[Magdalen] South Carolina court case

[Eleanor Braun]

There is a comment up on the diocesan website.
http://www.episcopalchurchsc.org/

*A Message from Bishop Adams:*

The South Carolina Supreme Court today issued a ruling in our appeal of the
state court decision in Dorchester County, and that decision is generally
in favor of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. We are grateful for
this decision and for the hard work of the court in rendering it. We also
give thanks to God for the faithfulness, support, and sacrifices of
countless Episcopalians within our diocese and throughout the Church.

This is a lengthy and detailed ruling, and our legal team and leadership
will be studying it closely in the days ahead. It is important to note that
the legal system allows for periods of judicial review and possible appeal,
so it will be some time before we can say with certainty what the journey
ahead will look like. Please be patient and know that we will keep you
updated along the way as information becomes available to us.

As clergy and lay leaders, you are likely to have opportunities to respond
to the ruling within your congregation, as well as to the wider public. As
you consider what to say, please keep in mind that

- This ruling is one step on a longer journey and much is unknown at this
point. Speculation will not be helpful.

- We can give thanks to God while avoiding excessive celebration. Kindness
and graciousness are in order.

- Remember that our ultimate goal is reconciliation and unity, joining with
our Lord in the desire that we all may be one.

- We ask for your ongoing prayer for the life of the Church in the service
of Christ.

In the next few days, we will continue to communicate with the clergy and
lay leadership about what is taking place. A formal statement from the
Bishop’s Office will be issued to the public later today. We anticipate
calling a meeting soon for diocesan leadership to review the decision,
receive legal advice and consider the next steps.

If concerns arise or situations develop that we need to be aware of, or
that you would like guidance about, please be in touch with my office by
phone or email.

Bishop Skip Adams
​----------------------------------

Eleanor

On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 1:12 PM, Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:

> Yes, finally we have the SCSC decision announced!!  It is a partial
> decision in favor of TEC and TECSC.  Things are buzzing here.  I anticipate
> the Bishop and Chancellor will comment on all this later today.
>
> Ginga
>
> On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 12:59 PM, Roger Stokes <
> roger.stokes65 at btinternet.com
> > wrote:
>
> > My quick reading is that nobody won - apart from the lawyers.  The
> crucial
> > intellectual property case (who can call themselves the Diocese of South
> > Carolina) is now to be determined in federal court but some properties
> are
> > to be returned to TEC, notably the historic (and probably more expensive
> to
> > maintain and perhaps less more in need of modernisation) buildings.  The
> > next chapter now begins but at least it takes the block off the federal
> > case being heard.
> >
> > Roger
> >
> >
> > On 02/08/2017 17:32, Eleanor Braun wrote:
> >
> >> Two years after being argued, a split decision:
> >>
> >> http://www.postandcourier.com/news/state-supreme-court-parti
> >> ally-reverses-lower-court-ruling-in-episcopal/article_
> >> 260f5402-778c-11e7-8710-5facadfd7bca.html
> >>
> >>
> >
>