Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina

rdf:langString Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina

rdf:langString Diocese of South Carolina

rdf:langString Diocese of South Carolina

rdf:langString Charleston SC

rdf:langString Location of the Diocese of South Carolina

rdf:langString The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina (EDOSC), known as The Episcopal Church in South Carolina from January 2013 until September 2019, is a diocese of the Episcopal Church. The diocese covers an area of 24 counties in the eastern part of the state. The see city is Charleston, home to Grace Church Cathedral and diocesan headquarters. The western portion of the state forms the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. As a diocese of the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of South Carolina is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and traces its heritage to the beginnings of Christianity. In a 2012 schism, then-Bishop Mark Lawrence and the majority of the leaders and parishes of the historic diocese departed from the Episcopal Church. Lawrence's group considered their departure to be an official act of the diocese. The Episcopal Church disagreed, noting that its constitution and canons do not allow a diocese to unilaterally withdraw. The Episcopal Church recognized the remaining parishes and individuals as its continuing diocese, under the new name "Episcopal Church in South Carolina." The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg was installed as the new bishop provisional of the diocese in January 2013. Bishop Lawrence's group joined the Anglican Church in North America, and later became known as the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina (ADOSC). Both parties claimed ownership of diocesan property, including not only church buildings but also the name "Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina," and related names and marks. These claims were the subject of protracted legal battles. On August 2, 2017, the South Carolina Supreme Court held in a split decision that 29 of the parishes in the lawsuit and the St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center are the property of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina and must be returned, but that the 7 remaining parish properties are owned by the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. The S.C. Supreme Court's decision did not answer the question of who owned the use of the name "Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina," and other associated marks. On September 19, 2019, a federal court awarded the names and intellectual property to the Episcopal Church and its South Carolina diocese. In 2022, a final ruling of the South Carolina Supreme Court awarded eight parish properties from the ADOSC to the EDOSC, and the two dioceses agreed to settle all remaining litigation over diocesan property, names and seals, with the EDOSC retaining the name, seal and most of the property. The diocese is led by the Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, who was consecrated as the XV Bishop of the Diocese on October 2, 2021.