All Saints Pawleys Island, SC decision remains unchallenged
[Ed. Note: This decision makes the Diocese of South Carolina the third contender for petition to the US Supreme Court. Cheryl M. Wetzel]
http://www.gtowntimes.com/story/All-Saints-decision-unchallenged
Published on 10/6/2009
By Kelly Marshall Fuller
Kfuller@gtowntimes.com Georgetown, South Carolina Times
October 6, 2009
The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina has decided not to file a request for a rehearing before the S.C. Supreme Court.
The S.C. court gave ownership of historic church property in Pawleys Island to the Anglican Mission of America, a group that split from the Episcopal church several years ago.
The diocese, however, has not made a decision on whether to take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court, said Wade Logan, a chancellor with the Episcopal Church of South Carolina.
“We’re still mulling over our options,” he said.
The diocese has 90-days to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case.
The lower court made their ruling last month that the 50-acre campus of All Saints Church, just off Kings River Road, does not belong to the Episcopal Church.
The legal battle over the property began in 2000, when the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina filed a public notice in Georgetown County that the historic land and the pre-revolutionary church belonged to the Episcopal Church.
All Saints sued the diocese, saying that the original deed gave the property to the people of the Waccamaw Neck.
In 2003, more than 400 All Saints Church members voted to cut ties with the Episopal Church.
The larger group voted to join the Anglican Church in the Americas. [This is incorrect. It is the Anglican Mission in America: AMiA. The AMiA is a constituent member of the new Province: Anglican Church in North America, ACNA. CW]
The Anglicans, who followed the Rev. Chuck Murphy, said they supported more traditional values.
The Anglicans continued to worship at All Saints Church, while ownership of the land and buildings was debated.
About 40 people still loyal to the Episcopal Church of South Carolina moved to former furniture store on U.S. 17.
The S.C. Supreme Court said in its most recent ruling that it was clear the Episcopal Church had given up ownership of the property in 1903, and that later claims on the land by the Episcopal church didn’t stand. [This was in direct reference to the Dennis Canon, enacted by General Convention in 1988. CW]