The individuals named in the motion are:
Ӣ Mark Lawrence, who was bishop to local Episcopalians from 2006 until December 2012, when the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church accepted his renunciation as a bishop of TEC. Members of the breakaway group still recognize him as their bishop.
Ӣ Jim Lewis, who was Canon to the Ordinary of the diocese, and continues to use that title in the breakaway organization.
”¢ Jeffrey Miller, who has been president of the Standing Committee of the diocese. Miller also is rector of St. Helena’s, Beaufort, one of the congregations that filed suit against TEC.
Ӣ Paul Fuener, who has been president of the Standing Committee. Fuener also is rector of Prince George-Winyah in Georgetown, another plaintiff in the suit against TEC.
Well, it seems they just don’t know when to quit, do they?
The complaint itself seems to make the PB guilty of fraud, since +Lawrence (or +Ackerman or +Iker) never renounced anything, and her acceptance of those renunciations was thereby fraudulent. And as for overstepping authority…..
And where, exactly, is the funding coming from for all these new lawsuits? Certainly not the 2012 triennial budget. Who is holding the PB to account, and what programs that were authorized in the budget are being shut down or robbed to pay all these lawyers? Or is this where your UTO contributions are going? It would seem that the “mission” of TEC is to sue as many people as possible.
Just for the sake of clarity, which lawsuit (ie- before which judge) is TEC trying to add to? The headline says “to latest lawsuit,” but this appears to be one in the state courts, not one of TEC’s recent attempts to move things to federal court. I was only aware of one state case, the one actually brought by the diocese against TEC to secure its rights to its corporate identity. Are there other actions pending in the state courts?
Christmastime for the lawyers.
I wonder if these things will be discussed at the private visit in April, or is TEc’s strategy such old news that it doesn’t merit a yawn in the Anglican Communion and business as usual is the order of the day.
TJ,
Our attorneys have focused on two law suits, the first is the one that we (Diocese of SC) started with the injunction against TEC last January (i.e. Parish case)in SC Circuit Court. The second is the one in which Bishop von Rosenberg personally sued Bishop Lawrence (i.e. the Bishops case) in Federal Court. Last August, Judge Houck dismissed the federal case brought by Bishop von Rosenberg against Bishop Lawrence. Also, Judge Houck sent the first suit (as TEC had tried to send it to Federal Court) back to Judge Goodstein of SC Circuit court. I don’t think there is much they can do about the first lawsuit being dismissed. TEC has since tried to expand the other lawsuit by including dozens of parishioners that serve as Diocesan Trustees or on Diocesan Standing Committee. Judge Goodstein found that “adding the additional defendants would be futile”. Now, it seems TEC is once again trying to add people to the lawsuit in which the Diocese is trying to protect our legal names, seals and various properties. They tried it once and failed so they are trying again in another filing in the same lawsuit (now only lawsuit if I understand correctly) that was started by the injunction. The latest Jubilate Deo (our Diocesan newspaper) has a special issue dealing with all the lawsuits in SC and an article dealing with suits against all dioceses that have left TEC. Here it is – [url=http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/jubdeo/2013_ldf_jubi_web.pdf]The Legal Defense Fund Special Edition of the Jubilate Deo[/url]
PS. If anyone feels so inclined this special edition of the Jubilate Deo also has an article about the Legal Defense Fund that the Diocese of SC is starting. Donations are accepted either via a check donation to the Diocese or you can donate online at [url=http://www.diosc.com/legal_defense_fund.htm]DIoceseSCLegalDefenseFund[/url]
FYI, The Diocese of SC has a simple [url=http://www.diosc.com/sys/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=508&Itemid=71]media page[/url] where there is a lot more information about the lawsuits and the various filings in the lawsuits by date. This is also where you can link to the Diocesan Photo Gallery, A FAQ link, and various articles including the letters of support from the rest of the Anglican Communion. There is even a timeline going back to 2006! Well worth reading and bookmarking!
Thank you for the resources SC Blu cat lady. I was confused by the headline that implies that TEC was the plaintiff in a new lawsuit (TEC adds… to their latest lawsuit), when in point of fact, this is the same lawsuit that was brought by the diocese, and in the court of judge Goodstein (as you point out). That is, this is the original lawsuit (the more recent, or “latest” being the one thrown out by the federal court). I do wish that the elves would be more judicious because such headlines cause confusion, but I suppose it draws more readers. (The Anglican Ink headline reads “Episcopal Church seeks to add Mark Lawrence, 3 others, to property lawsuit”, which is more accurate)
Hey TJ, Yes, I thought the same thing- the headline here is a bit misleading. Yep, two lawsuits. The one in which Bishop von Rosenberg sued Bishop Lawrence is dismissed- hopefully never to return. TECinSC is trying to add people to the original lawsuit. As Mr. Haley has explained elsewhere, chance are good that this pleading/filing will go down to flames but for different reasons. Both sides have added more people but TEC tried to expand it many times over with the addition of vestry members. The Diocese has added parishes for a total of 35, I think. Interesting point, St. Andrews, Mt. Pleasant has joined us in the lawsuit even though they left the Diocese.
SC blu cat lady – a question.
We have friends whose son and his family attend Good Shepherd, Charleston, SC.
The mom told us last night (back from spending a month in C, SC) that her son had told her their church was an “Anglican” Church, as opposed to “Episcopal.”
This surprised me.
I haven’t heard of any DioSc parishes leaving who now call themselves Anglican…is it just a use of “Anglican” as a catch-all description?
Good Shepherd’s website doesn’t touch on this.
Thanks for any clarification you can offer.
Hey Luke,
Many here no longer want to be identified with the Episcopal Church so they use the term “Anglican” instead of “Episcopal”. I see by looking at Good Shepherd’s website that the parish is part of the diocese so it is just a way to say that they are no longer part of TEC. Most parishes (like mine) just dropped the word “Episcopal” and now just use the name of the Parish. Actually that is what Good Shepherd has done on their website as well. The Diocese is still an independent extra-provincial diocese in the WWAC. We are not the only diocese in the Anglican Communion with that status. As a diocese, we have not joined another province of the WWAC like other departing dioceses have done. This is the second time in the history of the diocese that the diocese has disaffiliated from TEC. Hope that helps clarify things for you.
Dear SC Blu Cat Lady,
Prayers for you, your son, and all parishioners and leaders of the true SC Diocese, especially Bp Lawrence. God defend you all against this latest satanic-motivated attack!
10 BCL – many thanks…helpful, indeed.
#11, Sophy. My husband and I don’t have children unless you consider the ones with fur and 4 legs (i.e. our cats). However, the friends of Luke and their son who go to Good Shepherd in Charleston,SC and all of us here in the Diocese of SC appreciate the prayers. I am beginning to think that TECinSC is truly under Satanic persuasion- there is no logical explanation for their actions.
RE: “The Diocese is still an independent extra-provincial diocese in the WWAC. We are not the only diocese in the Anglican Communion with that status.”
Hi SC blu cat lady — that is most interesting. What other dioceses have that status? I’m intrigued.
Prayers for them.
Even when a lawsuit has negligible prospect of success, it is very debilitating to those on the receiving end. This is truly a case of the demons gnashing their teeth and lashing out in fury at those within reach.