South Carolina Episcopalians
An Independent Journal of News & Commentary for Anglicans
not affiliated with ACNA, the Episcopal Church or any of their dioceses
January 15, 2020
Dear Faithful People of the Diocese of South Carolina,
On behalf of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina, I write to share some very good news with you. The Standing Committee has entered into an agreement with the Right Reverend Henry N. Parsley, Jr. for him to become a visiting bishop for the Diocese of South Carolina during this time of transition as we seek our next bishop. Under the authority and provisions of Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution of the Episcopal Church, a bishop may be “requested to perform episcopal acts in another Diocese by the Ecclesiastical Authority thereof.”
Bishop Parsley, who has retired to Wilmington, NC, is a native son of the Lowcountry. He is a graduate of Porter-Gaud School and spent many summers ministering at Camp St. Christopher. Many of his earlier years of ordained ministry were spent in the Diocese at parishes including St. Philip’s, Charleston, All Saints, Florence, and St. Paul’s, Summerville. He was Bishop Coadjutor and Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama from 1996-2012, and served as Chancellor of Sewanee.
In this part-time role Bishop Parsley will be in residence with us approximately one week a month. He will offer occasional services of confirmation and other sacramental rites. These will be jointly held, hosted by deaneries, to celebrate our common life together during this period of transition. All of these special services will be planned in coordination with the Standing Committee.
Bishop Parsley will also serve as a consultant to the Standing Committee and be a pastoral presence in the diocese. Bishop Parsley has a deep understanding of South Carolina and appreciation of our history, as well as hope for our future. We are so delighted that, after all these years, he is returning to serve among us during this next season of our life together.
The Standing Committee remains the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese and Archdeacon Callie Walpole will continue to serve as the pastoral point of contact for the Diocese and provide oversight of the Diocesan office.
We are grateful to Bishop Parsley for his willingness to offer us his gifts of wisdom and experience during this period of transition as we seek our next bishop. More information about future plans for our Diocese will be communicated very soon.
Faithfully yours,
The Reverend Canon Caleb J. Lee
President of the Standing Committee