Local church leaders on both sides of Episcopal split confident as appeal begins

South Carolina's Supreme Court began hearing arguments Wednesday in an appeal of a lower court decision allowing a group of Episcopal churches that broke away from the national organization to hold onto valuable church property and symbols.

Locally, church leaders on both sides of the schism say they believe their cause will prevail.

"I'm confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the excellent ruling from the lower court," The Rev. James Gibson, rector of Holy Trinity Church in Ridgeland said earlier this week.

Holy Trinity is one of 36 conservative congregations to split with the national church since 2012 over issues such the national church's approval of gay bishops and same-sex unions.

Earlier this year, a state court ruled the break-away churches can keep $500 million in church property and continue use to their symbols, seals and other identifiers.

The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, made up of 30 congregations that remained affiliated with the national church, appealed the decision.

Gibson said if the state's high court "agree(s) with the lower court, (the appeal decision) will have no effect (on his church's operations) whatsoever."

But, he added, "We are prepared for any contingencies if it doesn't go our way. But as I say, we are very confident the Supreme Court will side with us."

The break-away churches are known collectively as The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and include other local congregations such as The Church of the Cross in Bluffton, The Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort and St. Luke's Church on Hilton Head Island.

All Saints Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Island and St. Mark's Episcopal Church are among the congregations that have remained with the national church.

The Rev. Richard Lindsey, rector of All Saints, said he believes the high court will overturn the lower court ruling.

"But I wish it didn't have to come to a court case. I wish we could work it out without involving the courts," he said.

Arguments in the appeal began at 10:30 a.m. and can be streamed online at http://scetv.org/events/supreme-court.

Follow reporter Lucas High on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.

Related content:

• Local Episcopal churches react to court decision, Feb. 2, 2015

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Local church leaders on both sides of Episcopal split confident as appeal begins."