 as well as the appeal submitted on July 3. This cleared way for trial in the Circuit Court.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 8 --- Trial began in Circuit Court, Judge Goodstein presiding, Dorchester County Courthouse, St. George, SC. Plaintiffs opened first questioning of witnesses on the independent diocesan side.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">--- Bp vonR issued a letter announcing the permission of the rite for the blessing of same-sex unions in the Episcopal Church diocese.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 21 --- The Episcopal Church in SC (ECSC) diocese joined the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church in submitting an <em>amicus</em> brief in support of the Episcopal Church diocese of Ft. Worth in its appeal to the United States Supreme Court against the secessionist element claiming to be the legitimate Episcopal Diocese of Ft. Worth. The Greek Orthodox Church also joined.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 24 --- Regarding the secessionist case of Quincy, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District, ruled on TEC's appeal from the Circuit Court of Adams County denying the appeal and upholding the lower court's ruling that followed "neutral principles" and found in favor of the secessionist diocese of Quincy.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 25 --- The trial in the Circuit Court (see July 8) ended today after fourteen days of proceedings. Judge Goodstein announced it would be at least ninety days before she would hand down her ruling.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 28 --- The U.S. Supreme Court requested a response from the separatist diocese of Ft. Worth to the June 19 appeal of TEC. (See June 19, June 23). Answer due by August 27. The TEC appeal is on the official docket of SCOTUS for the Conference scheduled for September 29, 2014. The justices will decide whether to take the case. (see August 19)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">August 19 --- The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order extending the deadline for response (see July 28) to September 26, 2014.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">August 21 --- The Most Rev. Mouneer Anis (Chair of Global South, Primate of Jerusalem & Middle East) and the Most Rev. Ian Ernest (Secretary of Global South) issued a letter to the independent diocese to "welcome" the March diocesan convention's (see March 15) resolution asking for primatial oversight from Global South. Lawrence sent a letter to diocese announcing this. Neither letter gave any detail about the arrangement which remains a complete mystery.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 16 --- the Rev. H. Dagnall Free, Jr. was reinstated as a priest in good standing in the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Free had been removed and released as a priest in 2013 after his decision to leave the Episcopal Church in the schism of 2012. He had remained on the staff of St. John's, Johns Island, one of the schismatic parishes.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 26 --- Separatist diocese of Ft. Worth filed a response in the U.S. Supreme Court (see Aug. 19). Court removed the Ft. Worth case from Sept. 29 Conference docket pending a reassignment.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 29 --- The U.S. Supreme Court let stand the decision of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals overturning the same-sex marriage law in Virginia. The Fourth Circuit includes South Carolina.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 3 --- The Archbishop of Canterbury said in an interview that the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is "not part of the Anglican Communion."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 9 --- Lawrence participated in the consecration ceremony for the new archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America held in Atlanta but did not serve as one of the chief consecrating bishops.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 15 --- The Episcopal Church petition (see Sept. 26) to the U.S. Supreme Court distributed for the Oct. 31 Conference for a decision of the justices on whether to accept.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">November 3 --- The U.S. Supreme Court denied the Episcopal Church petition on Fort Worth. (see June 19 and after).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 14-15 --- The Episcopal Church in South Carolina held its annual diocesan convention at Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston. Three new missions admitted, making a total of 30 local churches in the Episcopal Church diocese: Church of the Messiah in Myrtle Beach, East Cooper Episcopal Church at Mt. Pleasant, and the Episcopal Church in Okatie. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 19 --- Legal same-sex marriages begin in SC. On Nov. 20 the US Supreme Court denied SC's appeal leaving the way clear for the marriages to proceed.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 26 --- Illinois state supreme court refused to accept TEC's appeal of the Illinois Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal decision favoring the secessionist diocese of Quincy.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 2 --- Bp vonR informed the Rt. Rev. William Skilton that he was not to administer the sacraments in ECSC. Skilton had been Suffragan Bp of DSC 1996-2007, and remains an Episcopal bishop. After the schism he had continued to celebrate Eucharist in DSC. By self-declaration, DSC severed all ties to TEC as of the schism of Oct. 15, 2012.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 3 --- ECSC announced that it had reached a settlement with the Church Insurance Company of Vermont. U.S. District judge Patrick Duffy had ruled on Jan. 9 in favor of ECSC and had reaffirmed his order. Settlement details undisclosed but apparently favorable to ECSC which is a self-sustaining diocese.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 4 --- DSC issued an e-newsletter stating that DSC originally estimated its litigation against TEC and ECSC to cost $2m, apparently all of which will have to come from its app. 21,000 communicants. It declared unilaterally that God is on DSC's side: "God's love and grace has permeated all we have done and said in the litigation process." DSC said it is raising $1.5m from parishes and is asking at least $500k from individual communicants. This is in view of the fact that DSC initiated the lawsuit against TEC (thus ignoring St. Paul).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 10 --- Lawyers for DSC and for ECSC submitted "Orders" or requests for judgment to Judge Goodstein of the circuit court. This cleared the way for the judge to issue an official decision soon.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 12 --- Professor Wesley Hill, an assistant professor at Trinity School for Ministry and an openly homosexual man, gave a presentation at St. John's (DSC) on Johns Island. Hill holds that homosexuality is in-born and that gay persons should remain celibate while developing "spiritual friendships." Hill's view contradicts the traditional evangelical view that homosexuality is a choice, not a natural state.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 15 --- DSC website posted an open letter from Bp Skilton, a letter from vonR to Skilton and a letter from Skilton to vonR. (see Dec. 2 above). On Dec. 2, Bp VonR withdrew Skilton's right to administer sacraments in ECSC.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">2015</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 21 --- Mark Lawrence, bishop of the independent diocese, requested, and received, the resignation of Haden McCormick as rector of St. Philip's (DSC) parish, Charleston, effective in April of 2015. This came after a five months discussion among bishop, vestry, and rector. McC had been rector for 15 years and a stalwart ally of Lawrence.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 28 --- The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Richmond, Virginia, heard oral arguments in the case of <em>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence</em>. ECSC had appealed the decision of U.S. District Judge Houck from August 23, 2013. Houck had refused to take the case in deference of the ongoing litigation in the state circuit court. ECSC had asked the U.S. District Court to recognize vonR and not Lawrence as the legitimate bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. The Fourth Circuit will issue a decision in a few months either dismissing ECSC's appeal or accepting it and sending the case back down to the U.S. District Court in Charleston to be reconsidered. The panel of three judges at the hearing on Jan. 28 were: Diana Motz (chair), Roger Gregory, and James Wynn, Jr.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 3 --- Judge Diane Goodstein, of the state circuit court, issued her "Final Order" in the lawsuit of DSC (the independent diocese) against TEC (the Episcopal Church) and ECSC (the Episcopal Church in South Carolina) (see Jan. 4m 2013). She ruled entirely in favor of DSC and against TEC and ECSC. The Order awarded all the property, names and insignia to DSC following the "neutral principles" standard. The trial in this case was held in July of 2014 (see July 8, 25). TEC and ECSC are most likely to appeal this to the South Carolina Court of Appeals.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 6 --- In official statements from DSC, Canon Jim Lewis and Bp. Lawrence declared the Feb 3 court decision to be the work of God. Lewis: "It should be observed that it is God's grace that has brought us to this day. Legal counsel has affirmed repeatedly that they have experienced God's grace at work in this litigation from start to finish." Lawrence: "Most grateful for the Mighty Hand of God throughout the whole ordeal...move forward with our God-given dreams and missions..."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 13 --- Lawyers for ECSC and TEC filed a 182-page "Defendant's Notice and Motion for Reconsideration of Final Order," with Judge Goodstein (see Feb. 3) requesting a reversal of her "Final Order." Goodstein's rejection of this request would clear the way for ECSC and TEC to make an appeal of the Final Order to the SC Court of Appeals. (See Feb. 23).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 18 --- DSC released statistics for diocese, parishes, and missions for the year 2013, the first full year after the schism of Oct. 2012. At the end of 2013 DSC reported 23,181 "baptized members" (23,532 in the same churches in 2011) and 17,999 "communicants" or active church members (21,363 in the same churches in 2011). [Some DSC churches still count TEC members and others as "baptized members" but not as "communicants." This explains the discrepancy in the DSC statistical tables between the near flat line in reported "baptized" and sharp drop in "communicants," or active members.]</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Before the schism, DSC listed 26,976 communicants. In the period around the schism, DSC lost a total of 9,829 communicants (5,113 stayed with TEC, 4,716 left DSC churches). As of Dec. 31, 2013, DSC retained 65% of the active membership of the pre-schism diocese. The DSC churches with the largest losses of active members after the schism were: Holy Cross on Sullivans Island (-1,336), St. Michael's of Charleston (-651), Old St. Andrew's of West Ashley (-433), St. Philip's of Charleston (-365), St. Helena's of Beaufort (-353), St. John's of Florence (-277), Trinity of Myrtle Beach (-212), Holy Comforter of Sumter (-126), Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul (-116), St. James of James Island (-112), Church of the Cross in Bluffton (-102).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 23, 11:55 a.m. --- Alan Runyan, lead lawyer for DSC, filed in Judge Goodstein's court "Plaintiffs' Response to Defendants' Rule 95(e) Motion to Reconsider." This is a five page response to the TEC and ECSC "Notice..." of Feb. 13. It is mostly a reiteration of trial transcript text. Attached was the harsh order of the Eighth Circuit Court of Illinois, Adams County from Feb. 20, 2015 that reprimanded TEC entirely in favor of the secessionist diocese of Quincy.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 23, 5:07 p.m. --- Judge Diane Goodstein issued "Order Denying Motion for Reconsideration," a terse two-page rejection of TEC and ECSC's Notice of Feb. 13. Having relied on the 2009 All Saints/Waccamaw decision in her Feb. 3 ruling, Goodstein now declared "The All Saints matter is a separate and distinct matter..." TEC and ECSC lawyers are expected to file an appeal of Goodstein's Feb. 3 decision within 30 days to the SC Court of Appeals.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 27 --- DSC announced that its Legal Defense Fund had created "The 1785 Society." [1785 was the year Episcopal churches in SC formed a state association.] Anyone can join for $1,785 in exchange for a lapel pin and a group dinner with Bishop Lawrence. The point is to raise $300,000 for DSC's upcoming court costs. DSC reports spending $2,000,000 on legal expenses already.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">March 2 --- Judge John P. Chupp, of the 141st District Court, Tarrant County, TX, issued an "Order on Motions for Partial Summary Judgment." It denied the request of the Episcopal Church side and granted that of the secessionist diocese of Ft. Worth. The Order was a terse four sentences without any explanation. (In Jan. of 2011, Judge Chupp had granted the motion of the Episcopal Church side. The secessionists appealed that decision to the TX supreme court which then ruled that the case must be sent back to the lower court to be reheard under "neutral principles." The hearing, very brief, was on Feb. 20, 2015. In effect, the TX supreme court forced Judge Chupp to reverse his original pro-Episcopal Church ruling.)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 14 --- DSC held its annual convention, Charleston. 5 resolutions presented and passed: 1-Resolution R-1, "Required Bonding of Treasurers" (passed by voice vote); 2- Resolution R-2, "A Resolution Tasking the Standing Committee to Adopt Marriage and Employment Policy" (SC to develop policies promoting traditional marriage only; yes-226, no-4); 3- Resolution R-3, "A Resolution Directing the Task Force to Develop Parish Resources" ("Marriage Task Force" to develop materials for parishes promoting traditional marriage only; yes-235, no-1); 4-R-4, "A Resolution to Adopt a Standing Resolution on Marriage" (a-marriage is only between one biological man and one biological woman, b-changing biological gender opposes God's purpose; yes-216, no-13); 5-R-5, "Resolution to Rescind Standing Resolutions regarding Sewanee" (canonical change to drop trustees to Sewanee; yes-208, no-2). 3 of the 5 resolutions concerned enforcement of "traditional" marriage.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">No action on 1-affiliation, 2-resolution tabled last year on giving rector control of local property.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">In a "workshop" talk on affiliation, Lawrence suggested DSC would expand beyond its old limits to upper SC and nearby states.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 24 --- ECSC lawyers filed: 1-"Notice of Appeal" with the SC Court of Appeals, Columbia. This appealed Judge Goodstein's final order of Feb. 3 and denial of reconsideration on Feb. 23. 2-"Motion to Certify" with the SC Supreme Court, Columbia. This requested the transfer of the case from the appeals court to the state supreme court. If the supreme court grants this motion, the case will go directly to the SC Supreme Court.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 24 --- The Rev. H. Jeff Wallace reinstated as a priest in the Episcopal Church in South Carolina, the second priest to return after the schism.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Mar. 31 --- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in Richmond, issued an order overturning Judge C. Weston Houck's decision of Aug. 23, 2013 in which Houck deferred to the state court. A three judge panel unanimously agreed that Houck used the wrong principle for abstention. The order directed the District Court, in Charleston, to rehear the case following the Colorado River rule that requires federal courts to adjudicate cases except for very rare and extreme circumstances. The District Court can 1-abstain but only after clear cause of exceptional circumstance, or 2-render a judgment on the lawsuit.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 2 --- This week (Holy Week), DSC sent letters to its mailing list containing two items: a note from Mark Lawrence dated Mar. 5 asking support for the 1785 fund, and a letter from the 1785 Society repeating its earlier announcement soliciting donations for the Legal Defense Fund (see Feb. 27).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 14 --- Lawyers for DSC filed a petition with the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for a rehearing of its March 31 decision to remand the case to District Court under the Colorado River rule.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 15 --- The South Carolina Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of the circuit court decision (Feb. 3, 2015). The Court denied DSC's motion to expedite the case and set the date of Sept. 23, 2015, for oral arguments before the court with no possibility of extension. The two sides will present briefs to the court in the near future. The case will bypass the state court of appeals. South Carolina thus becomes the first time that a state supreme court will issue a judgment on the matter of the legal relationship of the Episcopal Church and one of its dioceses (PA, TX, and IL state supreme courts all refused to judge the issue and left it to the lower courts).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 16 --- Rev. Jim Lewis, DSC Canon to the Ordinary, posted a letter to his diocese making serious charges against TEC and ECSC: --DSC was engaged in settlement discussions when DSC left TEC in 2012, --TEC has never made a settlement of a lawsuit, --DSC told TEC lawyers in 2013 that it would consider a written offer for a settlement, and there has been none from the TEC/ECSC side. Lewis offered no evidence for these charges.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 21 --- William Oldland installed as rector of St. Bartholomew's, in Hartsville. He had served for eight years as rector of St. David's, in Cheraw. He left there in late 2014. Following decline in membership after the schism, St. David's found it could not afford a full-time rector. St. David's was one of numerous small parishes and missions affected by the declining membership in DSC.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 28-29 --- Lawrence and other leaders of DSC held a conference with Foley Beach and other leaders of the Anglican Church in North America at Camp St. Christopher to discuss possibilities of the affiliation of DSC with ACNA. The meeting ended without a statement.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 29 --- The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an Order denying DSC's petition for rehearing (see Apr. 14). This means the U.S. District Court in Charleston must reconsider Judge Houck's decision of abstention (see August 2013).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 15 --- Attorneys for TEC and ECSC filed an initial brief in their appeal to the SC Supreme Court (hearing set for Sept. 23, 2015). The 51-page paper criticized Judge Goodstein's circuit court Order of Feb. 3 on process, procedure, and findings and suggested that since Goodstein's decision was so replete with errors the state supreme court should start over (de novo) with the case. The DSC side has 30 days to file a response.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 19 --- Bishop Hector Zavala, primate of the Anglican province of South America and member of primates' committee of Global South, met with the DSC Diocesan Council "so you can continue being part of the Anglican Communion."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 20 --- DSC hosted informal receptions in Summerton and Charleston for the public to talk with Bishop Zavala. Zavala: "I'm here with you today with the consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury." He may have implied the ABC approved of Global South's primatial oversight of DSC. He said the majority of Anglicans in the world "recognize" DSC as "part" of the Anglican Communion.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 25 --- Lambeth Palace, the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, announced that the ABC had been informed of the Global South primate's decision to set up primatial oversight when he joined them for their final day (Cairo; Feb. 15) and that the ABC had had discussions "exploring the exercising of pastoral, not episcopal oversight by Bishop Zavala."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 29 --- <em>Church Times,</em> the official Church of England newspaper, published the announcement that Lambeth Palace had sent by e-mail to this author on May 25.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">J</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: large;">une 1 --- Thomas Tisdale, chancellor of ECSC sent a letter to the DSC lawyers offering to negotiate a settlement. He offered to surrender all claims to the properties of the 35 parishes in the lawsuit against TEC and ECSC in return for the legal rights, property, and assets of the pre-schism diocese. He said the Presiding Bishop had approved the offer. (see June 15)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 11 --- Judge Houck, of the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, held a procedural hearing with the attorneys of DSC and ECSC. DSC lawyers had already filed a motion with Houck to dismiss the case. Houck gave DSC attorneys until June 30 to present a brief in support of their motion (see June 30). He also gave ECSC attorneys 15 days afterwards for them to submit a response brief (see July 15). Houck is under direction of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (see Mar. 31) to reconsider the case following the Colorado River standard that requires federal courts to adjudicate federal law except for rare circumstances. The case in federal court charges violation of a federal law, the Lanham Act. See: Mar. 5-7, 28, June 6, 10, Aug. 8, 23, 2013.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 15 --- DSC rejected Tisdale's offer of June 1 to negotiate a settlement and issued press releases denouncing what they saw as the malevolent motives, policies, and procedures of the TEC side.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 15 --- Attorneys for the independent diocese submitted their response brief (see May 15) to the South Carolina Supreme Court basically arguing that the court should affirm its 2009 decision in the <em>All Saints</em> case which overruled the Dennis Canon and recognized the All Saints, Pawleys Island, claim of local ownership of the property.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 17 --- gunman massacred nine persons in Emanuel A.M.E. Church on Calhoun Street in Charleston. The next day, bishops vonR and Lawrence issued similar statements calling for prayers, fellowship of grieving, support for the whole community, self-examination, and a seeking of ways forward in healing, reconciliation and peace in Charleston and in South Carolina.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 25 --- 78th General Convention of TEC (June 25-July 3) opened in Salt Lake City. ECSC delegation: Bishop vonR, Clergy: Jim Taylor, Wilmot T. Merchant, II, Richard Lindsey, Michael Wright; Laity: Thomas Tisdale, Lonnie Hamilton, Mary Ann Foy, Andrea McKellar. SC delegation enthusiastically participating in GC for first time in three decades. Two former bishops of South Carolina, Salmon and Skilton, attended GC but did not take seats with the SC delegation. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 25 --- TEC and ECSC lawyers filed "Initial Reply Brief" with the South Carolina Supreme Court in response to DSC lawyers' brief of June 15 (see May 15, June 15). The 25-page paper argues the circuit court's decision (see Feb. 3) violates the First Amendment and neutral principles.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 26 --- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the legality of same sex marriage in the U.S. DSC issued a statement affirming its stand for heterosexual marriage only.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 26 --- President Obama delivered the eulogy at the funeral of the Rev. Clamenta Pinckney at College of Charleston. The vice president, a delegation from Congress, and Hillary Clinton also attended.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 27 --- The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, was elected 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. He won 70% of the vote on the first ballot (121 of 174). He will be the first Presiding Bishop who is African American.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">June 30 --- Attorneys of Mark Lawrence filed "Memorandum in Support of Defendant Lawrence's Supplemental Motion to Dismiss or in the Alternative to Stay Proceedings" in the U.S. District Court in Charleston (see June 11, 2015). They argued that the state court (see Feb. 3, 2015) had already settled the issues at hand and asked the court to either dismiss this case or issue a stay pending the upcoming state supreme court decision. (See ECSC response of July 15, 2015).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 1 --- General Convention of TEC adopted same-sex marriage for the Church. Two resolutions passed House of Bishops (June 29) and House of Deputies (July 1)overwhelmingly to provide for trial liturgy and canonical change allowing same-sex marriage in the Episcopal Church starting Nov. 29, 2015 in places where civil law permits this. Bishop vonR and the ECSC delegation voted unanimously in favor of both resolutions.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 2 --- "Communion Partners Salt Lake City Statement" issued by 18 bishops in dissent of July 1 actions by GC on marriage equality. While criticizing the resolutions, the Statement declared loyalty to TEC. 2 who signed were Salmon, retired bishop of South Carolina, and Skilton, retired bishop suffragan of South Carolina. (Skilton voted against the resolutions favoring marriage equality in the House of Bishops on June 29. Salmon was not on the list of bishops voting). In response to the Communion Partners Statement, the House of Bishops issued a declaration, "Communion Across Difference" emphasizing the diversity and unity of the Episcopal Church.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 4-7 --- GAFCON elements denounced the TEC resolutions on marriage equality. These were prominently displayed on the Titus One Nine website, the quasi-official site of DSC. On July 4, Global South issued a statement declaring TEC had contradicted God's plan. It was signed by nine Anglican primates of Africa, Asia, and South America (Zavala). On July 6, GAFCON issued a statement under the signatures of the primates of Nigeria and Kenya denouncing TEC's action and reasserting its support for the replacement Anglican Church in North America. On July 7, the Anglican primate of Uganda strongly criticized TEC's reform and "their imperialist commitment to export it to the rest of the Anglican Communion." (General Convention had passed resolution AO51 "Support LGBT African Advocacy" directing TEC to act in aid of "(LGBTI) sisters and brothers in Africa.")</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 15 --- Attorney Tisdale filed "Plaintiff's Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Supplemental Motion to Dismiss or in the Alternative to Stay the Proceedings" in the U.S. District Court in Charleston (see June 11 and 30, 2015). Tisdale argued that the state court action was not parallel to the federal court's and that the court must follow the Colorado River principle as directed by the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 21 --- Bp vonR announced that same-sex marriage will begin in ECSC on November 29, 2015. (See July 1)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">July 24 --- Judge Chupp, district court, Tarrant Co TX, 141st district, issued "Final Judgment," a terse four-page statement finding all in favor of the secessionist diocese of Ft. Worth (see March 2, 2015). The TEC diocese of Ft. Worth is expected to appeal this decision to the 2nd Court of Appeals, a state appeals court of 7 justices (6 women, I man; all elected) located in Ft. Worth with jurisdiction over 12 counties. This court has not considered this case. Chupp's original decision favoring the TEC diocese was appealed directly to the TX Supreme Court which sent it back to Chupp with orders to follow neutral principles, hence today's ruling. (see Dec. 3).</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. --- DSC announces creation of Anglican Leadership Institute offering a first semester in Jan. 2016 and a second semester in Sept. 2016. Its purpose is to train "orthodox" Anglican "leaders." Applicants must sign a statement rejecting both marriage equality for homosexuals and the Episcopal Church.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 2 --- Rev. Jim Lewis, assistant to Mark Lawrence, issued a press release for DSC calling for prayers for courtroom victory in the upcoming state supreme court hearing and giving an official prayer for DSC: "It is our prayerful hope that the state Supreme Court will uphold this decision [Goodstein's] in its entirety." Lewis continued the theme (see Feb. 6, 2015) that God is on DSC's side: "Recognizing that divine favor which has overshadowed us from the beginning..."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 21 --- Judge Houck, of the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, issued "Order" granting Lawrence's motion to stay proceedings pending the resolution of the state supreme court case. (See June 11, June 30, and July 15, 2015)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Sept. 23 --- The South Carolina Supreme Court held a hearing on the TEC/ECSC appeal of Judge Goodstein's Order of Feb. 3, 2015. In time, the justices will issue a written decision.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Oct. 6 --- DSC Standing Committee adopted "A Statement of Faith," from the Marriage Task Force. The Statement declared: --the Bible the "final authority," --the bishop the "final interpretive authority," --God assigned gender to all human beings, --that altering one's gender is "in conflict" with God's will, --marriage is only for one woman and one man for lifetime, --sexual intimacy "is to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other," --and all employees and "leaders" of the diocese must "agree to abide" by the Statement of Faith.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Committee also adopted "Additions to Diocesan Employee Handbook," also from the Marriage Task Force, requiring "all persons employed by the Diocese in any capacity, or who serve as leaders" to sign an oath of allegiance to the Statement of Faith, and giving the bishop the right to "discharge" employees at will. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">October 10 --- Mark Lawrence "ordained" to the priesthood Martha Horn, the first woman he has ordained to the priesthood and the first woman ordained priest in DSC since the schism of 2012.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">October 14-16 --- Global South primates met in Cairo: agreed to attend Jan. meeting called by the Archbishop of Canterbury; condemned the Episcopal Church; praised Mark Lawrence; recognized Anglican Church in North America and made its Archbishop a member of the Primates' Council.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">October 19-21 --- Foley Beach, Archbishop of ACNA, addressed the Fall Clergy Conference of DSC: "the discussion was frank."</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">October 19 --- Thomas Tisdale, chancellor of ECSC, filed "Notice of Appeal" with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Richmond) appealing Judge Houck's "Order" of Sept. 21 granting a stay in the suit of <em>VonRosenberg v. Lawrence </em>that had been remanded to Judge Houck by the U.S. Court of Appeals (see Mar. 31; Sept. 21)</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 1 --- The Most Rev. Michael Curry installed as XXVII Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church at the Washington National Cathedral. A delegation of 11 communicants from ECSC attended.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 3 --- DSC Standing Committee adopted "A Facilities Use Policy" requiring anyone using church facilities to sign an oath recognizing the Statement of Faith and giving the bishop approval over all facility usage. This is meant to prevent same-sex marriage ceremonies on DSC church properties.</span></strong><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 5 --- ECSC, Diocesan Future Committee formed to study models for future development of diocese and report to annual convention.</span></b><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 13-14 --- ECSC held its diocesan convention at Holy Cross/Faith Memorial Church, Pawleys Island. St. Mark's, Port Royal, admitted as a parish (mostly refugees from schismatic St. Helena's of Beaufort); Grace Church, Charleston, designated as the cathedral of the diocese.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nov. 29 --- Same-sex marriage began in the Episcopal Church, at the discretion of the local bishop, and in ECSC.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dec. 3 --- The Episcopal Diocese of Ft. Worth and the Episcopal Church filed briefs in the Court of Appeals, 2nd District of Texas asking overturn of July 24 decision.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><strong>2016</strong></span><strong><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 4 --- DSC began its first month-long "semester" of its Anglican Leadership Institute with 14 students. Applicants could get full scholarships, but all applicants were required to sign a pledge rejecting both marriage equality and the Episcopal Church.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 11 --- The Archbishop of Canterbury opened a meeting of the 38 primates of the independent provinces of the Anglican Communion, in Canterbury. It is scheduled to last for five days.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 12 --- In the primates' gathering, Uganda made a motion to ask the withdrawal of TEC and the Anglican Church of Canada. The motion failed to carry. The Ugandan primate left Canterbury.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 13 --- In the primates' gathering, a motion was made to remove TEC from AC for three years; voted down 15-20. An agreement was adopted to impose sanctions on TEC for three years [one report said vote 26-yes, 3-no, 6-abstentions].</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 14 --- Bishop Charles vonRosenberg announced he will retire as bishop provisional of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina soon after June 26, 2016.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 14 --- At their Canterbury gathering, the Anglican primates released an official statement. It prescribed "consequences" (punishment) for the Episcopal Church: suspension from official functions in the Anglican Communion for three years. The offense identified causing this "consequence" was TEC's disturbing the unity of the AC by alteration of its marriage canons to allow same-sex marriage.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 15 --- Presiding Bishop Curry and House of Deputies president Gay Jennings said TEC will not change any policy on homosexuality. Jennings said she would attend the Anglican Consultative Council in April and participate fully.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 15 ---- Final Communique of primates' gathering issued, Canterbury Jan. 11-15: --set next Lambeth Conference at 2020, next primates' meetings for 2017, 2019, --rejected criminal sanctions against homosexual people (but not against homosexual acts), --refused to admit the Anglican Church in North America to AC and referred question to the Anglican Consultative Council with discouragement; ACNA archbishop denied recognition as a primate.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Jan. 15 --- ABC held press conference: --apologized to gays on behalf of church, --insisted on word "consequences" for TEC not sanctions or punishment, --stressed unity of AC, --on key questions said "I don't know." --ABC accompanied by 2 primates (Hong Kong and Southern Africa) while 33 were absent including all of GAFCON.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 15 --- Archbishop of Canterbury made an address to the CofE General Synod giving criteria for membership in the Anglican Communion.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 11 --- ECSC Standing Committee met Bishop Clay Matthews, of the Office of Pastoral Development (TEC) and resolved to seek a new provisional bishop for ECSC. ECSC will make a nomination of a candidate to be approved by a special convention.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 22 --- ECSC filed "Opening Brief of Appellant the Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg," in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Richmond). This supported ECSC's appeal of Judge Houck's decision (see Oct. 19, 2015) to abstain. The brief presented two main arguments against Houck's abstention: the court did not adhere to the <em>Colorado River </em>standard for abstention, and the federal court was wrong to see this case as parallel to the state court action.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Feb. 23 --- DSC Marriage Task Force issued report establishing condemnation of and diocesan institutional opposition to marriage equality through resolutions of the Standing Committee. Adoption of 4 policies: 1-"A Statement of Faith" (for DSC) (SC Oct. 6, 2015), 2-A Statement of Faith (for parishes), 3-"Additions to Diocesan Employee Handbook" requiring all employees and "leaders" to sign a pledge of allegiance to the Statement of Faith and giving the bishop the right to terminate employment at will (SC Oct. 6, 2015), 4-"A Facilities Use Policy" (SC Nov. 3, 2015) requiring anyone using church facilities to sign an oath not to violate the Statement of Faith and giving the bishop authority over use of the church facilities. This would prevent same-sex marriage ceremonies on all DSC diocesan and local church properties. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">March 12 --- DSC held its annual meeting of the convention in Bluffton. Closed to the public. The task force on affiliation, chosen by Mark Lawrence two years ago, recommended DSC join the Anglican Church in North America. Since this would require the votes of two successive convention meetings, a special convention will be called in the Fall of 2016 and the second and final vote will come in the annual convention of 2017. The ACNA is not recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Anglican Communion.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 5 --- The 5th District Court of Appeals in California rejected the appeal of the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin. This left standing Judge Donald Black's May 5, 2014 decision finding all in favor of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. All of the rights and assets of the pre-schism diocese are to be relinquished to the EPSJ. ADSJ may ask for a rehearing or appeal to the California Supreme Court. (see 20 April).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 8-10 --- The Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, visited ECSC. He participated in services and programs at several Episcopal churches in Charleston. Details: <a href="http://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/presiding-bishop-currys-visit-2016.html">www.episcopalchurchsc.org/presiding-bishop-currys-visit-2016.html</a> . The Very Rev. Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral also participated in the visit.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 8 --- Anglican Consultative Council opened meeting in Lusaka, Zambia (Anglican Province of Central Africa). TEC represented by three delegates. 3 of the 38 provinces boycotted the meeting (Uganda, Nigeria, and Rwanda) to protest TEC. The ABC, the Anglican Secretary-General, and the president of the ACC all defended TEC. Meeting to continue to 19 April.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 11 --- DSC hosted "Voices of the Anglican Communion" at Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul, Charleston, 6-8 p.m. 10 speakers, 6 from Uganda; all from provinces opposed to rights for homosexuals and hostile to TEC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 18 --- Anglican Consultative Council (see Apr. 8) rejected the primates' statement (see Jan. 14, 2016) imposing punishment, called "consequences", on TEC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 19 --- GAFCON Primates' Council met in Nairobi (until 23 April). Council: Chair, Eliud Wabukala (Kenya), Nicholas Okoh (Nigeria), Stanley Ntagali (Uganda), Henry Isingoma (Congo), Onesphore Rwaje (Rwanda), Daniel Bul (Sudan), Hector Zavala (South America), Foley Beach (Anglican Church in North America).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 19 --- Texas Second Court of Appeals, in Ft. Worth, held a hearing in the case of the Episcopal Church's appeal of 141st District Judge John Chupp's July 24, 2015 judgment awarding all to the secessionist diocese of Fort Worth.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 20 --- Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin filed "Petition for Rehearing" with the California Fifth District Court of Appeals (see April 5, May 13).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">April 22 --- GAFCON Primates' meeting (see Apr. 19) issued "Nairobi Communiqué 2016," blasting TEC for "deliberately walking away" and the recent Anglican Consultative Council meeting for its "inability" and "damage."</span></strong><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">April 28 --- ECSC Standing Committee heard report from its search subcommittee on recommendation of candidate for new bishop. Once the nominee is announced, a special convention will be called for election.</span></b><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">May 13 --- Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin filed a petition with the California Supreme Court on appeal of Judge Black's May 5, 2014, decision that found all in favor of the Episcopal Church side. (see April 20). Since the state appeals court declined to take the case, it is unlikely the state supreme court will accept it. The CA Supreme Court has until July 14 to announce whether it will take the case. If it refuses, Black's decision will stand as the law. (see July 13).</span></strong><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">June 29 --- The Rt. Rev. Edward Lloyd Salmon, Jr., died. He was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina from 1990 to 2008. Although a conservative critic of the Episcopal Church, he opposed secession from the Church.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">June 30 --- Episcopal Church in South Carolina announced new nominee to be next provisional bishop, Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. "Skip" Adams III, soon to retire bishop of Central New York. Election will be in special convention, Sept. 10, at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston. If elected, he will replace Bishop vonRosenberg.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">July 13 --- Supreme Court of California denied Anglican petition for review of lower court decision (see May 13). This ended 7 years of litigation in the case of San Joaquin and ended it on the side of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Menees of the Anglican diocese of San Joaquin acknowledged legal defeat and announced the surrender of all properties to the Episcopal diocese.</span></b><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">September 10 --- The Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. "Skip" Adams, III, elected and installed at special meeting of the convention of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina, at Grace Church Cathedral, in Charleston. He succeeded the Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonRosenberg as bishop provisional of ECSC. Bishop vonRosenberg succeeded Bishop Mark Lawrence who abandoned the Episcopal Church on October 15, 2012, and was released and removed as a bishop of the Episcopal Church on December 5, 2012.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">November 11-12 --- ECSC held its annual meeting of the convention at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">November 11 --- the Rev. Matt McCormick rejoined the Episcopal Church diocese of South Carolina after having abandoned the Church in the schism of 2012. He was the third priest to leave the schismatic side in South Carolina to rejoin the Episcopal Church.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">November 28 --- ABC Justin Welby wrote to the 37 other primates inviting them to convene in Canterbury Oct. 2-7 and reiterating his theme of walking together: "Our battle is not against flesh and blood, least of all against each other...We are all in the one boat."</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">December 9 --- Hearing in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit (Richmond), on the appeal of TEC/ECSC of Judge Houck's stay of September 21, 2015 (see Oct. 19, 2015, Feb. 22, 2016). (See Feb. 21, 2017).</span></strong><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">February 15 --- Synod of the Church of England rejected a bishops' report that declared marriage to be only between a man and a woman.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">February 21 --- The U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, remanded the case of <i>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence</i> to the U.S. District Court in Charleston for adjudication. The three appeals judges ruled unanimously that the District Court had erred in refusing to hear the case. (see Dec. 9, 2016).</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">March 11 --- DSC convention voted to join the Anglican Church in North America. Vote was unanimous after Bp Lawrence, Peter Jensen, secretary general of GAFCON, Peter Akinola, "founding father" of GAFCON, and Foley Beach, archbishop of ACNA all lobbied for passage.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">March 17 --- the Rev. Catharine Moore Norris was ordained to the priesthood in the DSC, at Holy Cross, Sullivans Island. She is the second woman to be ordained in DSC since the schism. Norris was ordained by Bp Hobby, of the Anglican Dio. of Pitt. Bp Lawrence has ordained only one woman to the priesthood, Martha Horn.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">June 8 --- The Episcopal Church of Scotland resolved to allow same-sex couples to marry in its churches.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">June 27 --- The Provincial Council of the Anglican Church in North America voted to admit DSC to the ACNA.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">July 9 --- The Synod of the Church of England resolved to welcome transgendered people and to explore new liturgies to support the tendsgender process.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">July 19 --- Judge Charles Weston Houck died. He was the U.S. District judge, in Charleston, who had handled the federal actions in the Church case (see Feb. 21, 2017). Judge Patrick Duffy assumed the case in the U.S. District Court. The case was later assigned to Richard Gergel.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 2 --- South Carolina Supreme Court overturned most of the circuit court decision of Feb. 3, 2015 (the hearing was on Sept. 23, 2015). The Court:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1-recognized legal rights of TEC and ECSC, by way of the Dennis Canon, over 29 of the 35 parishes in DSC. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2-left 7 parishes in local hands. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3-said Camp St. Christopher belongs to the Episcopal Church diocese.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">4-deferred to the federal court the decision on which of the two dioceses should have the legal rights of the old diocese.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 4 --- ECSC held meeting of all diocesan authorities, clergy, and parish officers, and representatives of the nine missions in exile, at Grace Church Cathedral, to discuss legal issues.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 8 --- In the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, Judge Gergel (see July 19) issued a scheduling order in the case of <i>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence</i>. Discovery is to be completed by December of 2017. Trial is to be held in March of 2018.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 9 --- Publication of <i>A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina</i> by Ronald James Caldwell. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock. 523 p. $62.00.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 15 --- The Episcopal Church filed a motion to be enjoined with ECSC in the <i>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence</i> suit in U.S. District Court, Judge Gergel. (see Aug. 8).</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 22 --- DSC filed an opposition to TEC's motion of Aug. 15.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 23 --- Judge Gergel, issued an "Order and Opinion" granting TEC's motion (see Aug. 15) and dismissing DSC's claims in opposition (see Aug. 22).</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 30 --- With agreement of the two parties, Judge Richard Gergel, of the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, ordered mediation. He appointed as mediator U.S. District Court senior judge, Joseph Anderson. (Court rules direct mediation to begin within 30 days of order.) </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 1 --- DSC lawyers made request in the South Carolina Supreme Court for a time extension to file Petition for Rehearing. In the request, the lawyers revealed the news that Judge Richard Gergel, on agreement of the two parties, had ordered mediation on August 30. Court denied request for time extension. DSC lawyers then filed three motions of Petition for Rehearing, one for Church of the Good Shepherd, of Charleston, one in general, and one asking for retroactive recusal of Justice Kaye Hearn and vacancy of her opinion in the August 2 Court decision.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 7 --- South Carolina Supreme Court asked the Episcopal Church in South Carolina to file a response to DSC's petitions for rehearing, of Sept. 1, and to do so within 10 days.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 18 --- Church lawyers (see Sept. 7) filed a "Return" with SCSC arguing that DSC's request for rehearing (Sept. 1) was mostly a rehash and that Justice Hearn had a right to judge the case. They asked the SCSC to dismiss DSC's three petitions for rehearing.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 19 --- TEC side filed "Amici Curiae Brief of The Honorable (retired) William T. Howell and The Honorable (retired) H. Samuel Stilwell in Opposition to Respondents' Motion to Recuse" with SCSC. These retired judges argued that Justice Hearn had every right to participate and that she had broken no ethics rules.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">This paper included two addenda: 1-"Affidavit of Rebecca Lovelace" refuting the Rev. Tripp Jeffords' affadavit; 2-"Affidavit of Expert Opinion of Dr. Gregory B. Adams." Adams was a University of SC law professor and specialist in judicial ethics. He argued that Hearn had broken no ethics rules.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 25 --- DSC filed in SCSC, "Reply in Support of Motion to Recuse the Honorable Justice Kaye G. Hearn..." in response to TECSC's "Return" of Sept. 18. This mostly defended the timeliness of the motion and again called for Hearn to recuse herself.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">October 4 --- Organizational meeting for mediation, in Columbia. The two sides, TEC/TECSC and DSC, met with senior U.S. District Judge Joseph Anderson and agreed to set the first mediation session on November 6, 2017. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">October 2-6 --- Anglican primates met in Canterbury. Three boycotted the meeting: Uganda, Nigeria, and Rwanda. Primates issued a Communiqué declaring the Anglican Church in North America not to be a province of the Anglican Communion.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">October 13 --- DSC filed with the SC Supreme Court, "Response to Amicus Curiae Brief of the Honorable William T. Howell and the Honorable H. Samuel Stilwell." (See Sept. 19).</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 6-7 --- First mediation session between TEC/TECSC and DSC, in Columbia, led by senior federal district judge, Joseph Anderson. At 10:45 a.m., Nov. 7, the two parties announced a recess in the talks until December 4, 2017. Mediation had been ordered by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel on Aug. 30, 2017. All legal issues, in federal and state courts, are open for consideration.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 10 --- The Palmetto Family Council sponsored a move in support of DSC's petitions for rehearing in SCSC: "Brief for 106 Religious Leaders as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents' Petition for Rehearing."</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 10-11 --- TECSC held 227th annual convention, at All Saints Church, Hilton Head.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 17 --- The South Carolina Supreme Court responded to DSC's petitions of September 1, 2017. The court issued two "Orders". One denied a rehearing (vote was 2-2; no majority meant denial). The other denied Justice Hearn's recusal (unanimous).</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 17 --- SCSC issued a "Remittitur" order to the circuit court directing the court to enact the Aug. 2 decision.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 19 --- DSC opened a new lawsuit against TEC/TECSC in state court. It filed "Summons" and "Complaint" in the circuit court, Dorchester County. This demanded payments from TEC/TECSC under the "Betterments Statute" in which the property owner(s) owes reparations to illegal occupants for the improvements they made to the properties in question. (see Nov. 20)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 20 --- DSC filed "Amended Complaint" in circuit court. (see Nov. 19; September 9, 2019; September 11,2019)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 21 --- DSC bishop and standing committee announced DSC would appeal the SC Supreme Court decision of Aug. 2 to the U.S. Supreme Court. DSC has 90 days from Nov. 17 decision to submit an appeal to SCOTUS (Feb. 15, 2018).</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 1 --- "Parish Contingency Plan Template" secretly sent to DSC parishes, apparently by DSC officials at diocesan headquarters. This 4-page paper outlined ways for congregations (of the 29 parishes) to leave their buildings and relocate elsewhere. This Plan was released on the Internet on Feb. 21, 2018.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 4 --- Second round of mediation talks ended abruptly. Mediation recessed a second time, this time until January 11-12, 2018.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 15 --- The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church in South Carolina filed in the circuit court of Dorchester County "Notice of Motion and Motion to Dismiss Complaint." This asked the court to discard DSC's Complaint of November 19, 2017.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 27 --- DSC lawyers filed "Motion to Establish Complex Case Designation" in support of their Nov. 19 Complaint.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2018</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 10 --- DSC suit of Nov. 19, 2017, in Dorchester County circuit court, assigned to Judge Edgar Dickson "for administrative purposes." This was by direction of Judge Diane Goodstein as the chief administrative judge of that court.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 12 --- Third session of mediation. At conclusion, no information released and no date set for a subsequent meeting.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 18 --- TECSC lawyers filed "Notice of Motion and Motion for <i>Pro Hac Vice</i> Admission" in the circuit court, Dorchester County. This was to admit TEC lawyers David Booth Beers and Mary Kostel as attorneys for the Church side in DSC's Nov. 19, 2017 suit. DSC attorney Alan Runyan consented. The Motion was granted on Jan. 31, 2018.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 23 --- TEC and TECSC submitted a proposal to DSC for a protocol of discussions between TEC/TECSC and the parishes of DSC concerning a settlement. DSC was given until Feb. 2 to respond.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 25 --- Bishops vonRosenberg and Adams, on the Church side, and Lawrence, on the DSC side submitted in the U.S. District Court, Charleston, "Joint Status Report" giving their views of the progress of the mediation. They agreed the mediation was ongoing and announced TEC/TECSC's proposal (see Jan. 23) and said there had been no progress on diocesan property and Lanham Act issues. TEC/TECSC said it was not opposed to the court's lifting the stay and resuming the case. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 26 --- Presiding Bishop Michael Curry presided over the closing Eucharist of the Forma conference at Grace Church Cathedral.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February 2 --- Deadline for Bp Lawrence to respond to TEC/TECSC's proposal of Jan. 23. [At this point, one cannot know the response. It and its contents are covered by the confidentiality of the mediation.]</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February 9 --- DSC filed "Petition for Writ of Certiorari" with the U.S. Supreme Court as an appeal of the SC Supreme Court ruling of Aug. 2, 2017. [TEC and TECSC temporarily waived their right to file a response to DSC's petition.] (See June 7)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February 14 --- U.S. District Court judge Richard Gergel lifted the stay in the case of <i>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence</i> which had been in place since Aug. 30 at the start of the mediation process. A trial in this case is expected later this year. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February 20 --- Bp Lawrence filed a motion in the U.S. District Court, Charleston,</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">to dismiss part of the charges against him in the case of <i>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence</i>: "Defendant the Right Reverend Mark J. Lawrence's Motion to Dismiss Count II of the Plaintiff Bishops' Second Amended Complaint for Lack of Standing Pursuant to <u>Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1)</u>." Lawrence also filed an explanation of the motion: "Memorandum in Support of Defendant the Right Reverend Mark J. Lawrence's Motion to Dismiss Count II of the Plaintiff Bishops' Second Amended Complaint for Lack of Standing <u>Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(B)(1)</u>, (See March 6, March 7).</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">February 27 --- SCOTUS requested a response from TEC/TECSC concerning DSC's Feb. 9 petititon. Date for response set at March 29, 2018.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">March --- Samuel J. Richards reviewed <i>A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina</i> in <i>Anglican and Episcopal History</i>, Vol. 87, No. 1 (March 2018) pp. 83-85. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">March 1 --- TEC and TECSC filed seven papers in the U.S. District Court, Charleston, in the case of <i>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence:</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> (1) - "Motion to Intervene and Join Parties and Claims by the Episcopal Church in South Carolina." This requests addition to the case of the Corporation of the Trustees, of the Diocese of South Carolina, and the parishes of the DSC.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b> (2) - "Bishops vonRosenberg's and Adams' Motion to Amend their Complaint and Join Parties and Claims." </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b> (3) - "Motion of the Episcopal Church to Amend Its Amended Complaint-in-Intervention to Join Parties and Claims."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b> (4) - "(Proposed) Second Amended Complaint-in-Intervention." This essentially asks the court to enact the TEC/TECSC control over the 28 parishes involved in the state supreme court decision of Aug. 2, 2017.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b> (5) - "[Proposed] Third Amended Complaint by Bishop vonRosenberg Bishop Adams & Intervenor the Episcopal Church in South Carolina (the "Associated Diocese")." This essentially asks for TEC/TECSC to regain possession of the corporation of the Trustees, of DSC, and the 28 parishes in question.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b> (6) - "Memorandum in Support of Bishops vonRosenberg and Adams' and the Episcopal Church in South Carolina's Respective Motions to Intervene, to Join Parties and Claims to Amend Complaint."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b> (7) - "Memorandum in Support of the Episcopal Church's Motion to Amend its Amended Complaint-in-Intervention to Join Parties and Claims."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>March 6 --- TECSC filed in the U.S. District Court, Charleston, a response to Lawrence's Motion to Dismiss of Feb. 20: "Bishops vonRosenberg and Adams' Response to Bishop Lawrence's Motion to Dismiss." (See Feb. 20).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>March 7 --- U.S. District Court, Charleston, judge Richard Gergel issued "Order" denying Lawrence's Feb. 20 Motion to Dismiss part of the lawsuit against him. (See Feb. 20, March 6).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 23 --- TEC/TECSC requested of SCOTUS time extension for response to April 30, 2018. (see Feb. 27.) They also announced that friends of DSC would be filing "amici curiae" briefs in support of DSC's petition of Feb. 9.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 23 --- DSC filed "Motion for Clarification of Jurisdiction and for Other Relief" with the circuit court of Dorchester County. This asked the court to clarify how the issues resulting from the SC supreme court decision of Aug. 2, 2017 would be addressed.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 27 --- SCOTUS granted TEC/TECSC's request of Mar. 23. New deadline for all respondents is April 30, 2018.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 29 --- Two Amici Curiae briefs filed in favor of DSC: 1-"Brief for Professors Randy Beck, Ashutosh Bragwat, Samuel Bray, Nathan Chapman, Robert Cochran, Richard Epstein, Marci Hamilton, John Inazu, Michael McConnell, John Nagle, Michael Paulsen, Lawrence Sager, Chaim Saiman, James Stern, Anna Su, Nelson Tebbe, Eugene Volokh, and Robin Fretwell Wilson as <i>Amici Curiae</i> in Support of Certiorari."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2-"Brief of the Falls Church Anglican and the American Anglican Council as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioners."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 5 --- Texas Second Court of Appeals found in favor of the TEC diocese (see Apr. 19, 2016; July 24, 2015) and ordered the case remanded to the lower court for new judgment. (Bp. Iker announced he would appeal directly to the TX supreme court.)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 6 --- Dr. Jeremy Morris, of Cambridge University, reviewed <i>A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina</i> in <i>Church Times</i>.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 16 --- Judge Richard Gergel, of the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, issued "Order and Opinion" granting TEC/TECSC right to press claims against DSC, its parishes and its Trustees but denied their request for trust enforcement. He suggested they press their property claims in the circuit court.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 25 --- Lawyers for TEC requested of the U.S. Supreme Court time extension for filing response to DSC (Feb. 9). Court granted extension to May 7, 2018.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 7 --- Lawyers for TEC and TECSC filed "Brief for Respondents in Opposition" with the U.S. Supreme Court. This was in response to DSC's petition of Feb. 9 and DSC's Amici curiae briefs of March 29.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 8 --- Lawyers for TEC and TECSC filed "Defendants' Petition for Execution and Further Relief on Declaratory Judgments of the South Carolina Supreme Court and for the Appointment of a Special Master," in the Circuit Court, Dorchester County.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 9 --- Lawyer for TECSC filed "Third Amended Complaint by Bishop vonRosenberg Bishop Adams & Intervenor The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (the "Associated Diocese")," in the U.S. District Court, in Charleston.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 14 --- The circuit court of Dorchester County scheduled a hearing on TEC/TECSC's motion to dismiss of Dec. 15, 2017, and DSC's motion to establish complex case of Dec. 27, 2017. The hearing was set for May 30, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. (see May 22).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 15 --- Lawyers for DSC filed "Reply Brief for Petitioners," in the U.S. Supreme Court. (See May 7).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 16 --- TEC/TECSC filed, in the circuit court of Dorchester County, "Defendants' Amended Petition for Execution and Further Relief on Declaratory Judgments of the South Carolina Supreme Court and for the Appointment of a Special Master." (See May 8).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 22 --- The U.S. Supreme Court set June 7 as the date for the conference of justices to consider DSC's petition for cert.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 22 --- The circuit court of Dorchester County accepted a motion from DSC, supported by TEC/TECSC, to postpone the scheduled hearing of May 30 (see May 14). The court will decide a new date for a hearing.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 7 --- The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court met in conference and denied DSC's writ of certiorari (see Feb. 9). The decision was publicly announced on June 11.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 11 --- U.S. Supreme Court released announcement of denial of DSC's petition for review. (See June 7). This left the SCSC decision of Aug. 2, 2017, as the law.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 12 --- TECSC lay leadership met at Grace Church Cathedral, in Charleston, to hear discuss policies and procedures with the diocesan authorities.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 14 --- DSC held clergy conference at St. Paul's, Summerville.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 15 --- TECSC announced the appointment of the Rev. William Coyne as the Missioner for Returning Congregations. He is to facilitate the reintegration of the 29 parishes into the Church diocese pursuant to the SCSC decision of Aug. 2, 2017.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 17-22 --- GAFCON III met in Jerusalem and issued "Letter to the Churches" demanding a radical reformation of the Anglican Communion. It called for GAFCON boycott of the 2020 Lambeth conference unless the Archbishop of Canterbury excludes the Episcopal Church and certain other branches of the Anglican Communion and replaces them with non-AC GAFCON affiliates. Continued denunciation of human rights for homosexuals.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 28 --- TECSC announced three gatherings for reconciliation on July 16, 17, 18 in Conway, Charleston, and Bluffton.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 11 --- TECSC filed "Petititon for an Accounting" with the circuit court asking for the court to appoint an accounting firm to search and list the assets of the Diocese of South Carolina after January 1, 2008.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 16-18 --- TECSC held three reconciliation "conversations," in Conway, Charleston and Bluffton.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 26 --- Judge Edgar Dickson held a status conferences with the lawyers on both sides and asked them to submit lists of issues they wish him to consider. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 27 --- The breakaway diocese of Fort Worth filed "Petition for Review" with the Texas Supreme Court (see April 5, 2018).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 31-August 9 --- Bishop Mark Lawrence makes presentations in Sumter, Walterboro, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and James Island.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 2 --- The two sets of lawyers submitted their lists to Judge Dickson for consideration (see July 26, 2018).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>September 4 --- Judge Dickson, of the circuit court, announced a timeline for proceeding in September and October with the goal of a hearing in late October.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>September 24 --- TEC/TECSC and DSC filed briefs with Judge Edgar Dickson, of the circuit court, as per request of the judge (see Sept. 4).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>TEC/TECSC</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. "Defendants' Memorandum of Law in Support of their Amended Petition for Execution and Further Relief on Declaratory Judgments of the South Carolina Supreme Court and for the Appointment of a Special Master."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. "Defendants' Memorandum of Law in Support of their Petition for an Accounting."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. "Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs' Complaint under the Betterment Act."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>DSC:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. "Memorandum in Support of Motion for Clarification and for Other Relief."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. "Supplement to Motion for Clarification of Jurisdiction and for Other Relief."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. "Memorandum in Support of Motion to Establish Complex Case Designation."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 5 --- TEC/TECSC and DSC filed responses to the September 24 briefs with Judge Edgar Dickson, of the circuit court, as per request of the judge. (see Sept. 24).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>DSC:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. "Plaintiffs' Response in Opposition to Defendants' Memorandum in Support of Petition and Execution."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. "Plaintiffs' Response in Opposition to Defendants' Memorandum of Law in Support of the Petition for an Accounting."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. "Response in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>TEC/TECSC (Oct. 5, 8):</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. "Defendants' Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Clarification and Further Relief."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. "Defendants Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Complex Case Designation."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 12 --- TEC/TECSC and DSC filed replies to the Oct. 5 responses with Judge Edgar Dickson, of the circuit court, as per request of the judge. (see Oct. 5).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>DSC: "Plaintiffs' Reply top Defendants' Brief in Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Clarification and Further Relief."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>TEC/TECSC: "Defendants' Omnibus Reply Brief to Plaintiffs' Opposition Briefs to Defendants' Petititon for Enforcement, Petition for an Accounting, and Motion to Dismiss Betterment Action."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>November 16-17 --- Annual meeting of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina, at the Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>November 18 --- the Rev. Andrew O'Dell called on the congregation of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Charleston, to break their bonds of affection for their church building and prayed to God to destroy the edifice rather than let it fall into the hands of "false teachers." St. Philip's started in 1680; its present building dates from 1838. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>November 19 --- Judge Edgar Dickson, of the circuit court, held a hearing on DSC's motion for clarification, essentially asking the circuit court to disregard the SCSC decision of Aug. 2, 2017, and rule on the issue of the properties anew. The hearing was in the Orangeburg county courthouse, in Orangeburg, SC. The judge listened to the arguments of the lawyers on the two sides and said he would rule on the motion in time. He set aside the other five motions/petitions for the time being.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>December 7 --- Lawyers for TECSC filed "Memorandum of Law in Support of Bishop vonRosenberg, Bishop Adams, and the Episcopal Church in South Carolina's Motion for Summary Judgment," in the U.S. District Court. Lawyers for TEC filed "Plaintiff-in-Intervention the Episcopal Church's Memorandum in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment," in the same court.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>--- Lawyers for DSC files 38 motions in the U.S. District Court. Both TEC/TECSC and DSC asked Judge Gergel for summary judgment in their favor. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2019</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">January 8 --- Judge Dickson, of the circuit court, sent an email to the two sets of lawyers asking for the agreements among the SCSC justices and how these agreements support the lawyers' claims.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">January 11 --- Lawyers for TECSC filed with Judge Richard Gergel, of the U.S. District Court, Charleston, 1-"Opposition of Plaintiffs and Plaintiff-in-Intervention to the Lawrence Parishes' Motions for Summary Judgment," 2-"Plaintiffs Bishop vonRosenberg, Bishop Adams, and the Episcopal Church in South Carolina's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendants' Second Motion for Summary Judgment (DKT. 603)." These were in response to DSC's motions of Dec. 7, 2018.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">January 14 --- Judge Dickson, of the circuit court, sent an email to the two sets of lawyers asking for documents on how the local churches voted on the Dennis Canon.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">March 19 --- Judge Dickson, of the circuit court, set a hearing on DSC's Betterments suit, on March 27.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">March 20 --- Lawyers for TEC/TECSC filed "Petititon for Writ of Mandamus" with the South Carolina Supreme Court asking the court to order Judge Dickson to implement the SCSC decision of Aug. 2, 2017.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">March 26 --- Judge Dickson, of the circuit court, cancelled the scheduled hearing of March 27.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">April 11 --- DSC filed "Intervenors' Return to Petition for Writ of Mandamus" with the SCSC in response to TEC/TECSC's March 20 petition.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">April 17 --- TEC/TECSC lawyers filed "Petitioners' Reply to Intervenors' Return," with the SCSC in response to DSC's "Intervenors' Return..." of April 11.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">May 23 --- TECSC Standing Committee resolved to find a new full-time provisional bishop and a new full-time diocesan bishop. Bp Adams is expected to leave his post as part-time provisional bishop by the end of 2019.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">June 11 --- TECSC lawyers filed a "Complaint" in the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, against the Church Insurance Company of Vermont claiming the company wrongfully aided breakaway entities in SC. The Complaint seeks damages and asks for a jury trial.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">June 14 --- The Church Insurance Company of Vermont filed "Complaint (Declaratory Judgment) (non-Jury)" in the U.S. District Court, in Charleston naming seventeen parishes presently occupied by DSC and TECSC. It asks for a declaratory judgment on the rights and duties of CIC-VT in regards to the defendants (17 parishes and TECSC).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">June 28 --- The South Carolina Supreme Court denied TECSC's petition for a Writ of Mandamus (see March 20).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">July 2 --- Judge Edgar Dickson, of the circuit court, scheduled a hearing on the Betterments suit, on July 23 at the Calhoun County courthouse, St. Matthews SC (see Nov. 19, 2017).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">July 18 --- TECSC filed in the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, the following (see June 14): "TECSC's Memorandum of Law in Support of and in Opposition to the Following: (1)TECSC's Motion to Dismiss CIC-VT's Counterclaim and Third-Party Complaint in Case N. 2:19-CV-01672-RMG [July 6, 2019]; (2) TECSC's Motion to Dismiss CIC-VT's Complaint in Case No. 2:19-CV-01713-RMG [July 6, 2019]; (3) CIC-VT's Motion for Joinder in Case No. 2:19-CV-01672-RMG [July 6, 2019]; (4) CIC-VT's Motion for Consolidation in Case No. 2:19-CV-01672-RMG [July 6, 2019]; (5) CIC-VT's Motion for Consolidation in Case No. 2:19-CV-01713-RMG [July 5, 2019]" In this, TECSC asked the court to dismiss all of CIC-VT's various court petitions.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">July 23 --- Judge Edgar Dickson held a hearing on DSC's "Betterments" lawsuit, in the Calhoun County courthouse, St. Matthews SC. Dickson implemented the first of the three majority rulings of the SCSC Aug. 2, 2017 decision. After hearing arguments from both sides, he set the Betterments suit aside and asked the two parties to go to mediation of all of the six petitions before him.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">August 28 --- Judge Dickson informed the two sets of lawyers that he would deny TECSC's motion for dismissal of DSC's Betterments suit. (see Sept. 9)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 9 --- Judge Dickson issued "Order Denying Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Second Amended Complaint" denying TEC/TECSC's motion to dismiss DSC's Betterments suit.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 11 --- TECSC filed "Answer of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina" to DSC's "Amended Complaint" (Betterments suit) of Nov. 20, 2019. (see Nov. 20, 2017)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 13 --- DSC newsletter announced DSC priest, the Rev. David Barr, to become Associate Rector of St. George's Episcopal Church, in the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee, on Oct. 1, 2019.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 19 --- Judge Richard Gergel, of the U.S. District Court, in Charleston issued three orders in the case of <i>vonRosenberg v. Lawrence</i>. (See Mar. 5, 2013)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">(1) Order and Opinion, 73 p. Concerning diocese. Declared the Episcopal Church diocese as the heir of the historic diocese and permanently banned the breakaway group using the names and insignia of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">(2) Order and Opinion, 18 p. Concerning parishes. Allowed the breakaway parishes to retain their names but banned parish officials from using the names and insignia of the Episcopal Diocese of SC.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">(3) Order and Opinion, 27 p. Concerning expert witnesses. Excluded three from breakaway side and one from Church side.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">By judges's order, the diocese formerly known as the Episcopal Church in South Carolina is now the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and the Diocese of South Carolina. The group that formerly called itself the Diocese of South Carolina will have to adopt a new name.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">(From here on, the Episcopal Church diocese will be EDSC and breakaway diocese will be referred to as ADSC.)</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 19 --- TEC and its diocese filed "Notice of Motion and Motion for Reconsideration," with circuit court judge Edgar Dickson. This asked Dickson to reconsider his denial (see Sept. 9) and to dismiss the Betterments suit.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 20 --- Breakaway Standing Committee adopted new name, "Anglican Diocese of South Carolina." Internet website and Facebook pages changed to remove Episcopal Church titles and insignia.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">September 26 --- Mediation session conducted by attorney Thomas Wills, in Charleston. After day-long talks between the two sets of lawyers, Wills declared an Impasse. The matter now returns to the circuit court judge, Edgar Dickson, who had ordered the mediation.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">October 4 --- Thomas Tisdale, chancellor of EDSC, sent a letter to circuit court Judge Edgar Dickson requesting a hearing on the implementation of the SCSC decision.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">October 7 --- ADSC filed "Notice of Appeal" with Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, in Richmond, to appeal Judge Gergel's Order of 19 September. Also filed on Oct. 18, 2019.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">October 21 --- Thomas Tisdale, chancellor of EDSC, sent a second letter (see Oct. 4) to Judge Edgar Dickson requesting a hearing on the implementation of the SCSC decision.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">October 28 --- Judge Edgar Dickson notified the two sets of lawyers he would hold a hearing on 26 November 2019, 10:00 a.m. in the Orangeburg County Courthouse.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 11 --- Episcopal Diocese of SC and TEC filed "Petition to Enforce the Injunction" with the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, asking the court to stop the breakaway group from claiming to be the historic diocese (see Dec. 18).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 18 --- U.S. District Judge Gergel issued "Order and Opinion" in the Church Insurance Company case. He dismissed CIC-VT's counterclaim and third party complaint and called for TECSC to file a brief within 10 days explaining its claims against CIC-VT.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 20 --- ADSC lawyers filed "Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' Petition to Enforce the Injunction" (see Nov. 11) with Judge Gergel.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 25 --- EDSC lawyers file "Reply to Response to Petition to Enforce the Injunction" (see Nov. 11, Nov. 20) with Judge Gergel.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 25 --- ADSC lawyers filed "Motion to Stay Pending Appeal" with Judge Gergel. (see Dec. 6, 18).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 25 --- Church lawyers Thomas Tisdale and Mary Kostel sent a letter to Judge Dickson summarizing the whole case before the judge.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">November 26 --- Judge Dickson held a third hearing, in the Orangeburg courthouse. He said he would ask the state supreme court for clarification of its Aug. 2, 2017 decision and invited the lawyers to contribute to it.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 6 --- EDSC lawyers filed "Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants' <u>Motion to Stay Pending Appeal</u>" with Judge Gergel (see Nov. 25, Dec. 18).</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 18 --- U.S. District Court Judge Richard Gergel issued "Order and Opinion" denying a stay (see Nov. 25, Dec. 6) and granting some parts and denying other parts of EDSC's Nov. 11 petition for enforcement of the injunction.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 23 --- ADSC filed "Defendants-Appellants' Motion to Stay Injunction and the Stay Case" with the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. This asked the Court to stay Judge Gergel's Injunction (see Sept. 19, Dec. 18) and to stay the case in the appeals court pending the resolution of a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, <i>U.S. Patent & Trademark Office v. Booking.com</i>. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 23 --- ADSC filed "Order Granting Motion for Clarification" with Judge Edgar Dickson, of the circuit court. In Nov. 26 hearing, Dickson asked the two sides to submit proposed orders on ADSC's Motion for Clarification of Jurisdiction. In this proposal, ADSC is asking Dickson to discard the SCSC decision and declare the parishes to be sole owners of the properties.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">EDSC also sumbitted its proposed order to Judge Dickson asking him to deny ADSC's motion on clarification.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 30 --- EDSC and TEC filed "Appellees' Response in Opposition to Appellants' Motion to Stay Injunction and to Stay Case" with the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (see Dec. 23). This asked the court to deny ADSC's motions for the two stays.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">December 31 --- Bishop Skip Adams ended his tenure as provisional bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>2020</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 14 --- The U.S. Court of Appeals denied ADSC's motions for stays (see Dec. 23, 30, 2019).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 15 --- EDSC announced that the Rt. Rev. Henry Parsley, Jr., would be part-time visiting bishop of the diocese.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January 23 --- EDSC Standing Committee announced it would not choose a provisional bishop but would start the search process to find the next diocesan bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. The last diocesan bishop was removed on Dec. 5, 2012.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February 14 --- Judge Dickson informed the two sets of lawyers he would hold a hearing on 27 February at the Orangeburg courthouse to discuss EDSC's three outstanding motions on implementation of the SCSC decision of Aug. 2, 2017.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February 21 --- EDSC lawyers filed "Petition for a Writ of Prohibition," with the SCSC asking the court to prohibit Judge Dickson from litigating issues settled in the SCSC decision of August 2, 2017. (See Mar. 31, 2020)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February 27 --- Judge Dickson held his fourth hearing. This one discussed EDSC's motions for the implementation of the SCSC decision of Aug. 2, 2107. He issued no decision.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 12---ADSC postponed its annual meeting that had been scheduled for Mar. 13-14, until further notice because of the COVID-19 pandemic. EDSC issued a directive against shaking hands at church and reminding churchgoers that drinking from the common cup is optional at communion.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 16 --- In response to the COVID-19 crisis, EDSC and ADSC announced cancellation of in-person church services at least until the end of March. Several parishes will provide electronic transmission of church services.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 24 --- EDSC announced churches closed for in-person services until 30 April.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 31 --- The SCSC denied EDSC lawyers' petition for writ of prohibition. (See Feb. 21, 2020)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 23 --- EDSC standing committee announced hold on the timeline in the search for new diocesan bishop.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 24 --- EDSC standing committee announced that, owing to the pandemic, churches would remain closed indefinitely.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 30 --- Lawyers for ADSC filed "Brief of Appellants" with the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit asking the court to reverse Judge Gergel's decision of Sept. 19, 2019. (EDSC responding brief due July 1, 2020.)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 7 --- ADSC issued guidelines for the re-opening of churches.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 15 --- EDSC issued guidelines fore the re-opening of churches after June 1.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>May 22 --- Texas Supreme Court issues decision in favor of the breakaway diocese in the case of Fort Worth.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 19 --- Circuit Court Judge Dickson issued an "Order" nullifying the SC Supreme Court decision of Aug. 2, 2017, which recognized Episcopal Church ownership of 28 of the 36 parishes in question, as well as Church diocesan ownership of Camp St. Christopher. Dickson refused the Remittitur from the SCSC, and instead contradicted the SCSC finding that the 28 had acceded to the Dennis Canon. Dickson's decision is certain to be appealed to the SC Court of Appeals.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 29 --- EDSC lawyers filed "Defendants' Motion for Reconsideration and to Alter or Amend," with Circuit Court Judge Edgar Dickson petitioning the judge to reconsider his June 19 Order.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 2 --- EDSC filed "Appellees' Brief" with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The ADSC filed its brief on Apr. 30. ADSC has until July 22 to file a response to EDSC's brief.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 9 --- Bishop Mark Lawrence, of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, announces call for a bishop coadjutor.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 13 --- Judge Dickson issued an "Order" denying EDSC's request for reconsideration (see June 29).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 13 --- EDSC lawyers filed an appeal ("Notice of Appeal") of Judge Dickson's June 19 Order, overturning the SCSC decision of Aug. 2, 2017, with the circuit court. This was received in the SC Court of Appeals on same day. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 13 --- EDSC lawyers filed "Defendants' Motion to Confirm Stay or, in the Alternative, for Supersedeas" with Judge Dickson of the circuit court. This asked the judge to stay (suspend) his Order of June 19 pending the appeal.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 15 --- ADSC lawyers filed "Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Confirm Stay or, in the Alternative, for Supersedeas" with Judge Dickson of the circuit court. This asked the court to deny EDSC's July 13 motion for a stay.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 16 --- EDSC lawyers filed "Defendants' Reply Memorandum Regarding Motion to Confirm Stay or, in the Alternative, for Supersedeas" with Judge Dickson of the circuit court. This argued against ADSC's memorandum of July 15 that opposed a stay. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 22 --- ADSC lawyers filed "Supplemental Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Confirm Stay or, the the Alternative, for Supersedeas," with Judge Dickson of the circuit court. (see July 13, 15, 16, 30)</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 22 --- ADSC lawyers filed "Reply Brief of Appellants," with the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. This was in response to EDSC's brief of July 2.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 27 --- TEC/TECSC filed "Notice of Appeal" with the South Carolina Supreme Court. This asks the court to accept the appeal of Judge Dickson's Order of 19 June 2020. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July 30 --- TEC/TECSC filed "Defendants' Reply to Plaintiffs' Supplemental Memorandum in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Confirm Stay or, in the Alternative, for the Supersedeas," with Judge Dickson of the circuit court. (see July 13, 15, 16, 22)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 8 --- The South Carolina Supreme Court agreed to take the appeal of Judge Dickson's Order (see July 27).<br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>September 10 --- Church lawyers filed "Second Petition to Enforce the Injunction," with U.S. District Court Judge Richard Gergel citing 27 violations of his Sept. 17, 2019 injunction against the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina and asking the judge to enforce his ruling. The First Petition was on December 18, 2019.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>September 24 --- ADSC filed "Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' Second Petition to Enforce the Injunction." (see Sept. 10)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 1, 2020 --- Church lawyers filed "Plaintiffs' Reply to Defendants' Opposition to Second Petition to Enforce the Injunction," with Judge Richard Gergel (see Sept. 10, Sept. 24).</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 13 --- The U.S. Court of Appeals set a hearing of ADSC's appeal of Judge Gergel's decision, between Dec. 4 and 14, 2020.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 16 --- ADSC filed "Motion to Stay Case" with the U.S. Court of Appeals asking the court to stay the case until the South Carolina Supreme Court rules on EDSC's appeal of Judge Dickson's order.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 19 --- TEC and its diocese of Ft. Worth filed "Petition for a Writ of Certiorari" with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the court to accept an appeal of the Texas Supreme Court decision of May 22, 2020. (See Dec. 23)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 27 --- Judge Gergel, of the U.S. District Court, in Charleston, issued "Order and Opinion" finding ADSC in contempt of court on use of name of the Church diocese (see Sept. 10, Sept. 24, Oct. 1). Second enforcement of Sept. 19, 2019 Injunction.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>October 29 --- The U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, granted ADSC's motion for a stay of its appeal pending a decision of the South Carolina Supreme Court.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>November 12 --- EDSC filed "Initial Brief of Appellants" and "Designation of Matter to be Included in the Record on Appeal" with the South Carolina Supreme Court (see July 27, Aug. 8, Feb. 12, 2021).</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>November 20-21 --- 230th meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, held virtually.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>December 23 --- The breakaway diocese of Ft. Worth submitted its brief to U.S. Supreme Court in response to TEC's petititon for cert, of Oct. 19.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2021</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">February 12 --- ADSC filed "Initial Brief of Respondents" with the South Carolina Supreme Court in reply to EDSC's Nov. 12 brief. (See July 27, 2020)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">February 22 --- U.S. Supreme Court announced denial of cert in the case of Ft. Worth. (See Oct. 19, 2020)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">March 4 --- EDSC filed "Initial Reply Brief of Appellants" with South Carolina Supreme Court," in reply to ADSC's brief of Feb. 12, 2021.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">April 12-14 --- Walkabouts/Conversations of the five nominees for election of EDSC bishop.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">April 22 --- ADSC filed "Brief of Respondents" (final brief) with SCSC.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">April 26 --- EDSC filed "Reply Brief of Appellants (final brief) with SCSC.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">April 26 --- EDSC filed "Record on Appeal" with SCSC. Full record of case, 19 vols., 9,016 pages.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">May 1 --- Ruth Woodliff-Stanley elected as XV bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">May 3 --- Briefing and Record Complete in appeal to SCSC.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">May 7 --- U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, affirmed District Court ruling that EDSC lacked standing in its action against the church insurance company.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">July 2 --- Majority consents of bishops and standing committees for bishop-elect Woodliff-Stanley.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">August 2 --- ADSC announced slate of three candidates for election of bishop coadjutor.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">August 16 --- Bishop-elect Woodliff-Stanley establishes residence in the DSC.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">October 2 --- Ruth Woodliff-Stanley ordained and consecrated XV bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, in Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston. She is the first diocesan bishop of DSC since Mark Lawrence was removed on December 5, 2012. The service was led by the Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">October 16 --- Charles "Chip" Edgar III elected bishop coadjutor of ADSC. Will replace Mark Lawrence as II bishop of ADSC.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">November 12-13 --- 231st meeting of the convention of the Diocese of South Carolina. First to be presided over by Bishop Woodliff-Stanley.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">December 8 --- SCSC hearing on TEC's appeal of Judge Dickson's Order.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2022</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">February 3 --- SCSC asked lawyers of both sides to submit the minutes of the diocesan convention of 1987. (This convention adopted a "Dennis Canon" recognizing trusteeship of TEC and the Diocese over local church property.) </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">February 7 --- Bert Utsey, lawyer for TEC side, submitted to SCSC the diocesan convention journal of 1987 showing the Diocese of South Carolina's adoption of "Dennis Canon." </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">February 8 --- C. Alan Runyan, lead lawyer for ADSC, sent a letter to SCSC objecting to the consideration of the 1987 diocesan journal.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">February 9 --- Bert Utsey sent a letter to the SCSC asking for guidance on responding to Runyan's objection.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">March 11 --- 10th annual meeting of ADSC, at St. James, Charleston. Bishop Lawrence made his final address. He will be succeeded by "Chip" Edgar.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">March 12 --- "Chip" Edgar ordained/consecrated bishop coadjutor of ADSC, in Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul, in Charleston.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">April 20 --- SC Supreme Court issued decision in Episcopal Church appeal of Judge Dickson's order: 15 parishes own their properties; 14 parishes owned by Episcopal Church; Camp St. Christopher and all pre-schism diocesan properties owned by Episcopal diocese; titles to be determined by federal court.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">April 22 --- Bishop Edgar met with Bishop Woodliff Stanley at the EDSC office in Grace Church, Charleston.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">May 5 --- Eight of the 14 parishes to be returned to TEC filed petitions for rehearing with SCSC. No other party involved in the lawsuit requested rehearing. (see June 8)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">May 19 --- Bishop Woodliff-Stanley revealed that talks were underway between delegations from the two dioceses for "orderly transition" of property transfers.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">May 27 --- Episcopal lawyers filed motion with SCSC for Partial Remittitur. They asked the court to remit orders to the circuit court for the transfer of property of the six parishes that did not file for rehearing. (see May 5)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">June 8 --- SCSC posted an undated [June 7?] Order requesting the Episcopal Church side to present counter-arguments to 7 of the 8 petitions for rehearing by 20 June. The court denied Christ Church, of Mt. Pleasant, and kept open consideration of some claims of the other 7. (See May 5)</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">June 8 --- SCSC granted TEC's motion for a partial remittitur (see May 27). SCSC sent Remittitur Order to the circuit court directing that seven parishes be returned to the Episcopal Church and that fifteen parishes be allowed to own their properties, per the decision of April 20, 2022.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">June 10 --- ADSC lawyers filed Amended Complaint with the circuit court requesting betterments payments from the Episcopal side for improvements to diocesan properties and properties of the 14 parishes to be returned to TEC.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">June 20 --- Episcopal lawyers filed with SCSC a Return arguing against rehearing. They said the issues involved have already been settled by the court.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">June 27 --- ADSC lawyers filed two Replies, with SCSC, to EDSC's Return of June 20.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">July 15 --- Lawyers for St. John's parish, TEC, and the Episcopal Diocese of SC filed "Agreement between the Vestry and Church Wardens of the Episcopal Church of the Parish of St. John's Charleston County and the Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church in South Carolina" with the circuit court. The property of St. John's is to be conveyed to TEC and its diocese.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">July 17 --- St. John's parish church, Johns Island, Charleston, returned to Episcopal Church services. This was the first parish to return to the Episcopal diocese. Six more are to be returned while seven others are still to be determined by the SCSC.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">July 21 --- The Diocese of SC announced that the Rev. Furman Buchanan, presently rector of St. Perter's, in Greenville SC, will become priest-in-charge of Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant at the restoration. The present clergy of Christ Church have announced they will hold their last service there on Aug. 28, 2022.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">July 28-August 8 --- Bishop Woodliff-Stanley attends Lambeth Conference and endorses pro-homosexual rights statement.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">August 17 --- SC Supreme Court issued an Order and an Opinion granting local properties to six of the seven parishes that had asked for rehearing. One parish was recognized as Episcopal Church property. This meant that 8 of the 36 parishes of the original lawsuit were to be returned to the Episcopal Church.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 1 --- TEC and EDSC lawyers filed "Motion for Relief from Judgment" and "Petition for Rehearing" with the SC Supreme Court concerning two parishes, Old St. Andrew's and Holy Cross (Stateburg). They asked the SCSC to either reverse their Aug. 17 order on these two or reopen the case. The lawyers claimed both parishes had acceded to the Dennis Canon before 2006.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 1 --- Church of the Good Shepherd, Charleston, filed for rehearing with the SC Supreme Court.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 12 --- Lawyers for Old St. Andrew's and Holy Cross each filed "Return to Motion for Relief from Judgment" with SCSC. These argued against the TEC Motion of Sept. 1.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 14 --- SCSC granted time extension to TEC side, to 30 September, for filing of reply to the Sept. 12 returns.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 18 --- Episcopal clergy held services in restored parish of Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant. This was the third parish returned to the Episcopal diocese of SC (after St. John's, of Johns Island, and St. David's, of Cheraw).</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 18 --- ACNA congregation of Holy Trinity, Charleston, began meeting at Porter-Gaud School. EDSC did not announce plans for reopening of Holy Trinity.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 21 --- Anglican diocese's Newsletter announced negotiations between two sides for Anglican purchase of St. Matthew's, of Ft. Motte, and the rectory of St. David's, Cheraw.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 26 --- Episcopal and Anglican bishops announced agreements on some issues in contention between the dioceses. One was for Anglicans to withdraw their appeal of Judge Gergel's ruling. This would end dispute of ownership of the pre-schism diocese in favor of the Episcopal diocese as the only heir of the historic diocese.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 29 --- Lawyers for TEC and ECSC file "Reply to Returns to Motion for Relief from Judgment" with SCSC.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 29 --- ADSC announced Jerusalem Fund to raise $1m for the eight congregations leaving Episcopal properties.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">October 1 --- Camp St. Christopher returned to Episcopal diocese of SC. It had been occupied by the separatists since 2012.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">October 29 --- EDSC announced that it had made an agreement to sell St. Matthew's church, of Ft. Motte, to the present occupants. This was one of the eight parishes that the SCSC recognized as belonging to the Episcopal diocese.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">October 30 --- Restoration of TEC at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Hartsville. ACNA congregation starts meeting at 107 N. 8th St., Hartsville.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">November 18-19 --- 232nd convention of the Diocese of South Carolina, North Charleston. Admitted Episcopal Church on Edisto as a parish.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">November 20 --- ACNA congregation held last service in St. James Episcopal Church, James Island, Charleston SC. Starting on Nov. 27, this congregation will meet at James Island Town Hall, 1122 Dills Bluff Road, James Island. Episcopal services will resume at St. James on Dec. 4.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">November 30 --- ADSC announced that the EDSC had agreed to turn over the deeds of three missions (St. Andrew's Mission, Charleston; St. John's Chapel, Charleston; St. Alban's, Blackville) to the local congregations.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">December 4 --- Restoration of St. James parish, on James Island, Charleston.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">December 20 --- Christ Church Anglican, the separatist contingent from Christ Church parish, of Mt. Pleasant, announced they had received a gift from a parishioner of $3.2m and had bought a parcel of land on Faison Rd. in North Mt. Pleasant. They expect to build a new building on the property. </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2023</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">March 30 --- Bp. Woodliff-Stanley announced the Diocese of SC had decided to sell the property of Holy Trinity Church, 95 Folly Road, Charleston, one of the eight local churches the SCSC returned to the Episcopal diocese.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">May 24 --- SC Supreme Court denied the petitions of September 1, 2022. This returns Good Shepherd to the Episcopal diocese and gives local property to Old St. Andrew's and Holy Cross (Stateburg). The SCSC decision of today ended its role in the church case.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September --- The Anglican congregation of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, West Ashley, Charleston, announced a new meeting place as of Sept. 10, the Northbridge Baptist Church, 1160 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. The SCSC returned Good Shepherd to the Episcopal diocese finally in 2022 and dismissed the appeal in 2023. The disposition of GS completed the settlement of the parish properties in the schism.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">September 15 --- ADSC announced it had made a contract to buy 80 acres on Lady's Island, in Beaufort County, for a camp.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">2024</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> March 9 --- ADSC held annual meeting. Voted down three resolutions to adopt gender neutral language in the diocesan constitution and canons.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong>IMPORTANT DATES AHEAD</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Pending. Circuit court's implementation of partial Remittitur, sent by SCSC on June 8, 2022, restoring property to Episcopal diocese, and Remittitur of May 24, 2023.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pending. ADSC's suit in circuit court for betterments on properties returned to Episcopal Church.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>June 23-28, 2024. 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Louisville KY. Diocese of South Carolina delegates: CLERGY Adam Shoemaker, Denise Trogdon, Wilmot Merchant, Ramelle McCall; LAITY Andrea McKellar, Deb Harris, Sarah Tipton, Joshua Bullock.</b></span></div>
Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-60773290123715104282024-02-10T15:26:00.005-06:002024-02-11T17:10:08.159-06:00<p><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b>NOTES --- FEBRUARY 10, 2024</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let's face it, dear reader, much of the news of late has been disturbing, even worrisome. Moreover, it comes from many different sources. Of course, in a few days we will get a new wallop when we are told we are only dust and will return to the dust. In such circumstances it can be hard to keep going in good cheer. But, go we must.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">First, the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina has come under a withering bombardment of criticism from the avowed misogynists of the anti-Episcopal world since the managers of the Mere Anglicanism conference last month bounced a speaker. One has only to scan over the entries in anglican.ink and YouTube to see the reactions, almost all against ADSC. The ADSC did the wrong thing and then the right thing and they are paying a price for it all. The wrong thing was to invite the speaker in the first place. They should have vetted him. The right thing was to cut off their losses in the middle of the conference and defend the rights of women in the life of the church. Now that the ADSC has reaffirmed the rights of women to ordination to Deacon and Priest, let's see some action on that. How about getting more women into the ordained ministry? Only a few days ago, the ADSC ordained seven new deacons, six men and one woman, and she was for another diocese. C'mon ADSC, you can do a lot better about including women in the life of the church. Considering your declining membership, I would say you need it.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Apparently, the reason the conference managers invited the speaker was to have him denounce Critical Race Theory, the body of thought that racism is deeply embedded in America and has had a negative effect on the lives of minorities, African American in particular. The counter-revolutionaries have opposed this theory from the start and insisted there is no racism in America. Thank goodness, the speaker avoided talking about the theory in the conference. This would have been a gross obscenity considering that only a few short blocks from the Charleston Music Hall stands the Mother Emanuel Church, where, in 2015, a white supremacist murdered nine people because they were blacks. He said he wanted to start a race war where whites would rise up and kill blacks. If that is not racism, nothing is. In fact, racism in America is one of the best documented subjects in all of history. The counter-revolutionaries' charge that there is no racism in America is beyond absurd and tells us more about the people who would hold such thoughts than about history.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shifting gears, all of a sudden there is a spate of news about prostate cancer, something that a lot of men are reluctant to discuss. Actually, it is rather common among older men. When King Charles was treated for an enlarged prostate, doctors discovered the presence of cancer in nearby tissue. He is now undergoing treatment for that although the news is sketchy. The Secretary of Defense Austin was so shy about the prostate, he went to the hospital for days without telling anyone, not even the president who was not amused. We also learned that Dexter King, a son of MLKing, Jr. recently died of prostate cancer at age 62. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">There is a simple blood test that tracks a "PSA number." Every man over 60 should have the test regularly. If caught soon enough, many issues of the prostate can be resolved successfully. I do not mind telling you, dear reader, that prostate cancer runs in my family and I have inherited it. I have been having treatments for the past six years. I am still here, and, other than losing weight, I am not experiencing any debilitating effects. Thank God my doctors caught my problem early on and moved immediately. If we had delayed, the outcome could have been very different. I thank God every day for the miracles of modern medicine.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shifting gears again, the counter-revolutionary forces on the national scene scored big victories over the democratic forces in recent days. The wannabe dictator has taken control of the Republican Party. The Republican senators scuttled their own hard-fought border bill just because Trump demanded it. Spineless cowards all. Over in the House, the Trumpistas are busy trying to impeach anyone connected to Biden while ignoring the business of the people. Most disturbingly, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court fell all over each other to keep Trump on the ballot in Colorado. The saddest of all was to see the four pro-democratic-revolution justices racing to line up with the enemies of democracy. SCOTUS is in Trump's pocket too. If Trump wins in November, he could very well have control of the Senate, the House, and the Supreme Court. That's adios to the Constitution. That's adios to democracy. That's hello to fascist America. We are not there yet even though the signs are ominous. I will not give up on the common sense of the American people. Biden may be old, but he is a sane and decent man. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So, this has been a rather difficult week. But, let's not end it in despair. We must refuse to be vanquished by the powers of darkness. We must uphold the light. For a lift-me-up, today I watched the ordination to the diaconate of Eric Bash, at Grace, in Charleston. What a wonderful festival! First, it was good to see Bishop Ruth making her way down the aisle and up the steps. If her back was giving her pain, she never showed it.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfY0-YyrAw6yQmXXr0NGKIT_YW4FWvU2jqT-vFJLUMW_ouCI40UlISFBGtfN1dlchDuUkUG9WJ1qxEk7dT8JUzcx-WQab4txx36PNIkHzmVYgu7ppvNNn-nHO-nuDb9DF_1JAxJ6L_NaGYpN94AXhlRpWcqOqWA4veDtL-eKYM-1k9Smay8xM4nHi/s5312/20240210_123903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="5312" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfY0-YyrAw6yQmXXr0NGKIT_YW4FWvU2jqT-vFJLUMW_ouCI40UlISFBGtfN1dlchDuUkUG9WJ1qxEk7dT8JUzcx-WQab4txx36PNIkHzmVYgu7ppvNNn-nHO-nuDb9DF_1JAxJ6L_NaGYpN94AXhlRpWcqOqWA4veDtL-eKYM-1k9Smay8xM4nHi/w640-h360/20240210_123903.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">One thing I do when I am feeling a little discouraged is to remind myself I am not alone and I am part of something much bigger than myself. The church has been around for 2,000 years. It will be around for many more years to come, and long after all of us have died. That is what ceremonies like that of today tell us and that is always good to know. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-29102787142893682532024-01-26T14:47:00.000-06:002024-01-26T14:47:39.409-06:00<p><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b>THANK YOU, JANET ECHOLS AND JOY HUNTER</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let's give credit where it is due, and today that is to Janet Echols and Joy Hunter, at least according to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xaqeyv8nW1w">TESTIMONY</a> of the Rev. Calvin Robinson (see @ 22).</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">First, a little background as we are learning more about the brouhaha of last weekend at the Mere Anglicanism conference in Charleston. On Friday, Robinson gave his talk. Find it <a href="https://calvinrobinson.substack.com/p/cancelled-from-mere-anglicanism">HERE</a> . Robinson said he was invited to the conference by Jeff Miller, the manager, in order to speak about "Critical Theory." Robinson is biracial and used to sport an outsized afro, which he has cut into a close crew cut. Given his over-the-top conservatism on virtually every subject, Robinson believed he was invited to serve as the "token" black who would be sure to bash civil rights. He said that what Miller really wanted was for him to bash "Critical Race Theory" a present-day talking point of counter-revolutionary forces in the culture war. Instead, in his talk, Robinson turned to attack "feminism" and lay the blame for all present-day ills on this supposedly evil movement. Miller was not amused. Some people walked out of the talk. However, Robinson said that right after the talk Miller was fine with it and made light of it all. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the women in the audience were not fine with it and did not make light of it all. They were appalled. Not only had Robinson denounced women's ordination, he also laid the blame for every social malady of the day on women, ("feminism"). Apparently some people were so disgusted and offended they went to Miller and Bishop Edgar and demanded that Robinson be removed from the rest of the program. This had never happened at a Mere Anglicanism conference.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Rev. Janet Echols was one who was upset enough to do something. She is the head of the diocesan deacon training program. Robinson said that at 5:30 the next morning she started a barrage of demanding emails of "interrogation" followed by more questions. It was so much that Robinson cut off her emails. Then, when he went to the coffee shop, Joy Hunter, diocesan communications director, confronted him "clearly upset," and "very hostile." She called him "juvenile" to his face. Thus, Robinson said, "the feminists were out to get me."</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">That morning Miller and Edgar brought Robinson into a meeting, which Robinson recorded and has promised to release in due course. They told him he could stay but would not be allowed to participate in the program. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Robinson said he was "cancelled" by the radical "feminists" who did not like his truthful remarks in his talk. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And, finally came the race card. Robinson said that "class issues were at play here." Insert race for class. This was curious coming from a man who had very vocally decried racism as a liberal falsehood. (The ills of society were not caused by racism, but by feminism.)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Robinson is now getting his revenge against Miller, Edgar and the ADSC for cancelling him. He is all over the Internet telling his side of the story and gaining a lot of support and sympathy (check out YouTube) at the South Carolinians' expense. Indeed, this incident has greatly boosted his exposure in the "orthodox" "Anglican" world. Over the recent years he has developed a cottage industry of appearing on the Internet and giving talks in person. He spews out outrageous opinions guaranteed to provoke others and gain Trumpesque attention for himself.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here are my thoughts about this incident, as of what I know now:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---Robinson is a flame-thrower, a provocateur. The manager knew that when he invited him. When one asks a flame-thrower into one's house, he or she can expect flames. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---Apparently, Miller wanted Robinson to denounce civil rights. He refused and denounced women. This left both Miller and some women furious.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---Robinson's only expertise was in computer programming. He had no credentials to speak on the subjects he chose. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---Thanks go to Janet Echols, Joy Hunter, and the other women who stood up to this chauvinist bully. But where were you in 2017 when the diocese voted unanimously to join the misogynist Anglican Church in North America? Not one woman spoke up against joining a group that refused equality in the church to women. If women are good enough to be priests in the church, they are good enough to be bishops. It is just simple common sense.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---Thanks too to Bishop Edgar for finally admitting that the church can hold more than one view on controversial issues. If this is true for women, it has to be true too for gays. At least we have a start.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---Better late than never. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done in the ADSC to reach true equality and inclusion in the church for all of God's children. It is not our place to stand in judgment. It is our place to love them as our neighbors. No one is beyond redemption and I find the events of last weekend encouraging. It's a good start. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---I assume we will not see any Robinsons at next year's Mere Anglicanism. That's another good start.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-20518690616251221382024-01-25T15:00:00.003-06:002024-01-25T16:04:55.768-06:00<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE STRANGE BROUHAHA AT THE CHARLESTON MUSIC HALL</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The annual conference called "Mere Anglicanism" met last weekend at the Charleston Music Hall, organized and led mostly by clergy of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. It produced quite a little dust-up, strangely enough not by what speakers said but about what one was prevented from saying. Given the history of the schism and the ADSC, this is saying a lot.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">First of all this is not an Anglican conference. Of the nine <a href="https://www.mereanglicanism.org/conference-speakers">SPEAKERS</a> identified, I could count only one or two who were members of the Anglican Communion. Second, this conference historically is a love-fest of counter-revolutionary, anti-Episcopal forces out to reinforce each other in their reactionary social and cultural views cloaked in religion. I must confess, I have never attended one of these conferences because I do not think I could sit through something so far afield from the classical Anglicanism I love.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So, the invited speakers are always a bit outspoken in their highly conservative views. That is to be expected. That is why what happened this year is so strange. As far as I can tell, here is what occurred:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">One of the invited speakers was the Rev. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Robinson">CALVIN ROBINSON</a> . A simple glance at his Wikipedia page should have raised red flags. He was a high school computer teacher who decided on Holy Orders but was rejected by the Church of England. He joined a small denomination called the Nordic Catholic Church. All the while he made a name for himself as a highly outspoken and opinionated social and cultural reactionary apparently decrying every aspect of what he considered "liberalism," which he seems to blanket identify as "Marxism." Among many other things, he is vehemently opposed to women's ordination. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">From what I gather, he gave his scheduled talk and was preparing for the panel discussion of speakers on the last day when he was suddenly "disinvited" to take part in it. What he was about to say about women's ordination did not pass muster with the conference managers. He went on to post a long accounting of the whole event. Find it <a href="https://calvinrobinson.substack.com/p/cancelled-from-mere-anglicanism">HERE</a> . Apparently everything he does not like is "Marxist." I stopped when he said there was no racism. It was all made up by liberals. Really? As a person who grew up in the Jim Crow South, I could him a thing or two about racism.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">There was enough disturbance that Bishop Edgar felt compelled to issue a <a href="https://adosc.org/a-pastoral-letter-from-bishop-chip-edgar/">PASTORAL LETTER</a> about this strange incident. Why was one of the nine speakers of the conference censored? Edgar rushed to the defense of the women in the church in a letter dripping with hypocrisy. The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina has a well-known history of misogyny. No women has ever been rector of a large or medium parish. No woman has ever been chair of a major diocesan committee, e.g. the Standing Committee. Women have never held a majority of seats on any major diocesan committee. In 2017, the ADSC joined the Anglican Church in North America, a new denomination partially set up to keep women from being bishops (holding authority over men). There will never be a woman bishop of ADSC, at least as long as it is in the ACNA. Women are now and apparently always will be second-class citizens in the ADSC. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What stood out the most about the hypocrisy of the letter was the assertion that the church could have "dual integrities." He meant on whether women should be allowed ordination. He said it was fine for church people to have diametrically opposed stands on women's ordination. If the church can hold two different views on this, why not on homosexuality? All the Episcopal Church asked was for everyone to respect the "integrities" of others whether they agreed with them or not. If a church can have "dual integrities" for women, could not it have the same for homosexuals? Of course. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, the truth is the ADSC is identified in lower South Carolina as the bunch of disgruntled Episcopalians who refused to accept equality and inclusion of women and gays in the life of the church. No amount of cancelling, or issuing pastoral letters, can change what has already been established. Of course, the ADSC could grant women and gays equality and inclusion but it would have to leave ACNA and repudiate its own <i>raison d'être</i>, something that is not likely in the foreseeable future.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-3769341340757393942024-01-21T20:24:00.004-06:002024-01-21T20:33:00.120-06:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>DETAILS OF ADSC MEMBERSHIP CHANGES IN THE DECADE AFTER THE SCHISM</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina prepares for its annual meeting in March, it is worthwhile to review membership trends in the decade since the schism of 2012. We know that the ADSC has seen a significant decline in membership overall, but what can we tell about the details of the decline provided by the ADSC in its parochial <a href="https://adosc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ParochialReportStatisticalAnalysis.2012-2022.pdf">REPORT</a> on its website? Quite a bit as it turns out.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How many people have left the (50-53) local churches of the diocese yearly and how many have arrived in the post-schism decade of 2013-2022?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For this, we will consider the "Baptized members" category as listed in the annual parochial reports. This is not the best metric of church membership since it includes every baptized person who had any relationship with the local church regardless of whether he or she ever attended a service. Nevertheless, we will give the benefit of the doubt to ADSC and use the quoted numbers of "Baptized members" for convenience. Here are the reported totals per year with percentage change.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2013 - 23,181 -274 (-1%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2014 - 22,953 -228 (-1%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2015 - 22,149 -804 (-4%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2016 - 21,953 -196 (-1%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2017 - 20,602 -1,351 (-6%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2018 - 20,763 +161 (+1%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2019 - 20,195 -568 (-3%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2020 - 19,597 -598 (-3%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2021 - 19,712 +115 (+1%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2022 - 18,130 -1,582 (-8%)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The data show that overall, the ADSC declined by 5,051 baptized members in the decade after the schism. This was a fall of 22%.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The parochial reports also give the numbers of persons being baptized, confirmed, and received by local churches. Adding all of these together in the decade, we arrive at 7,520. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The number of baptized members leaving the local churches was much greater than the 7,520 number of baptized, confirmed, and received. This would account for the net loss of 5,051, or 22% in the decade. It is impossible to know the exact number of people leaving the local churches because some of the people listed in "confirmations" and "received" would already have been counted among the baptized members. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If we were to count "baptisms," "confirmations," and "received" all as new members, that would mean 12,571 baptized members left the churches in the decade, a number no doubt unreliable. The real differential between members added and members deleted would still be much more than the net loss of 5,051 would show. I expect the actual number of people who left ADSC churches in the decade was in the 8,000-9,000 range. The additions of new members would bring the final loss down to the 5,000 range. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bottom line: there were far more people leaving ADSC churches than joining them in the decade after the schism.</b></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusions:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---The ADSC is in precipitous and ongoing decline in membership. In the decade after the schism, there were only two years of (modest) membership gains. Overall, the ADSC lost one in five of its baptized members in the decade after formation of the ADSC in 2012.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---The ADSC has a serious problem of retention of membership. The number of people who left far exceeded the number of new members.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---In 2017 and again in 2022, the number of baptized members leaving ADSC churches exceeded 1,000. The reasons for the high departures in these two particular years, and only in these years, remain unknown. As for 2017, the major event that year was the decision of ADSC to join the Anglican Church in North America. The ACNA is an independent denomination not in the Anglican Communion. The lead event of 2022 was the consecration of a new bishop, "Chip" Edgar. He had not been a part of the ADSC. The connections between these events, if any, and the unusually high departures in these years would be worthwhile to pursue.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---The rate of decline accelerated after 2016. The problem is not getting better. It is getting worse.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---At 18,000+ baptized members the ADSC is still a viable religious institution although it has declined from the 23,181 members right after the schism. However, at this rate of decline, questions of institutional viability will soon arise and leadership may have to consider alternate paths for the future such as uniting with the ACNA Diocese of the Carolinas, Bishop Edgar's former home.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">---Before the schism of 2012, the Diocese of South Carolina counted 29,236 baptized members. If we combine the two dioceses today we arrive at a total of 25,606 baptized members. This is a drop of 3,630, or 12%. The loss is not balanced between the two parts as the Episcopal diocese has grown by the same rate as the new diocese has declined.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In considering the Episcopal Church schism in South Carolina, we are now in the "results," or last, phase of its history (Causes/Events/Results). Almost all of the big issues have been settled (in the Events phase). </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">To summarize, here is my snapshot view of the results of the schism as they appear today:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. On the whole, the schism was a draw between the two sides. The secessionists got the bulk of the local churches while the Episcopal diocese got the historic diocese and its assets.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. The new diocese has seen relentless decline in membership. The historic diocese has seen a near constant rise in membership.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Most of the assertions and projections the schismatic leaders made before the schism turned out to be wrong. The diocese did not leave the Episcopal Church. The courts ruled that the historic diocese did not secede from the Episcopal Church and that the breakaways in fact formed a new entity. All the local churches in the schism did not leave TEC property in hand. The courts ruled that eight of the 36 local churches in question did not leave the Episcopal Church. Moreover, the new diocese is not part of the Anglican Communion.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. The ADSC has established a well-known identity for itself of homophobia and misogyny by forcing an anti-gay "Statement of Faith" on the whole diocese in 2015 and by joining the Anglican Church in North America in 2017, a denomination created to keep gays and women from equal rights and inclusion in the church. Homophobia and misogyny form the commonly held definition of the ADSC among the general population of lower South Carolina.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">5. The schism was a local aspect of the culture war raging in America between the forces of democratic revolution (Episcopal) and the forces of counter-revolution (anti-Episcopal). The direct cause was the schismatics' opposition to equal rights and inclusion of homosexuals in the life of the church. The schismatics' claim that it was only about "theology" was a trumped-up diversion that fell flat.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">6. The parochial reports only provide data. They do not tell us the reasons for the changes in numbers. If the leaders of the ADSC want their experiment to succeed, it behooves them to find out the reasons for the ominous decline. If the decade after the schism portends the future, the very existence of the ADSC is at stake.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">7. The greatest success of the schism has been for the secessionists to diminish the Episcopal Church in lower South Carolina, once an historic bastion of Episcopalianism in America (Charleston used to be the most Episcopalian city in the country). A diocese, one of the original nine of the Episcopal Church, that once counted 29,000+ members, now lists 7,000+. Considering that the first goal of the anti-Episcopal movement that began in the 1990's was to destroy, or greatly weaken, the Episcopal Church in order to reduce its "liberal" influence in American life, we would have to conclude that the secessionists in South Carolina met a certain amount of success. Their problem now is how to turn that success to their own benefit.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">8. The challenge of the secessionists today is how to morph its negative origins and image into something positive. Given their history and identity, this is a daunting task. So far, they have not built a greater church in coastal South Carolina, one of the fastest growing parts of America. The data show that. Whether they can reverse the trend of decline is the question at hand.</span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-18511621871647646792024-01-19T14:14:00.016-06:002024-01-19T15:47:34.525-06:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b>WHY EVANGELICALS LOVE TRUMP</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Evangelical Christians form the core of the Trump base this year as in past years. In the elections of 2016 and 2020, 80% of them voted for Trump. If anything, at least as many support him this go around. The question at hand is: Why are Evangelical Christians so fervently devoted to Donald Trump? Here is my take on it.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">First, one has to define what we mean by the term "Evangelical Christian." They are the "born again" Protestants such as fundamentalists, pentecostals, conservative mainstream. I would put the Anglican Church in North America in this grouping. However, it is important to note the racial element here. We are talking about white Evangelicals and not black ones. It is the white Evangelicals who are the devoted followers of Trump.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The most fervent of this group see Trump as God's agent in the world, a sort of new messiah sent to redeem the world of its present sin. With this view, they can forgive everything else about Trump which is saying a great deal considering his personal life and his policies and procedures as president. Trump was arguably the most unchristian president ever. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">To understand this strange, even bizarre, phenomenon of the attraction of opposites, we have to go back to the mindset and world view of the white Evangelicals. This is a subject of which I can speak with some knowledge having spent my first twenty-one years in a thoroughly fundamentalist church. If I know anything at all, I know these people.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The worldview of the Evangelicals is strictly vertical. God is the great ruling force of the universe, an object in outer space somewhere, like us humans only stronger. Human beings are born corrupt and sinful and are condemned to eternal punishment if they do not submit to this idol-like God. The universe is a Manichean battle ground between good and evil, that is, God and Satan. You are on one side or the other. There is no in between. You are "saved" or "unsaved." If you are saved, you go to the blissful realm of God. If you die unsaved, you go to hell.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">God controls the Universe. So, changing social and cultural norms is not up to humans. That is the prerogative of God since he created everything and controls everything. Evangelicals believe the calling of man is to reconcile himself to God and to serve God in his life. So, white Evangelicals are drawn to Trump as God's way of restoring the social and cultural norms of the past that they believe God created and intended for mankind. Most visibly, this means returning women to the submission of men. That means a national ban on abortions and illegalization of all forms of birth control. It also means reversing and abolishing all rights of homosexual and transgendered people. Evangelicals see the recent democratic reforms in America as the work of evil forces. So, they tend to regard Trump as the messiah to defeat the evil forces that have "taken over" modern life. To them, he is not just another politician. He is God's special agent, even similar to the agent God sent to save the world two thousand years ago. "Christian Nationalism" is also popular among the Evangelicals.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It is not just what Evangelicals think. It is the way they think that is at issue here. Children are brought up in this environment to believe Evangelical cosmology as the only truth. Many of them get it not only in church but in private schools and home schooling. Believe, obey and follow are the code words of the day. Thus, children grow up without developing critical thinking skills. By the time they become adults, their brains are deficient in reasonable and rational problem solving. In short, they struggle to think for themselves. They were taught what to think and not how to think. The Evangelicals of today were the Evangelical children of yesterday.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Again, I know whereof I speak. I taught in college for decades in Florida and Alabama. Every year I taught Freshmen, a great many of them fresh out of the Evangelical cocoons of their growing up years. Most of them away from home for the first time. Very few of them had skills of reasonable and logical thinking. Typically, their approach to education was to memorize the information and repeat it on the tests without really understanding or internalizing what the material meant, the same way they had been taught to approach the Bible.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Every year I struggled to get my students to develop reasonable and logical thought in the context of the history courses. I told them I was there to tell how how to think and not what to think. I doubt that I ever reached the majority but I know I reached a good number. I started with the most simple and basic approach: 1-state a problem or question, 2-present the appropriate information, and 3-draw conclusion(s) based on the information presented. On every test I ever gave (50,000 in my whole career) I required an essay. It was gratifying to see those students who actually followed the simple pattern. I was getting through to them. That was enough to keep me going.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I know I had some effect because for years afterwards, my former students would sometimes tell me so. One told me that after she took a teaching job, all the teachers in her school turned to her whenever there was a report to be written because she knew how to do it. She had learned the three step approach. She knew how to solve problems logically and put it on paper.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, critical thinking can be a dangerous thing, as the Evangelical leaders know well. Over the years I had a number of students who came to me in my office questioning everything they had been taught growing up. They wanted to know what to do. My answer was always the same: I cannot tell you what to think but I can tell you how to think. You are an individual. God gave you a brain and the power of reason. You are in college. Keep an open mind. Learn all you can. Then, draw your own conclusions. I always gave an ear because I could see myself in them. There I was years ago.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In conclusion, Evangelicals support Trump because of what they see in the world and how they see it. Now do not get me wrong. Evangelicals are not bad people. Far from it. Some of the individuals I knew in church as a child were among the best people I have ever known. It was just that their religion was primitive, undeveloped, and immature. They could not get beyond the vertical experience when it should have been only the beginning of the best Christian life and not the ending.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A word to the Democrats. Do not disparage the white Evangelicals. Do not question their motives. Realize you are not going to change their minds. Do not try it even though you know, as I do, that what they are doing is destructive to Christianity and American democracy. If you want votes against Trump, reach out beyond the white Evangelicals to the millions of Americans who are open to reason and logic as well as morality for the common good.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The best book on the subject of the Evangelicals and contemporary politics is:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tim Alberta, <i>The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism.</i> 2023.</span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-21977375736999400182024-01-16T11:52:00.008-06:002024-01-17T17:04:55.427-06:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>NOTES, 16 JANUARY 2024</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Greetings, blog reader. It has been a while since I posted anything here, so I just wanted to touch bases with you today and let you know I am still here. I pray that all goes well with you.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have not posted anything about the schism lately because there is nothing to post. Both dioceses are moving ahead in an after-schism mode which I suppose is the only thing to do at this point. The Anglican diocese is busy setting up a new diocesan camp since the courts unanimously agreed that the Episcopal diocese was the owner of the venerable Camp St. Christopher. They are also busy getting ready for their annual convention, in March. What they ought to focus on in their meeting is the precipitous and unrelenting decline of the diocese. In the decade after the schism of 2012, the ADSC went from 23,181 baptized members to 18,130, a drop of 22%. Even more ominous is the fall of communicants (active members) from 17,798 to 11,673, a decline of 34%. The Average Sunday Attendance went from 9,292 to 8,353, a reduction of 10%. By contrast, the Episcopal diocese grew from 5,781 members to 7,476. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As far as I know, there remain two unsettled issues in the EDSC, the dispositions of the properties of Holy Trinity and Good Shepherd, both in Charleston. Last year, the EDSC said it would sell the highly valuable property of Holy Trinity, on Folly Road. Yet, I have not seen any announcement of a sale. Too, I have seen no announcement at all about what is to happen to the Good Shepherd property, in West Ashley. Apparently there is no Episcopal congregation prepared to return to the buildings.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As a lifelong student of history, I must admit I am on edge about the year ahead in America. I think we will see a lot of turmoil and even violence although I would not go as far as to predict a civil war, even though there are more guns in the U.S. than people and many people are walking around packing them. Yet, there are moments to welcome in the year, as the Olympics, in Paris, the most beautiful and wonderful city in the world. This is not the first time for The City of Light. It hosted the 1900 and 1924 games. In fact, the greatest Hollywood movie ever made about the Olympics, "Chariots of Fire," was about the 1924 games. If you have not seen that movie, I recommend it. I am so looking forward to watching the Olympics in Paris, a place I regard as one of my homes.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As of yesterday, we are officially in the political period of the Election of 2024. Here is what the Iowa caucuses, of yesterday, told us: ---Donald Trump controls the Republican Party, ---most Republicans (in Iowa) believe The Big Lie, that Trump won the 2020 Election, ---most Republicans (in Iowa) dismiss Trump's legal issues as politics, ---Trump is almost certainly going to be the Republican Party nominee for 2024.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To me, the saddest part of the Iowa events was the role of Nikki Haley. She never had a snowball's chance and she should have known that. 1-she is a woman, 2-she is a woman of color, and 3-she is a woman of color who is the daughter of immigrants from India. In terms of the counter-revolutionary electorate in Iowa, she checked all the wrong boxes. After all her hard work, she won just 19% of the vote. If you have a pulse, you have to feel a little bad for her. I do. Yet, it was her own fault because she profoundly misunderstood the people of her own party. She will never get the nomination of the Republican Party, at least in its present iteration. She is about to go down to a humiliating defeat in her own state. She never had a chance.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let us summarize, once again, the state of affairs in contemporary America. How did we get to the mess we are in?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We are witnessing a clash between two great historic tectonic plates, revolution and counter-revolution (this kind of clash recurs often in history). The revolution began in earnest in the 1960's with sweeping and profound reforms to bring rights, equality, and inclusion to social elements historically marginalized and/or neglected from the mainstream of American life, namely African Americans, women, hispanics, Asians, gays, and the transgendered. This was a great expansion of democracy which had moved by fits and starts from the colonial period. The 1960's brought in the greatest boost of democracy in America since the Civil War.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The counter-revolution is the reaction against the democratic revolution of the 1960's. It is led by the social elements who feel most threatened by the changes, namely men, particularly lower middle class and working class white men. This group is now the backbone of Trump's Make America Great Again movement. Their goal is to keep white men in power at all cost and they see Trump as their messiah. He can do no wrong.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In Iowa we saw that the white Evangelical Christians (fundamentalists, Born Again, Pentecostal) overwhelmingly and strongly supported Trump, many calling him God's agent. This is a disturbing perversion of the classical Christianity of the Gospels. Trump's personal life and his policies are anathema to biblical Christianity. What the Evangelicals are doing is to extrapolate their social and cultural values onto religion and declare it as God's Will. In the long run, this will discredit and diminish Christianity in the broader society, a society that is already rapidly turning away from institutional religion.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, all signs show that the Republican Party has gone all in on Trump because they are all in on the counter-revolution. They see Trump as the vehicle to destroy democracy which requires the destruction of the Constitution. They do not have to win the popular vote. They have to win the Electoral College which is made up of the same number of seats as in Congress (535). Each state gets the same number of votes it has in Congress. Twice recently (2000, 2016) the Electoral College elected a candidate that had lost the popular vote. It could happen again, this year. All signs indicate that the Republicans are very well organized in their plans for the counter-revolution.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Recently, the Heritage Foundation published a nearly 1,000 page blueprint, "Project 2025," giving in minute detail how the constitutional democracy will be destroyed after Trump takes office. They plan to set up a dictatorship under the President. This will bring the end of American democracy to be replaced with a fascist dictatorship. The reforms of the great democratic revolution will be crushed.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This is not hyperbole. If you think it is, I refer you to the Project 2025 that is readily available on the Internet.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If Trump wins, we know that is going to happen. He has told us. Right wing groups all over the place have told us. We have been forewarned. They are out to destroy the Constitution in order to destroy democracy.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But what if he loses the election? I suspect what happened in the aftermath of the 2020 Election will seem like a picnic. I think there will probably be widespread and bloody violence. Trump will cry stolen. His followers will cry stolen. As in 2020, Trump could very well incite his followers to try again to overthrow the government. And this time they are likely to be better organized and more armed.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Either way, if Trump wins, or if he loses, we are in for a rough year. I keep asking myself, how did we come to this? Well, I have given you my theory of that. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The challenge we face now is whether we, collectively as a people want to go on with an evolving democracy even as we move into a pluralistic society, or we want to keep the white male minority in power. Is this a country for all people, or is this a country for the white people? This is the crux of the issue.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The United States of America is the greatest nation-state in the history of the world. It was founded nearly 250 years ago on the simple idea that the ordinary people could govern themselves. They did not need kings, hereditary aristocracy, or bishops to tell them what to do. But, to do this, the people would have to have equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal power (and this was in a country that had millions of human beings in slavery). American history has been the evolution of that simple idea of so long ago. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If Americans elect Donald Trump we will be repudiating our own history. And, shame on us. It would be easy to overthrow the Constitution. But, what then? What would take its place? The people had better be thinking about these things in the next ten months as we move to the moment of decision. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I, for one little voice, will do what I can to save American democracy. I can only hope and pray that there are enough other people out there who want to save it too. This has to be done before the fascists take power. Afterwards, it will be all but impossible. Read Twentieth Century history.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let us summon up the Better Angles of Our Nature. Let us channel Lincoln. As he did, let us persevere in the face of danger with the faith and grace God has given us. Peace. </b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-63316942294636395922023-12-18T10:10:00.002-06:002023-12-18T14:47:57.039-06:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>POPE FRANCIS APPROVES SAME-SEX BLESSINGS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The news broke today that Pope Francis has formally approved of in-church blessings of same-sex unions. Find an article about this <a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-lgbtq-pope-bfa5b71fa79055626e362936e739d1d8">HERE</a> . </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The pope's monumental decision is a major turn-around at the Vatican. The <a href="https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/568/">CATECHISM</a> of the Catholic Church states "under no circumstances can they [homosexual acts] be approved." While a blessing in church does not technically "approve" of homosexual acts, it at the very least takes a neutral view. The church would not be approving of "sinful" relationships with ceremonies inside church buildings. The neutral view would override the moral condemnation of homosexuality that the traditional Catechism contains. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This means that the largest branch of Christianity has moved to moral neutrality on the issue of homosexuality. Just a few days ago, the bishops of the Church of England also approved of the go-ahead of the blessings of same-sex couples in that denomination. Of course, a half-dozen branches of the Anglican Communion have moved to full recognition of same-sex relationships with some, as the American church, actually welcoming same-sex marriages in the church. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>All of this is much to the chagrin of the counter-revolutionaries in all denominations who continue to declare homosexuality to be "disordered" and sinful. The Anglican Church in North America was chartered in 2009 for this very reason. The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina is part of the ACNA and has adopted a "Statement of Faith" (2015) that explicitly forbids ADSC churches from allowing same-sex marriages in the churches. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meanwhile, regardless of the reactionaries' protests, the trend among the majority of Christians in the world is to the respect and inclusion of all of God's children. What the pope has done is a major step in this development.</b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-36694893783467931172023-11-24T19:20:00.003-06:002023-11-24T19:20:55.128-06:00<div><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><b><div style="color: #274e13; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: #274e13; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">REVIEWING NAPOLEON</span></b></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="color: #274e13; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw the new movie "Napoleon" today at a local theater. Here is my take on it. I have deliberately avoiding reading other reviews or comments so as not to skew my own view.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">First of all, we must remember this is a Hollywood movie. It is not history. Since it is just a movie, we must think about the purpose and function of this movie. Why was it made? For entertainment, certainly. Then, we have to ask, how does this film work as entertainment?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think a movie has to engage the viewer in one or two ways. It has to present an enveloping narrative, a plot, that draws us in and makes us care about what is happening on the screen. For instance, "Casablanca" does this perfectly. If the movie does not do this, then it has to present characters that we care about.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">How does "Napoleon" function on each of these? It really has no unified narrative or plot. It is a collection of vignettes and they are not usually well-connected. So, the movie tries to rest on the characters, in this case Napoleon and Josephine. It does not succeed at this either. We really do not get to know either person well. Therefore, we never really care about them much as people. We do not even learn why they care so much about each other. The romance is not there. Instead the relationship is all sexual. There are numerous sexual references and two scenes of simulated intercourse. This depiction is most unfair to Josephine who, while she did use sex as a tool, was far more than a sex object. She was an intelligent, shrewd, and ambitious woman who contributed to Napoleon's career. This was really why Napoleon was attracted to her so much.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is often true that movies tell us more about the time in which they were made than in the history being represented. If so, this movie tells us we live in an age obsessed with sex, sexuality, and gender. I do not think anyone would disagree with this. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The movie is replete with historical inaccuracies and I will not go into this as it would take a long time. Suffice to say the one that grated on me the most was Josephine's reaction to being told that Napoleon was going to divorce her. In the movie she laughs disdainfully. In fact, people said one could hear her screams from one end of the palace to the other. She dissolved into hysterical sobs and begged and pleaded for a long time before becoming reconciled to the decision. In this case, history would have actually added to the emotional intensity of the movie since there was precious little otherwise. The countless other errors I would chalk up to poetic license. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The battle scenes are mediocre to poor. In fact, they seemed gratuitous and even broke the narrative, such as it was, that the movie was trying to convey. Toulon was fair. Austerlitz was completely wrong. Borodino is barely a blip. The only battle scene that had any merit was Waterloo which was not too bad.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, would I recommend the movie? I would give it 5 out of 10. If you are interested in history, or in Napoleon, it would be worth your while. If not, I would skip it. I doubt seriously that it will win any Academy Awards. And no, Joaquin Phoenix is not a convincing Napoleon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I suppose one useful outcome of the movie is to make us think about the place of Napoleon Bonaparte in history. He was a gigantic figure who dominated Europe from 1799 to 1815 and cast a strong and long shadow over the next century and a half. The question is, what difference has he made to the world in which we live?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Historically, Napoleon represented two different currents, militarism and authoritarianism. Contrary to the film above, the driving force in his life was not Josephine, it was the army. He was first, last and in-between a soldier. One cannot understand anything about him without starting with this. As a soldier, he believed problems were solved on the battlefield. Hence, campaign after campaign, battle after battle. And this is what a lot of Napoleonic scholars love to specialize in. Napoleon was a genius at innovative, sometimes dazzling, strategy and tactics. But, in the end, his enemies inevitably joined up against him and brought him down. His militarism failed to keep him in power. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other current was authoritarianism. Napoleon overthrew the revolutionary republican government and made himself a dictator, calling himself consul, first consul, then emperor. While he institutionalized many reforms of the revolution, he betrayed the fundamental idea of the revolution, that people could govern themselves in freedom and equality.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">One can argue that both militarism and authoritarianism have had devastating effects on civilization in the two centuries since Napoleon's time. Militarism zoomed ahead in the century after Napoleon so that by 1914, all the great powers had poured massive fortunes into military preparations, on the Napoleonic assumption that problems between nations could be settled on the battlefield. Every power in the world financed detailed historical studies of the Napoleonic wars as if to unlock the keys to his brilliance. This took all the great powers straight into the First World War. However, WWI was to be entirely different than the Napoleonic wars because of technology. Airplanes, submarines, tanks, machine guns, flame throwers, poison gas etc. were things N could not have imagined. The new militarism was far more deadly. Whereas at least 3m people died in the Napoleonic wars, some 20m died in WWI, and 60m in WWII. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The authoritarian model has also been inordinately impressive since 1815 even though the main thrust of western civilization has been toward democracy. The Twentieth Century was the age of the ideological dictators, every one of which looked back to Napoleon. Hitler spent a long time standing at Napoleon's tomb on his triumphant visit to Paris in 1940. As we see in the world today, the urge toward authoritarianism is a major problem. This will be a large part of the American national elections next year. One of the parties is about to nominate a candidate who promises an authoritarian, that is, anti-democratic, state.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I would like to think the world has outgrown Napoleon and his legacy of militarism and authoritarianism. Aggressive wars do not solve problems and often only lead to more. The glory is not on the battlefield. It is in the making of the peace. Likewise, dictators do not know better than the communal spirit of the people. Sovereignty rests in the people as a whole and they have the right to decide collectively what they will do. Democracy is the best way to preserve liberty, equality, and fraternity.</span></div></b>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-42166996015242511572023-11-13T19:21:00.004-06:002023-11-13T19:51:05.598-06:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b>AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF "NAPOLEON"</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I suppose we have all seen the trailers and ads on television about the upcoming theater movie, "Napoleon." This two-and-a-half hour "epic" is set to debut on the big screen at Thanksgiving. It has already been hyped a great deal in the media. I plan to see it at my earliest convenience. Find an announcement about the new movie <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_(2023_film)#Cast">HERE</a> .</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I am actually looking forward to it although I expect the film-makers have taken great liberties with actual characters and events. In graduate school at Florida State, I was fortunate enough to be allowed to specialize in the period of the French Revolution and Napoleon. FSU was then, and still is, one of the few universities in America that offered intense study in this particular period of history. My major professor was a world-renowned scholar of Napoleonic military history and amassed the largest library in the country on this period of history.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Over the years I have published several books and numerous articles on the French Revolution and Napoleon. I spent six years scouring the major libraries of Europe and America to compile a comprehensive bibliography of the books, articles, and other writings on the age of Napoleon, 1799-1815. This was something that had never been done before. I published a massive two-volume work in 1991 to great reviews. It listed 48,000 items. With the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln, more books have been written about Napoleon Bonaparte than any other character of modern history. He has always fascinated people, historians and lay people alike.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The new movie is certainly not the first movie made about Napoleon, far from it. There have been dozens of them starting back in the silent era. In fact, the groundbreaking film came with Abel Gance's 1927 masterpiece, "Napoleon." Unfortunately, no actor has ever embodied the Napoleon we know from history. The worst attempt ever was Marlon Brando in "Desirée."</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ASJ4VsbbcnuSBBWRcs2r1uZiFNydpz01MvzU__Tulb85XF_pv7SVLfRhG7nuSwtTkIpOGsP13doRjg04nDS6TGY7GPO4IeZewH7RpLaZw_lhrdEI50Wzxk4EO9DU8IeszIzJ8vXEVO40L_nRqalf-zll_fe5RqNKKati4EhqGQ5i95QuB0sDLma1/s1280/Brando%20as%20Napoleon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1280" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ASJ4VsbbcnuSBBWRcs2r1uZiFNydpz01MvzU__Tulb85XF_pv7SVLfRhG7nuSwtTkIpOGsP13doRjg04nDS6TGY7GPO4IeZewH7RpLaZw_lhrdEI50Wzxk4EO9DU8IeszIzJ8vXEVO40L_nRqalf-zll_fe5RqNKKati4EhqGQ5i95QuB0sDLma1/w640-h514/Brando%20as%20Napoleon.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Awful. He played, well, Brando. From the new trailers, Joaquin Phoenix, who plays Napoleon, sounds a lot like Brando. Not a good sign.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nevertheless, there were some very good parts of the movies that are still worthy of viewing. When I was a teenager, I was enthralled by the 1956 movie, "War and Peace," with Henry Fonda and Audrey Hepburn. I watched it, mesmerized, on the huge screen of the Saenger theater in Pensacola. I can still feel the agony of the retreat from Russia. In my opinion the greatest Napoleonic battle scene ever put on film was in the 1966 Soviet six-hour version of "War and Peace." The Battle of Borodino used 100,000 actors and took forty-five minutes of the movie. The 1971 movie, "Waterloo" also did a good job of recreating that fatal battle. Unfortunately, most of the movies and television production on Napoleon are forgettable junk. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Of course, Hollywood movies have been all over the place in depicting history. In my mind, the greatest characterization of Louis XVI came in the 1938 movie, "Marie Antoinette." Robert Morley was the very reincarnation of Louis. I used to show the movie in my classes for that reason. On the other hand, the worst movie about history was actually one of the greatest movies ever made, 1939's "Gone With the Wind." It conjured up a fictional view of a past that never existed of rich white southerners and happy black slaves. The movie has had a huge and negative effect on southerners around the issue of race. An awful lot of white people still cling to the myth perpetuated by that movie that blacks were well off and well treated as slaves and that the white people were the victims. In my opinion, "Gone With the Wind" has done tremendous damage to race relations in the south. This is the power of what a movie can do.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I am already having troubles with some of the things in the trailers, little things that are wrongly portrayed. And why they threw in Marie Antoinette, I cannot imagine. Napoleon had nothing to do with her execution. I also have a lot of doubt about Joaquin Phoenix. He is too old for the part. Napoleon was very young, and youthful. He was only 19 when the Revolution began, and just 23 when he won his first big battle and became a brigadier general. He was just 30 when he came to power. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The moviemakers promised to center the story on the relationship between N and Josephine. Good, except it would take a lot longer than two and a half hours to deal with that. It was passionate, but also highly complicated, and it was about a lot more than sex. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, I am trying to keep an open mind and see what the movie has to offer without prejudice. We are told the battle scenes alone are worth it. It includes the Battle of Austerlitz, N's "perfect" battle of 1805 that solidified his reputation as a great military genius. It also shows Waterloo, the last battle when the genius had lost his magic. Modern technology should be able to show these battles in a far more realistic way than in the films of old. We shall see.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I shall return with my thoughts about "Napoleon" after I have seen the new movie. Perhaps you will see the movie and share your thoughts with me. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I will go over then my views of the place of Napoleon Bonaparte in history, a least a little summary of them. Meanwhile, let's enjoy (hopefully) the movie about one of the most fascinating characters in all of history.</b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-19547852309836472102023-11-08T17:33:00.004-06:002023-11-08T17:34:55.717-06:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b>OF HEROES AND CHRONICLERS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As the schism winds down and its loose threads are being tied off, it is appropriate to reflect on the near past before we move on, as we should, into the future. Of course, the schism can never, and should never, be removed from the memory of the past. It is now, and will be forever, in the DNA of the Diocese of South Carolina. The diocese of today has been forged in the fire of this unwelcomed conflagration. The character of the diocese today is the result of the events visited upon it in the past few decades. The loyal Episcopalians of lower South Carolina did not ask for what happened to them, and neither did they shy away from the challenge of the moment.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Therefore, it was appropriate for the diocese to pause last week and remember the heroes of the hour and the chroniclers who wrote about them. The greatest heroes were those faithful Episcopalians who refused to follow the erring crowd, who kept the faith and who fought the good fight even when it was hard to do. Frances Elmore, of Florence, was one of those. At the break in late 2012, she and Dolores Miller gathered up the dozen or so faithful Episcopalians of Florence and formed a church. I know firsthand because my daughter Elizabeth was in that little band. At first they met in living rooms, then in an old rural school and in borrowed quarters of a Lutheran church. Finally, they settled in a repurposed shoe store. By the time of Miller's death, a few years ago, St. Catherine's Episcopal Church was a strong and vibrant congregation. It was highly fitting last week for Bishop Woodliff-Stanley to recognize Elmore with the high honor of Bishop's Cross. Find a video of the Bishop's Cross presentation <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DioceseofSC">HERE.</a></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It was appropriate too for the bishop to recognize the work of the "chroniclers," including Steve Skardon and Minerva King. For a decade before the break of 2012, Skardon single-handedly related information and challenged the various maneuverings of the old diocesan leadership which for years worked to remove the majority of the diocese from the Episcopal Church. His blog, scepiscopalians.com , was the only source of information available to the public that was not controlled by the schism-bound diocesan authorities. The Episcopal Forum tried also to promote reason but it was swept aside by the diocesan powers of the day. Without Skardon, the schismatics would have had complete control of the public message and a free run of the public perception of the issues of the day. He refused to concede the stage to them. This makes him both a hero and a chronicler. Find a video of the Chronicler awards <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DioceseofSC">HERE</a> . The bishop recognized my work on history too, but I was not able to be present. I appreciated her kind words and look forward to receiving the award at some future time.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs3_YsoE7JlN5NFnNLB2kT7uT1zx9UZlapYToSviLFVoqFKAd0sLeG7crPX2V45mdvJG5Ryep8jM7iQ48AlwauQu0mgwc0xG8EofHFE_Fe5vhbhCH8BfDQBeINZnYIMuEogVrrK0Q3aBJduKLOidTxJKHwj3JREc381LnsnJYiX5_cZqANriZ3H4-/s5312/20231108_150223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5312" data-original-width="2988" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs3_YsoE7JlN5NFnNLB2kT7uT1zx9UZlapYToSviLFVoqFKAd0sLeG7crPX2V45mdvJG5Ryep8jM7iQ48AlwauQu0mgwc0xG8EofHFE_Fe5vhbhCH8BfDQBeINZnYIMuEogVrrK0Q3aBJduKLOidTxJKHwj3JREc381LnsnJYiX5_cZqANriZ3H4-/w360-h640/20231108_150223.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meanwhile, let us enjoy the grandeur of the season. Ride down any country lane in the south these days and you are likely to be surrounded by the beauty of God's creation. The seasons change. Life goes on. And we must go with it. But we do so much better because of the heroes and their story-tellers who lead the way. </b><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-39362029121547756432023-10-15T13:44:00.002-05:002023-10-15T16:21:43.250-05:00<p><b style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">ELIZABETH DUFOUR RIVERS (1929-2023)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>LET LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON HER</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Elizabeth (Betty to her friends) Dufour Rivers died yesterday, October 14, 2023, at the age of ninety-five (b. Dec. 28, 1929). Her husband of seventy-three years, Dr. Charles Ford Rivers, Jr. died last year.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJegJH45-b8xDdXw9Si040EV92SP2FPiOEdSltW7NeKA5hzYjwKSOmlck3icTuMBoAEgUtRoKO931fUNLxNAO9i9SEsEAIv3t36TRpb0fUDOZ6PRvmVVH9ngNOtEd7FNVZ90vJL6fHhuPxhBep1zSIZrOrnLN62ZzgJpNPGDg9YW_R4BIAnb7gUtx/s4032/Rivers,%20betty.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJegJH45-b8xDdXw9Si040EV92SP2FPiOEdSltW7NeKA5hzYjwKSOmlck3icTuMBoAEgUtRoKO931fUNLxNAO9i9SEsEAIv3t36TRpb0fUDOZ6PRvmVVH9ngNOtEd7FNVZ90vJL6fHhuPxhBep1zSIZrOrnLN62ZzgJpNPGDg9YW_R4BIAnb7gUtx/w480-h640/Rivers,%20betty.jpeg" width="480" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Since this blog focuses on the schism, we must remember today the eloquent and moving letter she sent to her home parish, Church of the Holy Communion, on November 12, 2012, a few days before a diocesan convention was set to affirm the claimed secession of the diocese from the Episcopal Church. Under the courageous leadership of the Rev. Dow Sanderson, the parish remained in the Episcopal diocese. The letter is well worth a re-reading today. No one encapsulated better the truth of the moment at that painful time.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Friends,</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I am writing this letter because I do not feel comfortable, at this stage of my life, speaking in public about delicate and emotional topics and thus chose not to speak at the meeting Sunday morning. But I do want to share with you how delighted I am at the announcement that our parish [Holy Communion] will continue to be a full and faithful participant in The Episcopal Church of the United States of America. I have often said, in the midst of the recent troubles: "I was born and Episcopalian and I intend to die an Episcopalian." The knowledge that I will be able to do so in the very church where I was confirmed and married, where all four of my children were baptized and confirmed and from which both my mother and daughter were buried fills me with a joy and gratitude words cannot express.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I would also, at this very happy time, like to express why I am so firmly supportive of this decision. While I understand there are multiple issues at play in the conflict between the former leadership of this diocese and the national church, the historical record clearly suggests that at the heart of that conflict are differing theological views concerning homosexuality. In fact, the very first document produced under the new name "The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina," (dated June 15, 2012) deals exclusively with the topic of homosexuality and how it has been handled by the national church. The breakaway diocese is thus, in a sense, founded on its opposition to the ordination of homosexuals and to same-sex blessings.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Point #3 of this document says that the signatories (the Standing Committee of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of South Carolina) have "compassion" for "those who struggle with and act upon same-gender attraction" and says that "the Lord calls us all, equally, to repent of sin that we might receive forgiveness and cleansing [...], restoration [...] and transformation." Whatever my other sins may be, I clearly do not have to ask for forgiveness, cleansing and transformation for the loving, monogamous, life-sustaining relationship I have had with my husband for the past sixty-three years. But according to this document, my son, who is in an equally loving, monogamous, life-sustaining relationship of twenty-six years with his partner, does. I do not agree.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Point #4 says that the signatories "repudiate, denounce and reject any action of the Episcopal Church which purports to bless what our Lord clearly does not bless." Again, I disagree with this view. There has been unambiguous evidence of the blessings of the Lord in the relationship between my son and his partner, many, many times over, during the course of many, many years. This is not an abstract notion on my part; it is something I have seen with my eyes and ears and that I know in both my head and my heart. And it is something for which I am profoundly grateful to God. My son and his partner's relationship has been a blessing not just to them but also to my husband and me, to my son's partner's parents, to both families and to their many friends. My son's partner, whom I love as a dear son and who has unfailingly treated both my husband and me with all the affection, devotion and respect of a dear son, would not have come into our family if he and my son had not entered into union with each other.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">People who would deny these gracious blessings of our Lord simply have a different view of who God is and how he works than I do: what I know to be a blessing, they consider a sin. Fortunately for me, the denomination into which I was born and to which I intend to remain faithful agrees with me! The Episcopal Church and the decisions of the General Convention are in keeping with my belief that our Lord calls some people to loving, monogamous union with a partner of their own sex, that he blesses such relationships and that our Church should do so as well.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The thought, in recent weeks, that a separation from this place might become necessary has caused me nearly unbearable pain. The knowledge that that will not be necessary after all fills me not only with overwhelming joy but also with hope, gratitude and pride.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">With love to you all.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Betty</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(Elizabeth Dufour Rivers)</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">November 12, 2012</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------------------------</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The issue of homosexuality was indeed the direct cause of the schism. In fact, in 2015 the breakaway diocese institutionalized homophobia in its mandatory "Statement of Faith."</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It is gratifying to know that Betty Rivers lived long enough to see the federal court rule that the schismatics did not take the diocese with them but created a whole new body with no claim whatsoever to the pre-schism diocese. The Episcopal diocese is the one and only continuation of the old Diocese of South Carolina. The breakaways formed a new church and entered a new denomination beyond the bounds of the Anglican Communion. They have gone a long way to keep gays from having blessings in church. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Betty Rivers saw truth a long time ago and shined a light on it. This should be her epitaph. </span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-12315844761090733302023-10-09T09:46:00.018-05:002023-10-09T15:30:52.333-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><b>WE MUST STAND WITH THE ISRAELIS---AND WITH THE PALESTINIANS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>War has broken out, yet again, in the Middle East. How many times have we seen this awful movie? What should we Americans do now, if anything?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>First and foremost, we must defend Israel. Given the catastrophic events of the Twentieth Century, the world owes it to the Jewish people to defend their Biblical homeland. That is a given.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>However, there are other people involved here who have a great stake in what is going on in Israel. Beyond this, there are numerous countries in the region that would love to destroy the Jewish state, not the least of which is Iran. Thus, the matter is highly complicated and multi-layered.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheOGBHe-hCDxXj6iUJpMRCKsh1WSePUF7ABNaDIKVumpTaOVQexOzSKmmrghYNCBlH3R34Fr-XyPUPtSSUj9jk_gb3fe-rGahaXOEJB0uSemQJTfkuqkRYpFu5FjczHhPgpQLQYMzVbQ1x4Nwzy_QzsL2h32PKuuY37COmS5YxY_5l_uW9zCnWAxm/s1200/israel%20support%20oct.%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheOGBHe-hCDxXj6iUJpMRCKsh1WSePUF7ABNaDIKVumpTaOVQexOzSKmmrghYNCBlH3R34Fr-XyPUPtSSUj9jk_gb3fe-rGahaXOEJB0uSemQJTfkuqkRYpFu5FjczHhPgpQLQYMzVbQ1x4Nwzy_QzsL2h32PKuuY37COmS5YxY_5l_uW9zCnWAxm/w640-h360/israel%20support%20oct.%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>Over the weekend, some of the iconic monuments around the world lit up in support of Israel. An especially poignant one was the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin. Note the large crowd assembled.</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In my opinion, the bottom line is the issue of human rights. Everyone on every side has the same claim to human rights. No one has privilege to a higher level than the others. So, we Americans should hold that in mind. We stand for the equal rights of all people, the Jews and the Arabs. This is why I think a two-state solution is the right way to go.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Much of the problem in the seventy-five year war in the area is that too many people were looking for military solutions. This has not worked and will not work. Peace will be the result of understanding, acceptance and compromise, not of killing.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Next to the carnage of this new attack, the most shocking thing of the weekend was the abject failure of the supposedly expert Israeli intelligence service and the impenetrability of the "Iron Dome" over Israel. Both of these proved to be false walls. The Israelis should realize there is no absolute military protection. History is littered with cases of failed defenses. Two that come to mind right off are the Maginot Line and the walls of Constantinople. The French spent an incredible fortune and worked for years to construct the greatest system of fortifications imaginable, the Maginot Line. It was to defend the border with Germany and prevent a recurrence of the First World War. When the invasion came in 1940, the Line was completely useless. The Germans simply went around the end of it and easily captured it from the rear. Likewise, the walls of Constantinople were thought to be absolute, and they were for a thousand years. Then, in 1453, the Ottoman Turks hauled up huge cannons that blasted away at a weak point and the wall broke. The Turks streamed into the great city killing thousands and selling thousands more into slavery. Like the Maginot Line, the walls proved to be a catastrophic failure of imagination. Perhaps this is what has happened in Israel, a failure of imagination.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Anyway, the question is what we Americans should do now. In the first place, we must recognize that what goes on in all the world affects us too. All of our lives are interconnected on this fragile earth, our island home as the BCP says. This is why the people who want to cut off aid to Ukraine are dead wrong. If the Russians prevail there, we Americans will be worse off.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In my view, we must defend Israel and protect their right of self-determination. However, we should also defend the human rights of the Arabs in the region. The people who speak Arabic have the same claim to freedom, equality and justice as those who speak Hebrew. If we Americans stand for the equal rights of all people, and I maintain that we do, we must use whatever influence we have to press this point in the Middle East. </b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-53689871492129477982023-10-07T08:22:00.000-05:002023-10-07T08:22:47.173-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>ALBANY AFFIRMS HUMAN RIGHTS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Something important happened last month that slipped under my radar but must be pointed out now. On September 9, 2023, a convention in the diocese of Albany (New York) elected as the next bishop a strong advocate of the rights of same-sex couples. The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson was elected on the Fourth Ballot, 65-22 in laity and 56-54 in clergy. Note the vote---the laity were far more favorable to Williamson than the clergy who had actually backed a conservative candidate until the last ballot.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Find news articles about this <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/09/11/jeremiah-williamson-elected-bishop-of-albany/#:~:text=%5BEpiscopal%20News%20Service%5D%20The%20Episcopal,and%2056%2D54%20among%20clergy">HERE</a> and <a href="https://livingchurch.org/2023/09/09/albany-election-signals-new-course-on-same-sex-marriage/">HERE</a> .</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Albany has been much in the news in the last few years. The previous bishop, William Love, refused to allow a rule of the nation church, B012, of 2018, to be followed in the diocese. B012 required that every diocese provide for same-sex liturgies even if substitute clergy were necessary. Love resigned as bishop in 2021 after he was charged with disciplinary action. He subsequently joined the homophobic and misogynist Anglican Church in North America. Several clergy of Albany followed Love out of TEC. The Albany Standing Committee has functioned as the ecclesiastical authority since Love's departure.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On the local level, Williamson's election tells us that the people-in-the-pews of the diocese of Albany want to be a part of the consensus of the Episcopal Church on human rights even if many of the clergy are reluctant. This is a huge turnaround in the trajectory of the diocese since the days of Bishop Love.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On the national level, Williamson's election is another manifestation of the resolute commitment of the Episcopal Church to human rights. In the past thirty years, TEC has removed sexuality as an impediment to ordination, affirmed an open and partnered gay man as a bishop, then several other open homosexuals as bishops, adopted church blessings of same-sex unions, adopted a marriage liturgy for same-sex couples, adopted and enforced B012 in 2018, a resolution that requires dioceses to provide liturgies for same-sex couples. Just this year, the nation church rejected a bishop-elect, from Florida, on suspicions to his commitment to the church's advocacy for equality and inclusion of gays. Now, the people of Albany have signaled very clearly that they agree with the national church's stand for the human rights of all people.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">All of this tells us the Episcopal Church is firmly committed to enacting reforms to right the wrongs of the past. There is a lot more work to do but the road is laid out clearly and the momentum is irresistible. The people of Albany have shown us that.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-18904758068980121922023-10-05T17:20:00.018-05:002023-10-05T19:02:53.927-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b>POPE SAYS ANGLICAN ORDINATIONS CAN BE A SUBJECT OF STUDY</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">An historic synod began at the Vatican yesterday. In this year and next the assembly will discuss a wide-ranging set of issues facing the Roman church today. For the first time, laity, including women, among the 450 participants, will have equal vote with the cardinals. The pope is encouraging a collegial, communal approach, rather than the top-down authoritarian method followed in the past. They have even installed round tables to make the participants talk with each other in small groups. How up to date!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hSU-5ncN5IDMV2FsleYCM_gu9hpTRbXtS-5Ilhl8PWfX70P-NHfug4LjLFpxPCCwhO3YY75AYOfvvRUeQLl58qD_1-5mohbs2kUpDQVHbx7F4H7Ge6fD34pJmHy5UAPfy6gs28E-h4hyIRIOWaKCWMEmF6Kw75yF1giduERx4219CCaEf7t_QjWR/s670/Synod,%20Oct.%204,%202023%20II.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="670" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hSU-5ncN5IDMV2FsleYCM_gu9hpTRbXtS-5Ilhl8PWfX70P-NHfug4LjLFpxPCCwhO3YY75AYOfvvRUeQLl58qD_1-5mohbs2kUpDQVHbx7F4H7Ge6fD34pJmHy5UAPfy6gs28E-h4hyIRIOWaKCWMEmF6Kw75yF1giduERx4219CCaEf7t_QjWR/w640-h426/Synod,%20Oct.%204,%202023%20II.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In the run up to the meeting, a group of five highly conservative cardinals asked the pope to comment on certain issues important to them. Pope Francis responded in a letter to the five on 11 July that has since been released to the public. The five were trying to box the pope into reiterating the traditional stands on sexuality and on gender. He did not fall for the trap.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Actually, the ploy backfired on the conservatives as the pope opened the door for reconsideration of three important issues. One was on the blessings of same-sex unions. A second was on the ordination of women. Then, buried in the text was one line that apparently slipped under the radar of most readers:</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"No one can publicly contradict it [women's ordination] and nevertheless it can be the object of study, as in the case of the validity of ordinations in the Anglican Communion." (Find the letter <a href="https://www.cardinalburke.com/images/backgroundimages/Response-of-Pope-Francis-2023July11-ENGLISH.pdf">HERE</a> . See p. 5)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What? The pope says the question of Anglican orders can be reexamined? This has the potential of being a huge turning point for the entire Christian church.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In 1896, Pope Leo XIII directed that Anglican orders were "null and void." This has been the official Vatican position ever since.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The recent Ordinariate movement kept this attitude. Anglican clergy adhering to Rome must go through Confirmation and ordination since the Vatican does not recognize the validity of Anglican ordinations, and therefore the sacraments they may perform. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, the five cardinals gave the pope a large platform to declare open three issues that they absolutely and flatly oppose: same-sex blessings, women's ordinations, and acceptance of Anglican orders. Now, what roles these three will play in the present synod remains to be seen but one may safely assume they will be discussed even if it is private and not released to the public. Of course, approval of Anglican ordinations would give de facto acceptance to women's ordination and same-sex marriage.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Conservative Catholics have long viewed Francis with a dim and suspicious eye. They want an absolute and fixed continuation of traditional Catholic stands. They are "strict constructionists." Francis favors a "loose construction" to make the ancient institution more responsive to the needs of an evolving world. This is a tall order.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, in a way, the Roman church is having its own version of a culture war, certainly defined by the parameters of that crusty old top-heavy institution. The conservatives are the Verticalists and the pope and his allies are the Horizontalists. So, American Episcopalians need not think their institution is the only one embroiled in the culture war of the contemporary age. The biggest institutional religion on the globe is wrestling with it too.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It is too soon to tell where all of this is going for the RC church. The pope is 86 years old and rather feeble. He often uses a wheel chair. One might assume the conservatives are biding their time for the day that cannot be too far off when a new pontiff will be elected by the cardinals. By that point, perhaps the consensus will be to retreat into traditionalism and Francis's work will fade into the past. On the other hand, the consensus might be to follow in Francis's path.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Still, it must be pointed out that the pope has raised the issue of reconsidering the Vatican's stand on Anglican ordinations. We will just have to wait and see how the synod responds to this, as well as the other two controversial issues. Meanwhile, Anglicans around the world should thank the pope for at least opening the possibility of reconsidering a position that has been a major stumbling block to the ecumenicism that is sorely needed in today's world. </b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-91874383240395938062023-10-04T14:23:00.000-05:002023-10-04T14:23:55.846-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>ST. JOHN'S ANGLICAN BUYING PROPERTY</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On yesterday, 3 October 2023, clergy of St. John's Anglican Church, on Johns Island, announced the parish had entered into an agreement to buy 20 acres of land at 1643 Main Road, Johns Island. The purchase price was $1.6m, or $80k per acre. This site is near St. Johns High School. Main Rd. is a main artery running north-south from Maybank Hwy. to U.S. 17. The site is about a mile from the St. Johns parish church.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Find the announcement <a href="https://adosc.org/st-johns-parish-church-purchases-property/">HERE</a> .</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>St. Johns parish returned to the Diocese of South Carolina in 2022 and the first Episcopal services were held there in July of that year. By that time, the clergy and majority of the congregation had left to adhere to the new Anglican diocese and to meet in a local school. The separatists continued calling themselves St. Johns parish church even though St. Johns parish church was legally owned by the Episcopal diocese. The parish is one of the oldest in the diocese. The actual parish has had a revival under the vicar, the Rev. Callie Walpole, formerly the archdeacon of the Episcopal diocese.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The announcement says the separatist congregation raised the entire $1.6m in three months. Apparently the property is undeveloped, so the congregation will now have to find money for improvement and construction.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The SC supreme court finally ruled that 8 of the original 36 parishes in the lawsuit of 2013 were property of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal diocese sold one, St. Matthew's., of Ft. Motte, to the Anglican occupants. One has been announced for sale, Holy Trinity, on Folly Rd., Charleston. One other, Good Shepherd, in West Ashley, Charleston, has not been designated publicly by the diocese. This leaves five that returned to the Episcopal diocese as functioning churches: St. Johns, of Johns Island; St. James, of James Island; St. David's, of Cheraw; St. Bartholomew's, of Hartsville, and Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant. Ironically, the Episcopal diocese offered to relinquish claim to these and all local churches that had gone along with the schism to the separatist diocese in June of 2015. The Anglican leadership curtly rejected the offer. If they had taken it, all 8 of the churches that have been returned to the EDSC would now be safely in the ADSC. In the end, courts ordered that the historic diocese, Camp St. Christopher, and 8 local churches had all been illegally seized by the separatists and must be returned to the rightful owner, the Episcopal diocese.</b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-20238439749563567292023-09-29T12:00:00.067-05:002023-09-30T15:44:51.373-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE TWO DIOCESES AND THE CULTURE WAR</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The 2012 schism in the Episcopal diocese of South Carolina was a local manifestation of the overall culture war in contemporary America. To recap, the culture war is the clash between two great historical forces, revolution and counter-revolution. The revolution developed in post-Second World War America. It brought democratic reforms of equality and inclusion for many social elements that had been marginalized or powerless, most importantly blacks, women, and homosexuals. The social and cultural elements that felt most threatened by this, mostly white men who had virtually monopolized power in American history, created a counter-revolution aimed at preserving as much as possible of the pre-revolution white patriarchy. To simplify, the revolution promoted democratic reforms while the counter-revolution resisted democratic reforms. Adding to the white patriarchy's urgency in opposing democracy was the looming reality that American was becoming a multi-cultural society, that is, one in which white people would be another minority.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The schism in South Carolina was sparked by local resistance to the democratic reforms favoring homosexuals, and to some degree women, that had been championed by the national Episcopal Church. By 2012, TEC had affirmed an open and partnered gay man as a bishop, had elected a woman as the presiding bishop, and had adopted church blessings for same-sex couples. This was more than the leadership of the diocese would tolerate. They planned and carried out a schism and brought along the majority of the laity of the diocese. They established a new diocese that went on to institutionalize the counter-revolutionary agenda. In 2015 they adopted a Statement of Faith that condemned homosexuality. Then they joined a denomination devoted to opposing equality for women as well as gays. It forbade women from being bishops, that is, in having authority over men. The new diocese sealed its place in the counter-revolution of the culture war.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The victory of the white patriarchy in the new diocese can be seen clearly in the clerical make up of the Anglican diocese today. According to the ADSC website, by my count, there are 92 priests attending the 53 or so parishes and missions. Looking at the active clergy in the local churches: </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>white male priests - 82 (89%)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>black male priests - 4 (4%)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>white female priests - 5 (5%)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>black female priests - 1 (1%)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thus, nearly nine out of ten priests in the ADSC are white men. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What about deacons? </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>white male deacons - 18 (67%)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>black male deacons - 0</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>white female deacons - 10 (33%)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>black female deacons - 0</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Once again, white men dominate. They account for two-thirds of diocesan deacons. There are no black deacons at all in the ADSC.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Women have never been allowed to chair a major committee (as the Standing Committee) of the ADSC, nor have they ever had a majority of the seats of a major committee. Moreover, no woman and no African-American has ever been head of a large or medium parish. As of now, the only black woman priest is a chaplain at Porter-Gaud. Among the white female priests, one is associate at Holy Cross, two are heads of small parishes, and one is vicar of a mission.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Of the 4 African-American male priests of ADSC, three serve small, dependent, missions. One, the Rev. Fred Onyanyo, a native Kenyan, is listed as a priest at St. Paul's, of Summerville. His work is described as a liaison of local parishes in ADSC with the Global South.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In short, the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina is a bastion of the old white patriarchy. This is a not so insignificant victory for the counter-revolution in the culture war.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As one would expect, the picture is quite different in the continuing Episcopal diocese of South Carolina. There, blacks, women, and gays have found a far greater degree of equality and inclusion. This is to be expected in a denomination that long ago embraced the great democratic revolution of post-WWII America. Unfortunately, the EDSC lists only names of <a href="https://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/clergy-in-good-standing.html">CLERGY</a> of the diocese on its website. Anyway, from this, it appears that there are 68 priests of the diocese. Of these, 11 (16%) are women. Among the vocational deacons, 7 (50%) of the 14 are women.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>At the time of the schism, most of the women clergy and most of the African-American clergy remained with the Episcopal diocese. They knew discrimination when they saw it. In fact, the only two historically black parishes stayed with the diocese as did numerous historically black missions. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Women have excelled in the leadership of the ongoing diocese. Of course, everyone knows the diocese elected a woman as the new bishop. This was after the diocese had appointed a woman as archdeacon. Today, one of the large parishes, <a href="https://www.allsaints-hhi.org/leadership-staff">ALL SAINTS</a>, of Hilton Head, lists an all female priestly staff, the rector and two associates. This is a first for South Carolina. There is another sizeable parish, <a href="https://www.stjohnsepiscopalchurchsc.org/staff/">ST. JOHN'S</a>, of Johns Island, led by a woman. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thus, the Episcopal diocese has a far larger percentage of women priests and deacons than does the Anglican side. (Nevertheless, EDSC has a long way to go considering that 40% of the clergy in the national TEC is female. 16% is not even half-way there.)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As the Anglican diocese has secured its place in the counter-revolution, the Episcopal diocese has gone a long way in embodying the democratic reforms of the revolution. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>There are still some people who want to insist that the schism was about theology and not culture. Nonsense. The historical record is very clear. If one still needs convincing, I direct you to my 500 page history of the schism. (This is not to say there are no theological differences between the two dioceses. There certainly are. The new diocese has veered into a highly vertical quasi-fundamentalism removed from the mainstream of classical Anglicanism.)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Given the overall conservatism of South Carolina, I find it somewhat surprising that the counter-revolutionary diocese has declined so rapidly since the schism. It has seen a steady decline in membership, a third of active members since the break. Obviously the public is not racing to join this new church.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where the culture war goes from here God only knows. The center of gravity has turned to politics. What is going on in Washington today and what will happen over the next year and a half will tell us where the culture war is going. The clash between the revolution and the counter-revolution is about to get a lot more serious. It may be all but over in the old diocese of South Carolina, but it is far from over in the rest of the country.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTpQkNxRQTzRXdNIakxbmkQW-pIYQlwlEVWP6sO0oyF9bL1Z_Zqc3nv_6py4i1RS7GP2KlN6SvlTowXqBeoMELB_ph627gU6WtkYMQgMDLUnE2rfIicw0WrD7VyYWPAG9mLgINjN7iDheP5tjahaeJHPWyRQh28C4_8LKE_pN0BOXmzua6kFx8X3J/s624/bishop%20ruth%20and%20pb%20curry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="624" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTpQkNxRQTzRXdNIakxbmkQW-pIYQlwlEVWP6sO0oyF9bL1Z_Zqc3nv_6py4i1RS7GP2KlN6SvlTowXqBeoMELB_ph627gU6WtkYMQgMDLUnE2rfIicw0WrD7VyYWPAG9mLgINjN7iDheP5tjahaeJHPWyRQh28C4_8LKE_pN0BOXmzua6kFx8X3J/w640-h426/bishop%20ruth%20and%20pb%20curry.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Diversity in the Episcopal Church. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, the first African-American PB of TEC. Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, the first female bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. Of the 280 active and retired <a href="https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/05/16/house-of-bishops-more-diverse-than-ever-with-addition-of-women-people-of-color-lgbtq-bishops/#:~:text=Of%20the%2066%20Episcopal%20bishops,than%20one%20of%20those%20categories.">BISHOPS</a> in TEC, 46 are women and 53 are people of color or open homosexuals.</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqoVGhXF4V7f7BogMO3jvk88Qhom9UfzEBcLVYBbgc4afD3G2bSYrlnNr6Lky2azn_mfqxiSzf1A9C6oe_ywaH7b-N2dgiSGf8WfF-kyLEGUU9jKV1FAqgmv6tfUuf-Q1CEUvbTr-wxgUnk3urI5jLuCN05SBLLpo7sDF5R-_6Er8nFy1n4sTGjot/s960/ACNA%20bishops.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqoVGhXF4V7f7BogMO3jvk88Qhom9UfzEBcLVYBbgc4afD3G2bSYrlnNr6Lky2azn_mfqxiSzf1A9C6oe_ywaH7b-N2dgiSGf8WfF-kyLEGUU9jKV1FAqgmv6tfUuf-Q1CEUvbTr-wxgUnk3urI5jLuCN05SBLLpo7sDF5R-_6Er8nFy1n4sTGjot/w640-h360/ACNA%20bishops.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Diversity in the Anglican Church in North America. How many women bishops? None. How many bishops of color? I count 3 of the 41 in the picture. How many white males? 38. </b><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-50657185442176663022023-09-27T17:36:00.003-05:002023-09-27T17:37:18.906-05:00<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-large;"><b>CHANGES AT ST. JAMES'S ANGLICAN</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The previous rector of St. James's Anglican Church, on James Island, Charleston, has apparently been removed from the parish. Last month, the vestry of St. James's asked the Rev. Toby Larson to resign as rector. On today, the parish <a href="https://saint-james.org/our-leadership/">WEBSITE</a></span></b> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>, deleted references to the Rev. Larson, and to the temporary priest-in-charge, the Rev. Timothy Surratt, of St. Michael's, Charleston. The only clergyman now listed for St. James's is the Rev. Richard Grimball, the associate rector. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>On last Sunday, Bishop Edgar visited St. James's to preside over the 10 a.m. Eucharist. The only priest attending him was the Rev. Grimball. Edgar told the congregation there would be more information about the parish situation "later." He refrained from saying anything more on camera. There was to be a parish luncheon after church, so perhaps Edgar talked with the crowd then about the changes in the clergy of the parish. It is hard to imagine what other purpose would explain his visit. A video of the church service is available on St. James's Facebook page.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Grimball is still listed as "Associate Rector" on the church website. Who has become, or will become rector, has not been publicly revealed.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, from this bit of circumstantial evidence it appears that the vestry won its tug-of-war with the former rector. The issues and the handling of the matter have been equally covered in secrecy. I doubt that either of these will ever be publicly revealed. </b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-67923010764357159452023-09-21T11:57:00.048-05:002023-09-26T10:26:50.894-05:00<p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b>MEMBERSHIP TRENDS IN THE TWO DIOCESES</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Episcopal Church recently released its membership statistics for the year 2022. In the last decade, the baptized membership of the national church declined from 2,009,081 in 2013 to 1,584,785 in 2022. This is a fall of 424,279, or 21%. Find TEC's latest statistics <a href="https://www.generalconvention.org/parochialreportresults">HERE</a> .</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What about South Carolina? Let us look at membership in the two dioceses that emerged from the schism of 2012 as related in the official parochial reports.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Baptized membership in the churches of the Episcopal diocese:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2013 - 5,781</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2014 - 6,387</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2015 - 6,706</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2016 - 7,053</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2017 - 7,309</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2018 - 7,587</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2019 - 7,763</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2020 - 7,467</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2021 - 7,254</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2022 - 7,476</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The figures show that in the decade after the schism, the Episcopal diocese gained membership of 1,695, or +29%. Unfortunately, the figures do not tell us how many of these people were new arrivals from off, refugees from schismatic parishes, or new local people.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To be sure, the South Carolina low country has boomed in population growth, particularly the Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Hilton Head areas. The population of Charleston County grew from 361,815 in 2013 to 425,644 in 2023, a rise of 63,829, or +17%.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thus, the growth of the Episcopal diocese is favorable to the overall population growth of lower SC.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Baptized Membership.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2013 - 23,181</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2022 - 18,130</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A decline of 5,051, or -22% in the decade after the schism.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Communicants.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2013 - 17,798</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2022 - 11,673</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A decline of 6,125, or -34%.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Average Sunday Attendance.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2013 - 9,292</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2022 - 8,353</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A decline of 939, or -10%.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The ADSC has seen a severe fall in "communicants," or active members, less so in overall membership and ASA. Still, the ADSC suffered relentless decline in every metric in the decade after the schism of 2012.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CONCLUSION. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Episcopal diocese of SC has enjoyed a 29% rise in membership since the schism of 2012. Thus bucks the trend in the Episcopal Church of the serious decline in membership nationwide. Meanwhile, the new Anglican diocese has suffered significant decline in membership, made even more problematical in view of the booming population of coastal South Carolina.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Unfortunately, the statistics do not reveal the reasons for the steady decline of the ADSC. Surely it would benefit the diocese to make a study of its membership problem which percentage-wise is actually much worse than that of the Episcopal Church. At the rate the ADSC is falling, it will soon face an existential crisis. Where that would lead, no one knows. There is always the possibility the future remnant of the ADSC could melt into ACNA's Diocese of the Carolinas, based in Mt. Pleasant, a Charleston suburb.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Finally, the relentless decline of the ADSC membership makes one wonder about the connection of the schism and God's will. The ADSC leadership has always claimed that what they were doing was favored by God. Every time the ADSC won anything in court (but, not when they lost), their spokespeople proclaimed it as God's will. If the schism and the new diocese were God's will, would not there be some positive manifestation of that by now? Would not God's favor be tangible in some way? One certainly does not see such in the empirical data of the new diocese and given the clear trends, one should not expect to see such in the future.</b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-87368898704369904012023-09-18T14:06:00.000-05:002023-09-18T14:06:17.728-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b>ANGLICAN DIOCESE BUYING NEW CAMP SITE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On September 15, 2023, the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina announced it had entered into a contract to buy 80 acres of land for the development of a camp. The site is on "the north end of Lady's Island, in Beaufort County," and has a mile of waterfront on Broomfield Creek. Find the announcement <a href="https://adosc.org/adosc-moves-to-purchase-land-for-camp-and-retreat-center/">HERE</a> .</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Lady's Island is just east of the town of Beaufort. No purchase price was given although one would imagine a multi-million dollar figure. Since the land is undeveloped, the diocese will have to raise, or borrow, a great deal of additional funds for the construction of camp buildings and infrastructure. Thus, the ADSC will have to tap its members to pay twice, for the land and for the buildings. The name ADSC has chosen is "Camp Jubilee."</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Not too far away stands the Episcopal Diocese's Camp St. Christopher with its 314 acres and oceanfront expanse on Seabrook Island. The new Anglican diocese had occupied this property from the time of the schism, in 2012, until they vacated it, under court ruling, last year. Apparently, the ADSC did not pay any rent for the decade-long use of the Camp (nor for any of the other Episcopal property they occupied, as the bishop's residence). Nevertheless, they are expecting the Episcopal diocese to pay them for improvements in the properties of the seven parishes (the eighth parish was sold to the Anglican occupants) returned to the EDSC. This is the "betterments" suit in circuit court.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-59198060940764199932023-09-15T14:12:00.021-05:002023-09-16T13:27:56.636-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b>ARE BIDEN AND TRUMP TOO OLD TO BE ELECTED PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The talk of the day on the national scene, at least in politics, is the issue of age, specifically whether Biden and Trump are too old for the presidency. Biden would be 82 when sworn in as president in January of 2025 and would be 86 at the end of his term. Trump would be 79 and serve until he age of 83. If age is an issue for Biden, it would have to be for Trump too since he is only three years younger than Biden. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Only once before in American history was age a significant issue in a presidential race, that was with Reagan's election in 1980, at age 69. He easily beat Jimmy Carter. When Reagan ran for reelection, in 1984, at age 73, age was rarely mentioned and he went on to one of the greatest landslide victories in American history. Obviously no one thought age mattered then. He was the oldest president in office up to that time. Ever since Reagan, conservatives have promoted him to iconic stature. Interestingly enough, many of the people who worship Reagan are now loudly protesting that Biden is too old to be elected.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In retrospect, whether Reagan was too old to be reelected is a matter of debate but he did the job until the end although there were rumors of mental decline. In fact, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years after he left office and died of complications of the disease.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Then, of course, South Carolinians would be well aware of Strom Thurmond who served as senator until his late 90's and died at age 100. Age was often mentioned but obviously was never a serious issue in his repeated landslide reelections.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This is not to say that age should never be a factor in politics. Senators Mitch McConnell (age 81) and Diane Feinstein (age 90) are painful to watch on the news. McConnell has blanked out twice on camera and Feinstein sometimes has to be told what is going on. These two should collect their gold watches and ride off into the sunset.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Age by itself should not be the deciding factor in any election. There are people who function quite well into their 80's and even 90's. What should be considered is the condition of the person. Do Biden and Trump have the mental and physical health and stamina necessary for the position of president? That is the question of the day, and a fair one, but unfortunately it is addressed in the context of politics. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Time is of the essence. The first caucus is only four months away and shortly afterwards will come a torrent of primaries. So far, no one has seriously challenged Biden or Trump, and neither man has shown even a glimmer of hesitation. Unless a strong contender appears very soon, both Biden and Trump will win their nominations.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mainly thanks to Republicans, age has been injected into the campaign. As an issue, it will not go away. If nothing else, Fox News will see to that. Many Democrats are terrified that Biden's age could become the focus of the race rather than Trump's vast record of alleged criminality. It is possible that the Republicans will succeed in making Biden's age the overriding question of the election.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">To assess whether Biden is too old, one should consider his record in his present term. In fact, he led the country out of the worst pandemic in a century. His list of accomplishments is long and impressive. Age has not been a factor since his election except in the eyes of his opponents. In fact, his long history of experience has paid off in major ways. This is what people ought to consider before they vote. Consider the man before the age. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The presidential election of 2024 is lining up to be the most important since the Civil War, more than a century and a half ago. The two candidates are very well known. With Biden we get a continuation of the evolution of the egalitarian democratic republic. With Trump we get a fascist dictatorship and the end of the Constitution and the American experiment in democracy. So, the impending election is fundamentally not about a man's age. It is about something far, far more important, the future of the country.</span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-44465320298218108032023-09-11T06:08:00.000-05:002023-09-11T06:08:32.001-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS BLOG</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Today, September 11, 2023, marks the tenth anniversary of this blog. The first entry was on Sept. 11, 2013. My original purpose was twofold: to inform the public of interactions of the two entities post-schism, and to update the public on my progress in writing a history of the schism. I had never had a blog before, and I really had no idea of how things would unfold. Still, I felt it important enough to play it by ear and see how matters occurred after the "divorce" of 2012. Looking back, I am astonished at what happened after the schism, how it happened, and its effects.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It has been a wild roller coaster ride, and one I could never have imagined beforehand. I have always said it is best that we do not know the future. There were two big issues coming out of the schism: who owned the old diocese and who owned the local churches. On the diocese, at first the breakaways insisted they owned it. They got a ruling and injunction from the circuit court to support this. Then, six years later, the federal court said no, the old diocese was the exclusive property of the Episcopal Church. The judge even issued an injunction against the separatists and then twice found them in contempt of court over their violations. On the second issue, local churches, 36 went to court against the Episcopal Church claiming the local properties. The circuit court agreed. Then, the state supreme court said no, 29 of the 36 in question actually belonged to the Episcopal diocese. And then, the lower court said no to that, all local churches owned their own properties. A couple of years later, the state supreme court said no both to itself and the lower court and ruled that 15 of the 36 actually belonged to the Episcopal Church, and then turned around and said on third thought, only 8 of the 36 really belonged to TEC. Perhaps Mr. Toad's Wild Wide would be a good analogy. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As we know now, the diocesan leadership planned the schism. It was not a spontaneous accident. In fact, they had been laying the groundwork within the diocese for many years. In that time, the anti-Episcopal leadership had a virtual monopoly over the public message in the diocese and it was unrelenting in its criticism of the national church. Nevertheless, the pro-Church party in the diocese, although a nearly ignored minority, did not remain silent. Two forces fought back against the increasingly obvious aims of the leadership. The Episcopal Forum tried its best to defend loyalty to the Episcopal Church. The indomitable Steve Skardon provided the only exposure of the shenanigans of the anti-Church leadership. For years, his blog was the sole source of information not controlled by the diocesan leadership. He has not received enough credit for his hard and long work for truth. The next time you see him, give him a big "Thank You."</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Slow to catch on at first, my blog gradually became the second favorite read on the ongoing status of the schism, after Skardon's. In the ten years, there have been over a million hits on its one thousand posts. It proved to be in such demand that after I published my history of the schism, in 2017, I decided to continue the blog to help people stay informed of the still unfolding saga of separation. Here are then ten most popular blog posts:</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1-<a href="http://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-schism-in-episcopal-church-diocese.html">CHRONOLOGY</a>. 15,200 hits. A detailed listing of significant events concerning the schism in time order. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2018/06/c-e-r-t-d-e-n-i-e-d-united-states.html">CERT DENIED</a>. 12,400 hits. June 11, 2018. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to accept the appeal of the separatists challenging the SC Supreme Court ruling of 2017.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-beginning-of-end-this-moment-has.html">THE BEGINNING OF THE END</a>. 6,850 hits. Aug. 26, 2017. I, along with everyone else, assumed the SCSC decision of Aug. 2, 2017 was final. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-remarkable-bishop-remarkable-three.html">A REMARKABLE BISHOP, A REMARKABLE THREE AND A HALF YEARS</a>. 5,310 hits. Sept. 1, 2016. Showing the strength of the Episcopal diocese in the first few years after the break.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">5-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-new-letter-to-this-editor-i-received.html">A NEW LETTER TO THIS EDITOR</a>. 2,710 hits. July 2, 2018. The Rev. Rob Donehue won the blue ribbon with the most popular letter to the editor.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">6-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2017/08/breaking-news-sc-supreme-court-renders.html">BREAKING NEWS!! SC SUPREME COURT RENDERS DECISION</a>. 5,310 hits. Aug. 2, 2017. After five years of litigation, the SCSC handed down a "decision." No one could know this was not a final decision. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">7-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2018/09/september-10-2018-letter-to-this-editor.html">SEPTEMBER 10, 2018--LETTER TO THIS EDITOR</a>. 2,240 hits. Sept. 10, 2018. Wayne Helmly's eloquent letter was the second most popular letter to the editor.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">8-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2013/11/sources-on-history-of-schism-in-south.html">SOURCES</a>. 2,240 hits. 2017+. A bibliography of the primary and secondary sources of the schism in SC.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">9-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2018/08/spin-cycle-preliminary-report-on.html">SPIN CYCLE</a>. 1,800 hits. Aug. 1, 2018. Compilation of first hand accounts of Bishop Lawrence's talk in Sumter. At the time, everyone assumed 29 of the 36 local churches would be returned to TEC.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">10-<a href="https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2018/03/going-out-bishop-lawrence-has-told-his.html">GOING OUT</a>. 1,640 hits. Mar. 14, 2018. Report on Bishop Lawrence's somber address to the diocesan convention when everyone thought 29 parishes were to be returned to TEC.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Since the SCSC decision of 2017 turned out not to be final, I thought about compiling a second volume of the history of the schism to bring the story up to date over the past six years or to revise the original history to add new material. However, I doubt seriously that I will be able to do either. Age is catching up with me and my eyesight is probably not up to the hours of pouring over small print that would be required. In a way this is a shame because I have faithfully collected all the public documents of events all these years. My house is bulging with stacks of paper. However, I am not closing the door. Perhaps the Holy Spirit has other ideas.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meanwhile, my history of the schism is still in print and easily available on Amazon. So far, the publisher has kept the book in print, for six years, but they could take it out of print at any time. If anyone else wants a copy he or she would be wise to go ahead and get it.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Likewise, I have no control over the existence of the blog. This blog space is provided free to me by Google. They own the space, not I. I suppose at any time Google could decide to eliminate my blog. It would be their right. Therefore, people who are seriously interested in the events of the schism should print out "Chronology," at least from Aug. 2, 2017 (the end of the book) because it is a detailed listing of litigation, and other matters, up to the present day. If Google should remove my blog they would be removing Chronology too.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Sources" is a bibliography of the source material of the schism. It needs to be edited and brought up to date since it is six years old. I will work on that the next time I go to the duPont library at Sewanee. It has been a while since I have driven the couple of hours to "the mountain."</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It is interesting to note that readership of my blog has fallen off sharply in the past few months. This is understandable since the bulk of the schism has been settled. I suspect the general feeling among the public now is to accept the reality and move on. Most people passed the point of exhaustion with the schism long ago. I have considered discontinuing the blog but there are still people who want to read what I have to say and, besides, I cannot resist a "classroom." I signed my first contract to teach in college when I was 22 years old.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Too, the schism is not over. There are still loose ends to be wrapped up, and who knows when all of this will occur? There is still an active court case, the separatists suit against TEC for payments for "betterments," that is, improvements the occupants made on the properties returned to the Episcopal diocese. It is not a strong case and I expect it to be tossed out, but this has not happened yet. Moreover, the circuit court is sitting on the Remittitur from the SCSC to effectuate the SCSC ruling on the local parishes and the other decisions.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then there is the question of what is to happen to the Church of the Good Shepherd, in West Ashley, Charleston. The separatists there appealed to the SCSC but the court rejected the appeal and ordered the property to be handed over to the Episcopal diocese. The breakaways have left the property. On yesterday they started meeting at the Northbridge Baptist Church, on Sam Rittenberg Blvd. I have not seen any announcement from the Episcopal diocese about what they plan to do with the now vacant property. I have seen nothing about an Episcopal clergyperson to develop a congregation. In fact, the original worshiping group of West Ashley, that went by the name of St. Francis, has dissolved as the members have moved into nearby Episcopal parishes. These people were mostly refugees from Old St. Andrew's. So, we are all awaiting word from the diocese about what is to happen to the Good Shepherd buildings. It is a desirable location, near the entrance to Charles Towne Landing.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In looking back over the last decade, it would be easy to despair. The ruins of a once great diocese, one of the original nine that founded the Episcopal Church in the 1780's, are still smoldering. The original goal of the anti-Episcopal movement in the 1990's was political. Deep-pocket right wing forces resolved to destroy, or at least severely wound, the Episcopal Church in order to diminish its "liberal" influence in American life. In South Carolina, they found willing allies in the diocese who were pushed by evangelicalism and its parallel socio-cultural conservatism. Spurred on by homophobia and misogyny in defiance of the general movement of the national church, the leaders of the Diocese of South Carolina resolved to remove the bulk of the diocese from the errant larger church. They told their followers they could take the diocese with them, they could keep their local properties, and they could remain in the Anglican Communion. None of this was true. But, that did not matter to most people in the new diocese either.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Not only did the promises turn out to be false, but it quickly became evident that the schism would not be popular. Every metric of church membership in the separatist diocese has shown significant decline in the decade of the schism. Baptized membership dropped from 23,187 in 2013 to 18,130 today. Active members fell sharply from 17,798 in 2013 to 11,637 today. Average Sunday Attendance has declined from 9,292 to 8,353. All of the large parishes, except Church of the Cross in booming Bluffton, have witnessed falling numbers of active members. St. Philip's, of Charleston, went from 2,677 communicants before the schism to 1,249 today. At nearby St. Michael's, the numbers fell from 1,847 before the schism to 747 now. Budgets in the new diocese struggled to keep even, actually declining significantly accounting for inflation. The new diocese joined the Anglican Church in North America which, in spite of its name, is not in the Anglican Communion. It is a separate and independent Christian denomination, and one explicitly formed to keep women and gays from equality and inclusion.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The human and other cost of all this is something even I do not want to contemplate today. I estimate the cost of the litigation has been in the neighborhood of $10m. We will probably never know the true amount since neither side is forthcoming.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, after all is said and done, what good came from the schism? How is anyone better off? It is imperative the we find some good or we will simply drift off into endless despair. I suppose the good we see will depend on where we stand. Just speaking for myself, I see an Episcopal diocese that is brimming with a remarkable zest for human rights. Such a thing was unthinkable in the diocese before 2012. All around I see good church people fighting for the rights all all, gays, women, blacks, the handicapped, you name it. We are called to love one another, not to stand in judgment on them. This I see in wonderful abundance in the new flowering of one of the oldest of all dioceses. This is a new day. This is a new birth. This is the good legacy I see of the schism.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where do we go from here? We go on doing what we believe is the right thing to do. I regret deeply the choices of the majority of the clergy and laity of the diocese in 2012. They brought needless pain and disruption in the Body of Christ. However, I do not question their motives. One can never know what is in another's heart. I question their choices. We can all see the destruction they have caused.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What will happen in the next ten years? God only knows. It is best we do not. We are called to go on to the end keeping the faith and fighting the good fight. The Episcopalians of South Carolina did not ask for the schism, did not deserve it, but when the hour came, they did not shrink from doing the right thing even when it was very hard to do. They are my heroes and this blog is for them.</b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-18165591879051820342023-08-30T15:51:00.003-05:002023-08-30T15:51:57.841-05:00<p> </p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>APPROACHING GETTYSBURG II</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As much as any event, the Battle of Gettysburg determined, at at least symbolized, the inevitable end of the Civil War. If the Confederacy ever had a chance to win that war, it definitely did not after Gettysburg. The Union went on to win the war, to to save the great American experiment in egalitarian democracy.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxGntyplDL7fgmFhly52uoRec_HeTUkxfexpfQUi-r_INMy3cuzcJ5O1Ep1stYb-RB0Q_xb-5UDNONaIyxKZm3Nt9tCWMPtwl9NkNQHolX0sGv1Kb5gmaRajVRktv1sjBQICSwRBEtOiC7JC-5vbfSdwvy7jZGWXvKG-bQRZBX8GKIdUSb-ihNV8b/s744/Gettysburg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="744" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxGntyplDL7fgmFhly52uoRec_HeTUkxfexpfQUi-r_INMy3cuzcJ5O1Ep1stYb-RB0Q_xb-5UDNONaIyxKZm3Nt9tCWMPtwl9NkNQHolX0sGv1Kb5gmaRajVRktv1sjBQICSwRBEtOiC7JC-5vbfSdwvy7jZGWXvKG-bQRZBX8GKIdUSb-ihNV8b/w640-h310/Gettysburg.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We are now approaching a new Gettysburg. This new battle, as the old, will very likely determine whether the democracy so hard won will continue, or whether America will turn to a fascist state. This is not hyperbole. This is reality.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As I have said repeatedly, America is now locked in a terrible culture war. The schism in South Carolina is the little sliver of that war on which we have focused for all these years. The bigger picture is this: 1-whether America will continue to evolve as an egalitarian democracy as it transitions into a multi-cultural nation-state of minorities, and 2-whether the reactionary counter-revolutionaries will diminish democracy enough to retain the old social structure under minority rule. Unfortunately, the two big political parties have chosen sides. The Democrats are champions of #1 and the Republicans have locked into #2. The majority of Republicans have adopted as their hero the former president, Donald Trump, even in defiance of the fact that he has been formally charged in court with ninety-one felonies against the United States. We now have proof that the serious right-wing elements in this country are planning, in detail, to transform the U.S. into a fascist dictatorship once Trump is elected president in 2024.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This "Mein Kampf" just came out. The Heritage Foundation recently published a nearly-1,000 page manifesto outlining how they intend to do this. Find "Project 2025" <a href="https://www.heritage.org/conservatism/commentary/project-2025">HERE</a> . Find an article about this <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/conservatives-aim-to-restructure-u-s-government-and-replace-it-with-trumps-vision">HERE</a> . It is chilling. In a nutshell, it seeks to create a fascist state under the power of the president who would be a virtual dictator. It is to fire some 50,000 federal employees right off and replace them with right-wing activists who will carry out the dictatorship. Independent law functions as the Department of Justice and the FBI will be subjugated to the president. Meanwhile, the free press will be muzzled and Congress will be reduced to a Duma. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Lest anyone just sweep this all aside as a lot of impossible nonsense, do not forget the highly formidable track record the Heritage Foundation has already laid down. It was the HF that engineered the transformation of the U.S. Supreme Court into a counter-revolutionary force. Interesting to note that Project 2025 does not mention SCOTUS. No need to tinker with institutions already transformed. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In sum, the organized right-wing forces in present-day America have planned in minute detail to turn America from a democratic republic into a fascist dictatorship. They are making no attempt to hide, or even disguise this. Quite the contrary, they are right out front and everyone would be wise to read Project 2025.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I am eighty years old. When I was growing up, I never dreamed I would see such a state of affairs in my country in my lifetime. I always assumed, without even thinking about it, that democracy was the natural evolution of our country. As a white southerner who grew up under Jim Crow, I have seen giant steps toward racial reconciliation. We are not at equality yet, but I can assure you we are light years ahead of the crushing discrimination endemic in the South before the 1960's. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And so this culture war we are enduring is the test of whether we will continue down the long, and albeit rocky road, toward a greater democratic republic where all people are treated equally and all are equal participants in power, or whether we roll back democratic gains in order to keep the old order in power. The old order is on the verge of becoming a minority group that will have to compete with others for power. This old order is essentially white men. They are the ones who feel most threatened by the loss of power to women, blacks, hispanics, asians, homosexuals, you name it. They are the ones driving the Trump train to fascism. And, they have a powerful voice in the Heritage Foundation. </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So, the election next year is simple. Do we want to continue developing the democratic republic, or do we want to roll back democracy in order to keep the old minority establishment in power. In short, democracy or fascism?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My (very long) study of history tells me that democracy will win out but that it may be a long and hard road with a lot of switchbacks. It is not a straight road and it is not easy. Let's look at the other three great western democracies. England arrived at democracy by a long and hard process. They chopped off the head of a king (1649) and kicked out another legitimate monarch (1688) before very gradually moving more power into the hands of the ordinary people. It took more than a century to reach universal suffrage in Great Britain. France violently overthrew the Old Regime (1789), chopped off thousands of heads, then spent the next century with revolutions until they finally settled on a democratic republic. Germany gained a democratic republic only as a bitter pill of the First World War. The Weimar Republic lasted a decade until it was infamously overthrown by arguably the worse regime in human history. Only in total defeat and destruction did the Germans decide to go with a democratic republic. England, France, and Germany are all prosperous, strong democratic states today but it was anything but easy for them to get there. We American have had an easier (but---do not forget the Civil War) way but now we are confronted by the internal divisions in our own society. Can a multi-cultural nation-state also be a democratic republic? </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We Americans are now being put to the test. Polls these days show a toss up between Biden and Trump in next year's election. The worst thing people who love democracy, and the great American experiment, can do now is to ignore the existential threat of the hour. It will not go away. Democracy is not an inevitable guarantee of history. Just ask the British, French, and Germans. We Americans are on the road to Gettysburg. The great battle will determine which is the stronger force in American life, democracy or fascism.</span></b></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572161440601823804.post-48196279063220592652023-08-24T16:14:00.016-05:002023-08-25T09:31:02.261-05:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT'S "SLIPPERY SLOPE TO IRRELEVANCE"</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, Donald Beatty, ended his opinion in yesterday's <a href="https://www.sccourts.org/opinions/HTMLFiles/SC/28174.pdf">DECISION</a> (p. 50-51) with two big conclusions. First, that the 2021 and 2023 state laws on abortion were virtually identical and that the court had already declared the 2021 law to be unconstitutional because of its gross violation of the right to privacy; and second, that the supreme court had abdicated its power to the state legislature. Both of these are very serious issues that will have profound ramifications for the people of South Carolina for years to come. Beatty wrote: <i>This outcome is not an affirmation of the separation of powers, as the majority declares, but an abdication of this Court's duty to ascertain the constitutionality of the challenged legislation.</i> He ended with this warning: <i>This lack of judicial independence renders a court powerless and places it on the edge of a slippery slope to irrelevance.</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It seems to me Beatty is saying the SCSC has become nothing more than a puppet of the state legislature. Therefore, it is one more political institution controlled by the social reactionaries who have a super majority in the SC state assembly. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>One will recall that SC is one of only two states in the United States in which the state legislature elects all the judges and justices in the state court system (federal courts are under national and not state jurisdictions). The five justices of the SCSC are elected by the legislature for ten year terms and may be reelected any number of times until the mandatory retirement (end of the calendar year in which the judge/justice reaches the age of 72). The legislature also chooses the chief justice. The present Chief Justice, Beatty, has to retire by Dec. 31, 2024. Before then, the assembly will elect his replacement. Obviously no one objectionable to the reactionary majority will get onto the bench.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The increasing politicization of the state courts was reflected in the courts' handling of the church schism case. The majority of the SCSC strained hard to find ways to give the local properties to the separatist parishes. It took them five years but they did remove 21 local churches from Episcopal Church ownership after the initial SCSC decision of 2017 had recognized 29 of the 36 in question as property of TEC. Of the 29, TEC wound up with 8. The fundamental issue in contention of the schism was the rights of homosexuals to have full equality and inclusion in the life of the church, the TEC in favor and the separatists opposed. The SCSC was obviously reflecting the will of the socially reactionary state legislature.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It must have been quite a surprise, then, when the SCSC issued a long and detailed decision on January 5, 2023 declaring unconstitutional the 2021 law of the state assembly which banned abortions after six weeks. Justice Kaye Hearn, the only woman on the SCSC at the time, wrote a masterful opinion declaring the law to be an outright violation of privacy and equal protection under the law. She was joined by Beatty and Few who supported her reasoning. Justices Kittredge and James wrote dissenting opinions defending the legislature's power to override a woman's privacy in defense of an embryo/fetus's rights. (BTW---there were five separate opinions in yesterday's decision. Each justice contributed his/her own opinion. When the SCSC issued its decision in the church case, on Aug. 5, 2017, it too had five separate opinions. At that time, the breakaways declared that, because there were five opinions, the court was "fractured" without a majority---absurd then as now. There were clear-cut majority decisions.)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Even though the majority in the assembly must have been stung by the court's rejection of the 2021 abortion law, they had only to bide their time, and not for long. Hearn had to retire on Dec. 31, 2022. The legislature lost no time. On February 8, 2023, they elected a white man as her replacement. This made the SCSC four white men and one black man (Beatty---to retire on 2024). SC is the only state in the union with an all-male supreme court. It was all so obvious.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Then, the legislature passed a new abortion law that, according to the Chief Justice was exactly like the earlier law---a six week ban. They made only a few semantic changes while ignoring the SCSC decision of Jan. 5. The court accelerated the new law's appearance before the bench. Seven months later (remember the SCSC held the church case for five years), and <i>voilà </i>the SCSC revokes its Jan. 5 decision and approved the new law.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The vote in the August 23 decision was 4-1. Only the Chief Justice voted to keep the earlier decision. The other justice who had voted in the majority flipped to the reverse. Justice Few had agreed with Hearn on Jan. 5 that the 2021 law was a violation of privacy. This time he changed his mind. He held the new law gave "reasonable" protection for privacy. He voted with Justices Kittredge and James to uphold the 2023 law even though the 2021 and 2023 laws both virtually banned abortion after six weeks. To no one's surprise, the new justice, D. Garrison Hill, joined Kittredge, James, and Few making it 4-1. The majority opinion was written by Kittredge who had contributed a long dissent in the Jan. 5 ruling. There is talk he is the favorite to succeed Beatty as CJ. If he is angling to replace Beatty, his roles on Jan. 5 and Aug. 23 should improve his chances in the state assembly. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As the church case, in the short run, what the SCSC has done is a smashing victory for the social reactionaries in South Carolina. The court has struck major blows against human rights for homosexuals and for women in the state, all for the sake of preserving some antique vision of the proper social structure. There is no sense in pretending otherwise. However, as Chief Justice Beatty has pointed out, the long term cost may be profound. The SCSC has greatly weakened its standing as a co-equal branch of the government by shamelessly reversing itself, apparently to please the majority in the state legislature, who after all put the judges on the bench. We should worry, along with CJ Beatty that the SCSC is on the road to irrelevance. Its recent actions in the church and abortion cases strongly suggest the thorough politicization of the SCSC. So much for Montesquieu's theory of checks and balances.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In conclusion, all this leads us back to the big picture which we should keep in mind. Equal rights for homosexuals and women are parts of the overall culture war raging in contemporary America. The great democratic revolution of post-WWII America brought us giant steps in equal rights and inclusion for blacks, women, homosexuals, and other minorities. That ongoing evolution is happening at the same time that America is changing into a multi-cultural society composed entirely of minorities. This reality has produced a backlash of the social elements that had monopolized power and now feel threatened, namely the white male. This anti-democratic backlash has control of practically all of the southern state legislatures and offices. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The reactionaries in America have succeeded in overturning a woman's right to control her own body. However, this may well be the bridge too far. There are signs all over the country that women are not going to settle for this state of affairs. The vast majority of women, and in fact of Americans, favor sensible laws to protect a woman's right of autonomy and privacy. It looks more and more as if the momentum nationally is shifting back to the democratic side. Apparently the counter-revolution is not strong enough to sustain its victory in the courts. Where all this goes from here is an open question. Having failed in the last national election, extreme counter-revolutionaries turned to violence. They tried to overthrow the government while threatening the lives of the elected leaders. They could try again.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p>Ronald Caldwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02799023057151938668noreply@blogger.com