1 Corinthians 12:26
If one member suffers, all suffer together;
if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it.
1 Corinthians 7:26

Dear St. Michaelites and Friends,

As you may have heard, the South Carolina Supreme Court issued a decision earlier today in the church property case between our diocese and the national Episcopal Church. The opinion is lengthy, and both we and the diocese’s legal team are still digesting it.
What we know so far is that the decision is a mixed bag. We rejoice to read the Court’s determination that St. Michael’s real property is not held in trust for the Episcopal Church or any of its dioceses. That means that our Vestry continues to own and control our real property. At the same time, we are grieved to read the Court’s determination that the real property of 14 churches in our diocese are held in trust for the Episcopal Church, as is Camp St. Christopher, and we lift up in prayer all of the clergy, staff, and congregants affiliated with those churches.
It is too early to know the full ramifications of this decision or what other legal options may exist, and we await further guidance from the diocese on those matters. We will communicate additional information when it becomes available.
In the meantime, we urge you to remain in prayer for our diocese and all of its churches. And we thank you for your incredible faithfulness to doing the work of spreading the Gospel here at St. Michael’s throughout this process.

Blessings in Christ,

The Rev. Al Zadig, Jr+ Rector
Mr. Lee Cox, Senior Warden
Mrs. Laura Waring Gruber, Junior Warden

Saint Michaels Charleston SC #southcarolina #charleston pic.twitter.com/c1FDb5xZua

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) August 10, 2015

From there:

Wednesday after Easter Day,
20 April 2022

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, the Supreme Court of South Carolina published their opinion on the matter of our legal dispute with the Episcopal Church over property owned by parishes, the diocese, and the Trustees of the diocese. The court affirmed Judge Dickson’s ruling for some parishes and reversed his findings for others.

The ruling raises many issues that will have to play out in the coming weeks before any actions are taken, so our first response must be to quiet our hearts before the Lord as we pray for grace to meet the days ahead. Some of our churches are relieved that the court ruled their property does indeed belong to them. Some are grieving deeply, as the courts ruling went the opposite direction. If we take seriously St Paul’s admonition to rejoice with those who rejoice while we weep with those who weep (Romans 12.15), we will find this to be a season marked by both, regardless of how it affects us personally. So, lift each other up in prayer as we enter the complex emotions of these days.

Finally, I urge you to remember that when Jesus, early in his earthly ministry, first entrusted the mission of the gospel to his disciples he sent them out with, “…nothing for your journey, no staff, no bag, no bread, no money… not even a change of clothes!” (Luke 9.3) We must remember that while we have enjoyed the benefits of rich resources for gospel ministry, none are actually required. The Lord has provided—and always will provide—all we need to proclaim the gospel, bind up the brokenhearted, heal the sick, set the captives free, do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with our God. The ministry of this diocese to a confused and broken world is dependent on God’s mercy and call, not on our property and resources.

I ask your prayers for those of us who are called to lead as we sort through the difficult decisions of the days ahead.

Blessings,

The Rt Revd Chip Edgar, The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina

What must the consecration experience have been like for our new Bishop? Just a few days after Bishop Edgar’s consecration as Bishop of the ADOSC, Communications Director, Joy Hunter, sat down to chat with him about the experience. To read, go to: https://t.co/gF9a20rWYR #ADOSC pic.twitter.com/zPFGXBq33p

— Anglican Diocese of SC (@anglican_sc) March 24, 2022

There is also still more there.

Entry of Christ into Jerusalem is a 1617 oil painting by Flemish artist Anthony van Dyck, located in the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It depicts #Jesus entering Jerusalem as described in the Gospels, the event celebrated on Palm Sunday. pic.twitter.com/luB13CgNYl

— EUROPEAN ART 💙💛 (@EuropeanArtHIST) February 12, 2019

The scheduled April 29 execution of South Carolina death row inmate Richard Moore is simply “modern-day barbarism,” the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston said Friday.

“Respect for life is, and must remain, unconditional. This principle applies to all, even the perpetrators of terrible acts,” the diocese, which covers the entire state, said in a statement.

Read it all.

“Justice is not restored when another person is killed,” the South Carolina Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston said Friday of Richard Moore’s scheduled April 29 execution. https://t.co/g1ce1eIqFq

— The State Newspaper (@thestate) April 8, 2022

South Carolina set sights on its ultimate goal — winning the national championship — before the season’s first tip.

The Gamecocks turned their goal into reality Sunday night, winning the 2022 NCAA tournament championship with a win over the UConn Huskies. Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks (35-2) defeated Geno Auriemma’s Huskies 64-49 in front of a sellout crowd at Minneapolis’ Target Center in the matchup’s second meeting of the 2021-22 season. South Carolina’s win solidified the program’s second national title and first since 2017.

Both of the Gamecocks’ championships have come under Staley.

Read it all.

Gamecocks senior Destanni Henderson turns in a career-best performance in the victory. https://t.co/YiKAAIV4W0

— The State Newspaper (@thestate) April 4, 2022

Listen to it all or there is more there if you so desire.

Gospel: "Her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love" (Lk 7). The "sinful woman" anoints Jesus's feet and her sins are forgiven. Mercy and forgiveness are at the heart of Jesus's ministry and so are at the heart of who God is. God is love. And God is mercy. pic.twitter.com/kgbAMY4i78

— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) September 17, 2020

If anyone who knows what it takes to start a new church, it’s the new bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina.

Before being consecrated March 12 as the diocese’s top clergyman, the Right Rev. Chip Edgar helped grow a number of churches between Illinois and Florida by several hundred parishioners. His latest charge involved starting a new congregation of 25 parishioners that grew to 400 regular worshippers in Columbia. This all during an era where Christianity and mainline denominations have suffered decline and continue to navigate a pandemic that has forced them to find different ways to worship.

Despite the challenges facing mainline Christianity, Edgar believes in the diocese’s potential for growth. He agreed it will likely come about by starting new congregations.

Read it all.

Despite the challenges facing mainline Christianity, the Right Rev. Chip Edgar believes in the diocese’s potential for growth.

He agreed it will likely come about by starting new congregations.https://t.co/mLryCaSgcE

— The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) March 19, 2022

The convention elected the following individuals to serve in the diocese:
Standing Committee: The Rev. Gary Beson, the Very Rev. Peet Dickinson, Wynne Boone and Judy McMeekin

Diocesan Council: The Rev. Chance Perdue, the Rev. Matthew Rivers, Janis Brazeale and Gill Frierson

Diocesan Trustees: Alonzo Galvan

Ecclesiastical Court: The Rev. Jeremy Shelton, the Rev. Greg Smith and the Rev. Nelson Weaver, Rick Adams and Seth Whitaker

ACNA Provincial Council: The Rev. Bob Lawrence (delegate), the Rev. Tyler Prescott (alternate), John Benson and Justin Johnson (delegates), Johnny Wallace and Dave Wright (alternates)

Missions Transition to Parish Status:
Congratulations to The Well, Myrtle Beach and Holy Apostles, Barnwell

One of the highlights of the convention was the welcoming of two missions which transitioned to parish status: The Well, Myrtle Beach and Holy Apostles, Barnwell. The clergy and representatives of the two churches received a standing ovation for their new status.

Read it all.

The Rt Revd Chip Edgar was consecrated Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina at a festive service held at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston, Saturday, March 12, 2022.

The service began with a lengthy processional of bishops, priests and deacons from the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, the Diocese of the Southeast (Reformed Episcopal Church) and the Diocese of the Carolinas, as well as clergy from other dioceses, laity representing various diocesan ministries, institutions, and ministry partners.

The Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), the Most Reverend Foley Beach was the chief consecrator and Bishops Mark Lawrence, Steve Wood and William White of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, the Diocese of the Carolinas, and the Diocese of the Southeast were co-consecrators. More than a dozen other bishops participated in the service.

“This gathering of people, everyone together… this is a picture of what heaven looks like,” said Edgar during the service. “There’s a kind of basking in it, that has just been overwhelming to me as the service has unfolded.”

In addition to the capacity crowd at the Cathedral, more than 1000 tuned in online from across the country and around the world to join the event.

Read it all.

We welcome our new Bishop, the Rt Revd Chip Edgar, who was consecrated March 12, 2022. Let's pray regularly for our new bishop, his wife and family and labor alongside him to produce fruit in the vineyard to which we're called. View the service: https://t.co/4dRKj3inei pic.twitter.com/ShByUuXRIk

— Anglican Diocese of SC (@anglican_sc) March 13, 2022

Listen to it all or there is more there if you so desire.

At the heart of orthodox Christian theology is an unshakable belief that God can actually change people. pic.twitter.com/HVc0mAmIku

— Shane L. Bishop (@RevShaneBishop) March 15, 2022

In his final address to the Convention of The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, Bishop Mark Lawrence thanked various groups for their partnership these last 14 years. “If I have stood firm and at times resolute and perhaps even resilient, it is because you have stood firmly beside me,” he said.

The Convention, which was held Friday, March 11, 2022, at Saint James Anglican Church, Charleston was shortened to enable the consecration of our new bishop, the Rt Revd Chip Edgar, to be held the next day, Saturday, March 12.

In his address, Bishop Lawrence reflected on the steep learning curve he had as Bishop, quoting Bishop Salmon, who said the transition “reminded him of a NASCAR race. ‘He would drive into the Pit Stop, jump out, and South Carolina 14 would jump in.’”

“Frankly, I have a far less stressful handing over the reins than did he,” said Lawrence. “And moreover, I trust Charles Francis Edgar III will have less stressful receiving of them than did I. If this is true, it’s partially due to the ACNA – the Anglican Church in North America, the provincial Church we are now part of, and likewise to the greater unity within the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. In addition, it’s partially due to the competence of my successor…”

The most poignant part of his address came at the very end when he thanked various diocesan groups, committees – and his wife, Allison.

Read it all and please note the many links at the bottom of the article for excellent and interesting material you should consider giving your time to.

As our diocese transitions towards a new season of leadership, it’s a good time to glean some final reflections and advice from Bishop Lawrence. What wisdom would he want to share with us? Read https://t.co/G6e7dovN4I to find out! #BishopLawrence #WordsOfWisdom #ADOSC pic.twitter.com/Hs3aFx4Vfv

— Anglican Diocese of SC (@anglican_sc) February 23, 2022

Every year that Southern Living has published rankings for its annual South’s Best Awards, Charleston has topped its list of best cities.

This latest win, announced last week, can’t be called consecutive, though. Charleston’s last time at No. 1 on the list was in March 2020, just days before cities started going into COVID-19 lockdown.

At the time, it wasn’t clear yet how the virus would affect South Carolina, and tourism leaders said the nod from Southern Living might have come at an ideal time: Air travel was already dropping off, but the visitor industry was still hopeful that tourists would continue to make shorter road trips. Southern Living readers were primarily in Charleston’s “drive market.”

Read it all.

Charleston’s “secret to holding the top spot” on Southern Living’s list of best cities in the South, according to the magazine, is its “commitment to reinvention,” with new hotels and restaurants popping up frequently on the peninsula.https://t.co/OirAMRzEYF

— The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) March 14, 2022

Please note that the event will be livestreamed for any of you so inclined.

Read it all.

The Latest Edition of the #Anglican Diocese of South Carolina Enewsletter https://t.co/nPK8Lq6dwY #parishministry #anglican #religion #southcarolina #communications pic.twitter.com/akya2tigla

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) July 14, 2021

The Very Revd Charles “Chip” Edgar will be consecrated as the next Bishop of The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina in a special service at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston on Saturday, March 12, 2022.

The service will begin at 10 a.m. with a processional of the Bishop Elect, members of the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America, retired Bishops and clergy of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, the Diocese of the Carolinas and the Reformed Episcopal Church.

The consecration will be led by the Most Revd Foley Beach, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America.

The Revd Dr. Jamey Graham, Pastor of Saint John Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina, will be the preacher. Pastor Graham and Bishop Elect Edgar began meeting together and developed a close friendship following the racial unrest in Baltimore in 2015. They have preached in one another’s pulpits and deepened the relationships between their families and congregations in the years since.

Read it all.

Today, Wednesday, January 12, 2022, the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America in consented to the election of the Very Rev. Chip Edgar as bishop for the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. More to come. pic.twitter.com/GDv1TfMoqD

— Anglican Diocese of SC (@anglican_sc) January 12, 2022

Bishop Mark Lawrence has, upon the unanimous recommendation of the search committee, called the Very Rev. Ken Weldon to serve as the next Executive Director of St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center.

‘Boo’ (Weldon’s wife) and I are humbled to accept the call to St. Christopher, a place and ministry that has been so important to so many,” says Weldon. “We are grateful for the 14 years we have had at St. John’s, Florence, and excited to see what the Lord will do moving forward.”

Read it all.

Ken Weldon called to Serve as the Next Director of Saint Christopher Camp and Conference Center https://t.co/gjHzU1xGuv #anglican #Southcarolina #ministry #lowcountrylife pic.twitter.com/gBokBYLtjl

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) March 6, 2022

What happens when nearly 250 men gather together for the annual Christian Men's Conference at St. Christopher? The Holy Spirit moves in power. Pray for those gathered this weekend – that they would hear and respond to God's call. #ADOSC #MenFollowChrist #ChristianMensConference pic.twitter.com/0ecctLozLT

— Anglican Diocese of SC (@anglican_sc) February 26, 2022

Do you have any final thoughts on the state of the Church? State of the diocese?

I would say that if we prevail, if the parishes prevail in this lawsuit, I think there will be an explosiveness of energy that we’re capable of experiencing. I think it can unleash a great season of missional and ministry ventures that has been put on hold. And along with that, we’ve been on hold because of COVID so most people don’t know where they will be on the far side of that.

If you had one book, not the Bible, you think every person, laity and clergy read, what would it be?

One book? I’m not sure I think in those terms. But if I could only have three books for the rest of my life in addition to the Bible, I’d say a good Introduction to the Old Testament, an Introduction to the New Testament and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. I would hope everyone could read The Confessions of St. Augustine before they die, but I’m not going to say that I want everyone to read that.

What’s the hardest thing about being the bishop?
For me, the hardest thing about being a bishop is not being rooted in a congregation.

You see, there are different styles of teaching and preaching. The kind of teaching I like best is expository teaching through the Bible or a book of the Bible, teaching a sequential class in a congregation on theology, basic Christian theology, or teaching a class on the history of the Church in England or history of the Anglican Church.

Read it all.

As our diocese transitions towards a new season of leadership, it’s a good time to glean some final reflections and advice from Bishop Lawrence. What wisdom would he want to share with us? Read https://t.co/G6e7dovN4I to find out! #BishopLawrence #WordsOfWisdom #ADOSC pic.twitter.com/Hs3aFx4Vfv

— Anglican Diocese of SC (@anglican_sc) February 23, 2022

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced it would provide new guidance to help schools and child care centers transition from Test to Stay quarantine and isolation.

“Our updated guidance recognizes that COVID-19 is an illness that we now need to treat and manage as endemic, and will help our schools, child care centers, and ultimately all of us make that transition,” Dr. Edward Simmer, director of the state health agency, said. “It also allows us to respond quickly should another surge or impactful new variant arise.”

According to DHEC, the guidance resembles pre-COVID-19 guidance for influenza, allowing schools and child care centers to suspend Test to Stay or quarantine once they have had two consecutive weeks with less than 10 percent of all students and staff having COVID-19.

Read it all.

From P&C: SC DHEC eases COVID-19 school guidance as number of new cases declines https://t.co/irYlbdqEkF #chsnews

— Sam Tyson (@SamInteractive) February 22, 2022

Listen to it all or there is more there if you so desire.

“Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand.” -Mark 6:44 “Feeding the Multitudes” by Bernardo Strozzi (1600) #CatholicTwitter #MAP_OF_THE_SOUL_7 #X1_new_beginning # pic.twitter.com/f1DcqsC1KT

— Lady of Good Counsel (@ofgoodcounsel) January 7, 2020