South Carolina Episcopalians

First Judicial Circuit Judge Edgar Dickson of Orangeburg will preside over what many believe will be beginning of the end for ex-Bishop Lawrence's schism. SC Episcopalians will be there and posting all the latest news as it happens.

October 22, 2018

No Word on Hearing by Orangeburg Judge Charged with Implementing Supreme Court Ruling

South Carolina's judicial system continues to get a failing grade for its incompetent handling of the January 2013 lawsuit brought by ex-Bishop Mark Lawrence.

First Judicial Circuit Judge Edgar Dickson was charged by the state Supreme Court with implementing its largely pro-Episcopal Church ruling in the case nearly a year ago... and has not even held a hearing. Last August he told lawyers on both sides that he would schedule a hearing on the case before the end of October, but so far nothing is scheduled.

October 16, 2018
Lawrencians Throw Everything plus Kitchen Sink at Judge Hoping to Force Re-Opening of 2013 Lawsuit
In court filings today in Orangeburg, breakaway lawyers continued to bash the state's 2017 Supreme Court ruling, while furiously battling the Church's request for a full accounting of Diocesan and parish finances.

October 11, 2018
Bishop Adams, Diocesan Leaders Take to Facebook to Talk Reconciliation & Legal Cases
South Carolina Bishop Skip Adams and his leadership team took to social media tonight to ramp up their reconciliation efforts with followers of former Bishop Mark Lawrence, while offering insights into his vision for The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Read more.

September 24, 2018

Breakaway Lawyers Still Resisting the Inevitable, as Both Sides Submit Final Briefs to Judge Dickson

Circuit Judge Edgar Dickson has only been authorized to implement the August 2017 state Supreme Court decision that ended Mark Lawrence's aborted schism, but that has not stopped breakaway lawyers from pummeling the Orangeburg jurist with demands that he overturn key parts of the decision.

In routine filings in Dickson's court today, Lawrence's lead attorney Alan Runyan continued his attacks on the Court majority, using quotes from the opinions of the losing side to hammer away at what he argues is a ruling that is too vague to be enforced. Read full story.

September 4, 2018

Judge Dickson Schedules Late October Hearing on Pending Motions in Implementation of Court Decision

In 2015, his colleague rendered one of the most reckless and costly decisions ever handed down in the state's First Judicial District, so perhaps Circuit Judge Edgar Dickson should not be cussed too much for being painfully careful in implementing the state Supreme Court's 13-month-old decision in Lawrence's lawsuit.

August 9, 2018

Federal Court Sets False Advertising Trial for March

August 8, 2018
Lawrence's Last Hurrah Tour Leaves Followers with Confusion about the Future, & Blame for Everyone Else
Rambling commentary touches on 2015 settlement offer, revisionist history, human genitalia, and questionable legal advice

August 3, 2018
Church, Breakaway Attorneys Lay Out Concerns over Implementation of S.C. Supreme Court Decision
Judge had asked them to come up with a list of their expectations for his work ahead; Each list reflected positions taken in prior filings

July 31 - August 7, 2018

Lawrence's Diocesan Tour Gets Underway

Part I (July 31)

Same Ole, Same Ole

In Sumter, Lawrence still blames others for imaginary "war"; sadly insists his lawsuit is still alive

Part II (Aug 1)

Betterments Lawsuit Will Go Nowhere

By bringing a nuisance lawsuit under the Betterments law, returning parishes concede defeat and accept the 2017 Supreme Court decision

Part III (Aug 2):
Lawrence Plays the Victim Card
In Walterboro former SC bishop demonizes Church leaders, refuses to admit any blame, then urges his supporters to raise money for lawyers. He appears to be more aware of his own legal culpability than in the past.

Part IV (Aug 3):

Adams Actually Tried to Help Nearly Insolvent Breakaway Parish in Binghamton Buy its Building
Lawrence is trying to smear Bishop Adams during his tour by exploiting the sale of a vacant parish building in Adams' former Diocese ten years ago. Court records shows Judge was infuriated by financial irregularities and apparent hiding of assets when controversial rector was in charge.

Part V (Aug. 4):

Lawrence 'Conversations' Still based on Old and Misleading Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Even Lawrence loyalists are confused over his insistence the lawsuit is still alive; His high command still can't prove there was ever any threat to the Diocese from the wider Church (This link takes you to our July 1st response to each FAQ)

July 26, 2018

Implementation of 2017 Supreme Court Ruling Begins
Judge Dickson: I don’t want this case to drag out. I need to move this along, and you all need to get some resolution

July 25, 2018

Out of Options? Attack, Attack, Attack

From secret Muslim to Snake, Bishop Adams' reputation is just the latest target in a long line of character assassination and ugly innuendo aimed at Lawrence's perceived enemies

July 23, 2018
His Episcopate in Shambles, Lawrence Planning Rally to Stem Defection as Legal Reality Set In

July 20, 2018
Lawrence's Allies Lash Out at Reconciliation Initiative
Letter from Peter Moore is one of the milder attacks; SC Episcopalians offers comments on anti-Muslim prejudice, GAFCON, Sin, Anglican Jesuses, Matt Kennedy, and much more

July 18, 2018
Bishop Adams Upbeat about Reconciliation Initiative after Meetings in Conway, Bluffton, & Charleston
'Three Conversations' to help heal broken Diocese were well-attended and productive, in spite of pharisees' efforts to undermine him

July 15, 2018

Bishop Adams Invites Returning Congregations to Restore Their Ministries within the Church

Post & Courier publishes his invitation to Reconciliation

July 11, 2018
Church Attorneys Demand Full Accounting, Audits of Lawrence Organization & Parishes
Worst kept secret of the Lawrence schism was that its leaders were attempting to hide assets from the courts in the event secession effort failed; Judge sets July 26 for status conference in the case

July 2, 2018
Setting the Record Straight: SC Episcopalians Responds to Lawrencian Spin Doctors
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions leave even Lawrence fans confounded

June 28, 2018

Episcopal Bishop Invites One-time Breakaway Congregations to Information & Listening Sessions

With the end of their lawsuit, Bishop Skip Adams hopes to hear from communicants who may want to stay with the Church and in their buildings

June 24, 2018
Part I: Three Breakaway Wardens Reject U.S. and State Supreme Court Decisions

Three Charleston parishes have lost half their members, but still say they'll continue fighting the Courts and the Church. Wardens at St. Michael's, St. Phillip's, & St. Luke & St. Paul blow off S.C. and U.S. Supreme Courts: "We have a far different perspective."

Part II: Lawrence, Wardens Slam Chief Justice

Chief Justice Beatty actually secured the emancipation of seven breakaway parishes in last August's decision. Now leaders of three former breakaway parishes say he lied.

June 19, 2018

Despite Unprecedented Deficit, High Flying Lawrence and Guests are Jerusalem-bound
Out of control spending suggests Lawrence knows the party's over; Breakaways won't say who's paying for last hurrah with GAFCON

June 19, 2018
Lawrence Team Struggles with Unreality as Church Presses Forward for Implementation of 2017 Ruling
In spite of rejections from the South Carolina and United States Supreme Courts, Lawrence still "confident that the law and the facts of this case favor our congregations."

June 12, 2018

Adams Offers Message of Welcome & Reconciliation to Returning Parishes

Episcopal bishop envisions robust Christian witness in every parish

Implementation: Beyond the Recent Unpleasantness

Diocesan Chancellor says focus now shifts back to Dorchester County for implementation of Court ruling

June 11, 2018

Part I: Supreme Court Rejects Appeal
Without comment, Justices leave South Carolina's pro-Church Supreme Court ruling intact; From near death in 2009, Church's Dennis Canon is now the law in South Carolina

Part II: Angry Lawrence Promises to Fight Implementation of the Court Ruling
Stung by back-to-back losses, ex-Bishop Mark Lawrence rejects the August 2017 ruling of the state's Supreme Court and plans to fight its implementation in the Dorchester County court.

May 9, 2018
Legal Tide Turns in Church's Favor

April 17, 2018
Judge Expands False Advertising Case to Include 54 Pro-Lawrence Parishes & Trustees as Defendants
In January 2013, hubris led the attorneys for ex-Bishop Mark Lawrence to make a foolish blunder in their legal strategy to leave the Episcopal Church. Today, it came back to haunt them in spades.

April 5, 2018
Texas Appeals Court Finds in Favor of Episcopal Church and its Diocese in Fort Worth
If it is possible that another schism in another diocese could be more bitter and more of a mess than ours, it would be in the Diocese of Fort Worth. Read Dr. Ron Caldwell's comments on the decision

Today loyal Episcopalians got long awaited good news as an appeals court in Fort Worth reversed a lower court ruling favoring the breakaway cousins of our former bishop, Mark Lawrence, making it clear that they own their own Diocese and its property.
Read the full story

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