[Magdalen] SC property case

[Ginga Wilder]

Thank you, Sally.  One of my favorite hymn with lyrics for our circumstance
today.

I know the odds that this schism may not be healed.  And, each community is
unique unto itself.  Summerville, even with an incorporated population over
50,000 and another 50,000 in areas around town proper, has a small town
quality.  When I grew up in Summerville 65-70 years ago, there were 3000
citizens - and everyone knew everyone.  We have grown, to say the least.
Our newcomers through the years are retirees, young families coming for
jobs in surrounding industry, development companies, medical professionals
and staff, etc.  We are known as a politically conservative community, but
as newcomers enter our area, folks who lean leftward politically also
settle here.

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd has been the beneficiary of
Summerville's newcomer population.  The Episcopal Church has grown more and
more progressive theologically in the past 50+ years.  Newcomers seeking
that kind of church, particularly an Episcopal Church have joined our
congregation.  This trend will continue.  And, yes, those who are members
of Lawrence churches will need to work through their sense of loss and stay
with their friends.  I do believe in generations to come, some family
members of that church will return.  We give that to God.

Our bishop and diocesan staff has some good plans in place to reach out
personally to the Lawrence congregations.    Of course, we wish everyone
would just come back, but that is not realistic.  We will get some folks
back, as they choose again to stay with the buildings. It is important that
our personal judgment of their decisions be kept quietly and at a minimum.
We give that to God also.

We pray that the Episcopal Church in SC will thrive again.  I will give my
energy to that, as I have all of my life.

Ginga


On Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 3:02 AM Sally Davies <sally.davies at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dearest Ginga
>
> Thanksgivings and praise. It has been such a long road and you have played
> your part! As have we in the listening, supporting and praying these many
> years.
>
> History says that such schisms cannot be repaired, but the Lord of Peace
> and Lord of Years is at work!
>
>
> Crown Him the Lord of peace,
>   Whose power a scepter sways
> From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
>   And all be prayer and praise.
>   His reign shall know no end,
>   And round His pierced feet
> Fair flowers of glory now extend
>   Their fragrance ever sweet.
>
> And in more contemporary mode:
>
> https://youtu.be/iZvZWUZFevI
>
> Indeed, honesty comes with a price, as always in this world. May you and
> your church family enter a season of harvest joy my sister!
>
> Sally D
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On 12 Jun 2018, at 01:29, Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks, dear friends of this journey!
> >
> > So, wanna know what Lawrence, et al are doing?  Here is Ron Caldwell, our
> > historian and clarifier through these years, says:
> >
> https://episcopalschismsc.blogspot.com/2018/06/defiance-many-of-you-readers-have.html
> >
> > I do feel a lot of compassion for those in the pews who were so badly led
> > astray.
> > Ginga
> >
> > On Mon, Jun 11, 2018 at 5:46 PM Rick Mashburn <ricklmashburn at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Cheers rising from Notting Hill, London!
> >>
> >> Peace, Rick
> >>
> >>> On Mon, Jun 11, 2018, 10:01 Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> The Episcopal Church in SC
> >>>
> >>> *U.S. Supreme Court Denies Certiorari,will not hear church property
> case*
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> https://mailchi.mp/episcopalchurchsc/supremecourtdecisionjune2018?e=bfa235e9ac
> >>>
> >>> +++
> >>> Episcopalians in SC no longer stand at a fork in the road, waiting to
> >> hear
> >>> what is coming next.  The road ahead is clear, after going on 6 years
> of
> >>> schism.  We can move forward as The Episcopal Church.  It is meet and
> >> right
> >>> that we are allowed to follow this road, but it promises to be arduous
> >>> along the way.  No one is gloating over the supreme court decision not
> to
> >>> grant cert, which would simply have extended the time and increase the
> >>> unnecessary expenditure of money on for lawyers fees, etc.
> >>>
> >>> Today is the most important day in the schism thus far.  Bp Lawrence
> has
> >>> called a meeting of his clergy for Thursday.  My guess is that it will
> >> take
> >>> time for them to inwardly digest what this decision means for them.
> Let
> >> us
> >>> pray for the people in the Lawrence pews, as well as the leadership and
> >>> people of The Episcopal Church in SC.
> >>>
> >>> Thank you to each of you who has listened to my anxious posting over
> the
> >>> years...actually since 1997, as I anticipated what what to come.
> >>>
> >>> Blessings,
> >>> Ginga Wilder
> >>>
> >>
>