[Magdalen] 2nd priest in SC returns to The Episcopal Church

[Jim Guthrie]

From: Ginga Wilder

>It is complicated.  The Lawrence group brought real property into the
>picture when they sued TEC in January 2013 and later TECSC.  So, you will
>need to ask the Lawrence folks about that.  In addition, the bishops and

I thought there was that whole business about quitclaim deeds sometime earlier.

>do with the huge church plant of the Lawrence church in Summerville...I'll
>leave that legal minds.)

Unless the church is full and viable, it might be useful not to leave it to 
legal minds.

>TEC and SC want some things returned: our name (The Episcopal Diocese of
>SC), our marks (Diocesan shield, etc.) and some diocesan property that
>belongs to TEC/TECSC.

I'd want someone to evaluate all the Lawrence parishes to determine which ones 
TEC-SC might want back in some sort of settlement or Rector return with
property and parish and vestry and congregation support. It may be that it would 
not reflect good stewardship to take some of the big old expensive non-viable 
barns back. Let the Lawrence people have keep 'em.

>The returning clergy are not part of the lawsuit.

So Far.

But what happens if a Rector and vestry and majority of the congregation want to 
come back with their quitclaim deed in hand?

What happens if that parish is a viable one and Lawrence contests it?

OTOH, what happens if they are not viable, can’t pay their Bills and Lawrence 
has suggested they close or merge and they don’t want to, so come back (suitably 
repentant).

I know these are iffy questions, and may not be answerable. But from evaluating 
what's out there in Lawrenceland might be a useful project, especially now that 
you're into this several years later.

Cheers,
Jim

Ginga



On Sat, Mar 28, 2015 at 9:48 AM, Jim Guthrie <jguthrie at pipeline.com> wrote:

>
> From: Ginga Wilder
>
>  And, nope.  This is not about property.  TEC and TECSC have just appealed
>> the SC Circuit Court decision on behalf of the Lawrence Church.  You may
>> read that announcement here:
>>
>
> http://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/news-release-march-24-2015.html
>
> If it's not about property, why spend money on an appeal?
>
> I've spent a lot of time and years on vestries and vestry committees --
> and I can't believe that even on parish in SC followed Lawrence out of TEC
> (the real one) without the Rector leading the charge. But are you saying if
> these clergy come back, it's only on their own and they suddenly no longer
> have any influence over its congregation and vestry?
>
> Now if you said the two clergy members who've come back were disconnected
> from their parishes (or any parish) that might be worth noting. Is that the
> case?
>
> Cheers,
> Jim Guthrie
>