September 26, 2017

Legal news update
September 26, 2017

Bishop Adams and members of the legal team for our Diocese and The Episcopal Church have been asked to attend a mediation planning session in Columbia on October 4 with Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. and representatives of the breakaway group involved in federal and state litigation resulting from a 2012 division. Judge Anderson has been designated as the mediator to facilitate conversations among the parties. The meeting October 4 is intended to work on establishing dates and procedures for the mediation. 

In the state case, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Episcopal Church parties on  August 2. Post-opinion motions were filed by the breakaway group seeking a rehearing and asking for recusal of one of the justices. The Episcopal Church reply was filed last week, and on September 25, the breakaway group filed a response to that reply.

No further filings are anticipated, and all parties now await the court’s ruling on the motions.