[Magdalen] Movement in The Episcopal Church in SC

[Ginga Wilder]

Thank you, Roger.
Ginga

On Thu, May 3, 2018 at 3:11 PM, Roger Stokes via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

> On 03/05/2018 18:07, Ginga Wilder wrote:
>
>> Thanks, Eleanor.  We are delighted that this FAQ is now published.  A HUGE
>> thing because we were encouraged by the local federal judge not to wait on
>> SCOTUS to decline to hear or decide to hear the appeal from the Lawrence
>> church.  That is huge....indeed!  The state and federal courts have been
>> deciding for TEC and TECSC, but no action has been taken.  The federal
>> judge in Charleston said we should simply take control of the properties
>> that are ours.  We are not acting in such an aggressive way.
>>
>
> I would have been very surprised if you did as it is not the way you have
> conducted yourselves to date. That has been marked by courtesy and
> restraint without capitulating.
>
> Good Shepherd, Summerville has continued to grow, especially since our new
>> priest-in-charge arrived last July.  He is engaged in the parish, rather
>> than just doing Sunday worship.  Not leaving all of that to the laity
>> truly
>> makes a difference with the parish's sense of well-being.  Don't get me
>> wrong, our laity take our lay ministries seriously.  A joy and a peace is
>> present when Good Shepherd gathers that is contagious.  Since the earliest
>> days of the split, I noticed that presence in our congregation.  I told
>> the
>> Standing Committee when I was a member that I had studied about being the
>> body of Christ all of my adult life...and now, I/we are living that out in
>> ways we never imagined.  I confess that the schism has been a good thing
>> for Episcopalians...a real chance to let that which needed to die, die and
>> let new life grow in our midst.  Alleluia.
>>
>
> I remember very early in my ordained ministry the parish I was in had five
> churches in different parts of town. I preached in one of the daughter
> churches, less than 15 minutes walk from the parish church, one Sunday when
> reorganization was being discussed. I said that the Church is the people,
> not the building. Boy, was I taken to task over that observation!
>
> Good Shepherd has not made any decision about buildings, but we will begin
>> talking soon at a vestry retreat.  The St. Paul's plant has 5 buildings,
>> including two recent constructions that are enormous.  One is a
>> multi-purpose building where St. Paul's renewal service is held...seats
>> 450
>> people.  Another is a 22,000 sq ft children's ministry building.  Other
>> buildings are an 1857 church building, a 1924 community services building
>> (original parish hall), and a 1970s office building.  The property is
>> surrounded on two sides with a cemetery that dates to the mid 1800s.  This
>> is a beautiful property.  Our parish is small - just over 100 members,
>> including children -- 45 units.  SO, if we choose to go back into the
>> property, great plans will need to be made so that we can afford this
>> step.  (This parish dates to 1829 on this site, having been formed from
>> two
>> colonial parishes nearer Charleston.
>>
>> So, we are doing well.  Please  pray that we will choose well and continue
>> to flourish as the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville.
>>
>
> Yes, there would be the very real danger that if you took over that plant
> then running it would distract you from the mission you have found -
> ministering God's love and emulating Christ.
>
> Roger
>