SIX 2019 MINISTRY GRANTS AWARDED

The Ministry Grant Committee of Diocesan Council met recently to review eight grant applications. The committee was very impressed with the creativity and mission focus of the applications, and after careful consideration, they awarded six grants totaling $46,100 for initiatives that will enhance the mission and ministry of the Diocese. 

St. Catherine’s, Florence was one of the grant recipients. Earlier this summer, the church was able to provide bicycles for students in need at Savannah Grove Elementary School, and this grant will enable them to continue working with the school to help the community.

Other Ministry Grants were awarded to East Cooper Episcopal Church; Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville; Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston; St. Francis Episcopal Church, West Ashley; and St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Denmark. 

For more on the grant recipients and the grant process, click the link below.

DATE SET FOR MEDIATION; MEETING SCHEDULED WITH INSURANCE COMPANY

There has been progress with two legal issues faced by the Diocese. In the state property case, all parties have agreed to a mediator, as ordered last week in a hearing with First Circuit Court Judge Edgar Dickson, and a first session has been set for September 4, 2019.

A meeting has also been scheduled between The Episcopal Church in South Carolina (TECSC) and the Church Insurance Company of Vermont (CIC-VT) for September 5-6, 2019. The meeting will focus on the claim filed in federal court by TECSC in June 2019, that CIC-VT acted in bad faith and secretly funded TECSC’s disaffiliated adversaries in litigation against the Diocese. 

Click the link below to read more about these legal updates.

PRAYER CALENDAR FOR 2019-2020 

The first part of the Bishop's visitation schedule and the 2019-2020 Diocesan Prayer Calendar are now available at our website, with dates through the remainder of 2019. Because of the bishop transition, dates in 2020 will be published as soon as they are finalized.

As a symbol of our unity in Christ, we pray for churches on the dates when the Bishop is visiting. Beginning with this cycle, in the spirit of reconciliation, mediation, and the Way of Love, we have also included congregations we long to be together with in Mission and Purpose. On other Sundays, we pray for diocesan institutions and other ministries. And as part of the Anglican Communion, we include the Anglican Cycle of Prayer for each Sunday on our own prayer calendar.

REGISTER TO ATTEND FORMA 2020

Save the date for the 2020 Forma conference, which will be held in Midtown Atlanta. This joint conference, featuring Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. Dr. William Barber II, brings together groups from across the Episcopal Church to talk about formation, evangelism, mission, leadership and much more. Many from our diocese attended the 2018 conference that we hosted in Charleston, as well as the 2019 event in Indianapolis.

Registration is open and teams receive a discount. Register online through this link to be part of the TECSC team. Please contact Andrea McKellar at amckellar@episcopalchurchsc.org for more details.

NEEDED: YOUR BUDGET IDEAS  

As part of a new process for developing the budget for our Diocese, Bishop Skip Adams and the Diocesan Council are asking members of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina to offer ideas and suggestions for the 2020 Diocesan Budget.

An online form is available now through August 15 for providing input on what should be in the spending plan that will be proposed and voted on at the 229th Diocesan Convention in November. 

PLANNING FOR WELLNESS CONFERENCE OFFERED BY CPG  

Active clergy are invited and encouraged to attend the upcoming Planning for Wellness Conference offered by the Church Pension Group (CPG). This unique conference will take place September 26-27 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in North Charleston, and will provide financial planning and education along with a focus on your physical and psychological well-being. For more information and to register, visit this link.

Registration ends August 27. Check out the video below to learn more about why clergy recommend the conference.

PRAYER CALENDAR 

Prayer Calendar: This week on our Diocesan Prayer Calendar, we are praying for Porter-Gaud — an Episcopal, coeducational, independent, college-preparatory day school in Charleston, SC.

About the Prayer Calendar: The Bishop's calendar of visitations for 2018-2019 have ended, but through the summer we continue to pray weekly for institutions of our Diocese. We also continue to pray for our fellow Anglicans worldwide on the Anglican Cycle of Prayer. Find the calendar here. 

UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS 

August 17: Whole Hog BBQ Fundraiser for St. Francis Episcopal Church, to be held at the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church pavilion at 3075 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston from 5-6:30 on Saturday, August 17. Come enjoy a plate of chopped pork barbeque, rice, baked beans, cole slaw, roll, dessert, and a beverage while raising money for outreach efforts. Details here.

August 24: Women's Ministry Pot Luck Brunch at St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville, at 10:30 a.m. Ms. Sylvia Johnson, a cousin of the late Rev. Dr. Clementa Pinckney, the Mother Emanuel AME Pastor (and SC State Representative) who was killed in the church shooting in June 2015.  She will share her journey of faith, her personal testimony to the goodness of God over the past four years of complicated grief associated with multiple losses beginning with the violent death of her beloved cousin. Bring a dish to share.

September 14: Charleston Pride Parade and Festival. A group with St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Charleston, will participate and gather at Wragg Mall at 8:15. The festival will take place in Brittlebank Park after the parade. Please email  Diane or Pat if you plan to attend. 

October 30-November 3: Fall Flower Festival at Grace Church Cathedral. Registration is now open for three seminars by floral designer Lee Berrill of England offered October 30-November 1. Displays of the dozens of flower arrangements at the cathedral will run through All Saints weekend (November 2-3). Find details here. A printable form is here. 

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF PRESIDING BISHOP MICHAEL CURRY'S WAY OF LOVE PODCAST

Check out Episode 7 of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's podcast, "The Way of Love." In this episode, he discusses the practice of "TURNING" ourselves toward Jesus and his loving, liberating, life-giving way.  Listen to this episode (and previous episodes) through this link.

COLLEGE BOUND? GET CONNECTED WITH CAMPUS MINISTRY

Do you know a graduating high school senior who will be headed to college this fall? The Episcopal Church in South Carolina would like to help connect them with a church or campus ministry. Visit our College Ministry Page and fill out the contact form. You'll find information for colleges in our Diocese (College of Charleston, The Citadel, Voorhees, Coastal Carolina and others), as well as the Diocese of Upper South Carolina (which includes Clemson, the University of South Carolina, Furman, Converse, Wofford and other Upstate schools).

UPCOMING EVENTS