[Magdalen] South Carolina court case

Wed Aug 2 23:33:58 UTC 2017

Thank you, Eleanor.  You are way ahead of me.  I just came here to post the
pastoral letter from Bp Skip Adams.

I am working my way through the decision in preparation for a meeting in
the diocese on Friday.

It seems as if Roger had the goods....the decision on intellectual property
will be decided by the case already in the Federal Court.  That simplifies
something that needs simplifying.

The people on this list have helped me navigate this long journey from
radical shift in the diocese through discipline of Mark Lawrence into
schism and beyond to resurrection of a baby and growing new Episcopal
congregation in Summerville, SC.  I don't have words to describe my
gratitude.

Here's what I'm feeling right now.  This is not a day of celebration. In
hearing of the SCSC decision today, I feel unbound like Lazarus was
unbound. I expect there will be appeals coming down the road.  So, we are
still bound but indeed with a bit more freedom.  I am thinking of how the
people on the other side of this decision are feeling.  I know their sense
of devastation.  We are called to reconcile and I pray that  will happen as
we go forward, as the godawful wounds left by the schism heal.  We are all
called to unity in Christ.  Let it be so.

Ginga

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On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 4:56 PM, Eleanor Braun <eleanor.braun at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> >
>