It is with sadness that the Diocese reports the decision by the Vestry of St. James, Blackville to disaffiliate from the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. The parish made this decision as a consequence of the recent action of Diocesan Convention to recognize, in our constitution and canons, that we ordain women to the priesthood. While that has been true since 1979, that fact was not previously reflected in our governing documents.
As the Bishop shared at our 2024 Convention, he is strongly committed to the principle of “dual integrities” based on the fundamental belief that both those who support and those who don’t support the ordination of women to the priesthood have faithful and theologically sound positions that merit mutual respect. He is committed to defending the validity of both, and of ensuring that both can live together free from impingement.
Even these assurances fail to satisfy the people and clergy of St. James. While they will be missed, we uphold their fundamental right to make this decision and wish them God’s blessings as they seek to continue in faithfulness on the path to which God has called them.
The Rev. Canon Jim Lewis+
Canon to the Ordinary
The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina