Local Episcopal churches react to court decision

A state court decision Tuesday allowing break-away congregations of the Episcopal church to keep some $500 million in property was applauded by several Beaufort County rectors whose members split from the national church.

Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein ruled The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina owns the properties, which include historic The Church of the Cross in Bluffton, The Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Ridgeland, and St. Luke's Church on Hilton Head Island. The churches were among 36 that have withdrawn from the national Episcopal Church since 2012.

Though some local leaders said they have made peace with the diocese's break based on theological differences, they were pleased the judge reaffirmed their decision.

"We feel the rule of law has been upheld," said The Rev. Charles Owens III, rector of The Church of the Cross.

The group of churches that did not break away -- called The Episcopal Church in South Carolina -- said Wednesday it will recommend the national church appeal the court's decision.

"The result of the recent trial was not unexpected and (the) road ahead in the judicial system is clear to us," Chancellor Thomas S. Tisdale Jr. said in a news release.

Other states' dioceses have seen similar departures. In South Carolina, conservative parishes opposed the national church's approval of gay bishops and same-sex unions.

But Owens said the dispute came to a head over a much larger issue -- interpretation of the Bible and Christian beliefs.

"If you depart from fundamental Christian faith, there's no other issue that's near as important," he said Wednesday. "Is the Bible fundamentally true or not? Do we as Christians sit under scripture or can we rewrite scripture to suit ourselves? Is right or wrong determined by society or is it determined by scripture?"

Tuesday's court order -- which followed a trial this summer -- dealt with law, not theology.

For the Parish Church of St. Helena, one of the oldest active churches in the country, the ruling means the church will retain ownership of its 290-year-old building in downtown Beaufort.

The building that originally housed St. Luke's Church was destroyed during the Civil War. Ridgeland's Holy Trinity, a Carpenter Gothic-style church, was built in 1858.

Holy Trinity's rector, however, said property was not on his mind when he learned of the development in the diocese's lawsuit.

"We feel the court has vindicated the position that we have maintained, that we are the true Diocese of South Carolina," The Rev. James Gibson said. "We are simply seeking to be faithful to what we believe."

Shortly after his congregation voted in 2013 to join South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence in leaving the national church, a small group of members made their own exit. They formed the Episcopal Church in Okatie and now belong to the Episcopal Church in South Carolina.

Also remaining with the national church locally are All Saints Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Island -- whose spokesman declined to comment on the ruling Wednesday -- and St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Port Royal -- which could not be reached for comment.

The Rev. Jeffrey Miller of the Parish Church of St. Helena, said that while the legal battle is not over, he was deeply gratified by the diocese's progress.

"In the midst of this, the work at St. Helena's has gone on as usual," Miller said."... (But) I think we're happy to know this hurdle is over."

Follow reporter Rebecca Lurye on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Rebecca.

Related content:

• After the split: Former Holy Trinity members slowly build Episcopal worshipping community of their own , January 4, 2014

This story was originally published February 4, 2015 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Local Episcopal churches react to court decision ."