December 23, 2003
By Jan Nunley

The parish of All Saints, Waccamaw in Pawley's Island, South Carolina, home to the breakaway Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), has been declared a mission of the diocese under the direct supervision of Bishop Edward L. Salmon Jr.

Salmon announced his decision in a pastoral letter to the diocese dated December 18. The action permits him to appoint new leadership for the congregation, including replacing All Saints rector, the Rev. Tim Surratt.

Salmon based his decision on recent actions by the congregations vestry, which indicated an intention to leave the Episcopal Church. "In response to the recommendations of the Discernment Committee, the vestry has determined that All Saints Church can no longer remain a part of the Episcopal Church USA and appoints a committee to guide us through the process necessary to leave the ECUSA," said a resolution passed at the October meeting. And at its December meeting, the vestry of All Saints voted to change the parishs 1902 charter to omit references to the Episcopal Church.

In his letter, Salmon said he met with the congregations rector emeritus, AMiA Bishop Charles Murphy, and the senior warden of All Saints at their request on December 13.

The following Monday I received copies of Vestry minutes from a member of All Saints, Waccamaw which revealed that in October and December the Vestry had voted to sever the ties of All Saints Parish, Waccamaw with the National Church and amend All Saints charter to eliminate any reference to the canons and rules of the National Church and the Diocese of South Carolina, Salmon wrote. No mention of these actions by the vestry was made to me at the meeting on December 13th. These actions are schismatic.

Similar views, but still in conflict

Salmon and the congregations leadership hold similar conservative views on social issues within the Episcopal Church, including the November ordination of an openly gay cleric as bishop coadjutor of New Hampshire and the acknowledgment of same-sex blessings in the church by the General Convention this summer.

According to Salmon, diocesan chancellor N.E. Ziegler advised him that it was not possible to sever ties with the national Episcopal Church and remain a member of a parish vestry, since diocesan canons require that wardens and vestry members must be confirmed communicants of the Episcopal Church. Consequently I have sent a letter to the Senior Warden (by hand) and members of the Vestry of All Saints Parish Waccamaw advising them that they are no longer members of the Vestry, Salmon said. I have notified the President of the Standing Committee and will meet with them on Tuesday. I have declared All Saints Waccamaw to be a mission and am in the process of naming a Mission Committee.

All Saints has been in a legal battle with the Diocese of South Carolina for the past three years over control of the churchs extensive 50-acre campus. The case arose when the diocese filed a public notice that All Saints, subject to the canon law of the diocese, holds its property in trust for the diocese, which in turn holds it for the Episcopal Church nationally. Attorneys for the diocese said the notice was filed "out of concern that All Saints might attempt to convey its property" to the AMiA.

In October 2001 a state judge ruled that legal title to the property belongs to an unknown group of heirs, and equitable title to the residents of Waccamaw Neck. The case is still under appeal.

"These actions by the Bishop are precipitous and without legal support," the church's leaders said in the statement sent to the media December 18. "The Vestry of All Saints Church remains the governing body and has never vacated its position in any capacity. The Vestry will remain on the property and continue to maintain possession and responsibility for that property that is All Saints Church."

Episcopal News Service
The Rev. Jan Nunley is deputy director of Episcopal News Service.