A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina
Ebook
Overview
In 2012, the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina declared its independence from the Episcopal Church. It was the fifth of the 111 dioceses of the Church to do so since 2007. A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina is the sweeping story of how one diocese moved from the mainstream of the Episcopal Church to separate from the church. It examines the underlying issues, the immediate causes, and the initiating events as well as the nature and results of the schism. The book traces the escalating conflict between the diocese and the church that led up to the schism. It also examines the legal war between the two post-schism dioceses, the majority in the independent Diocese of South Carolina and the minority in the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. This is the first scholarly history of a diocesan schism from the Episcopal Church. It is extensively researched from original and secondary sources and documented in over 2,000 notes citing nearly 900 works. This story stands as a cautionary tale of what happens in a major Christian denomination when majority and minority factions increasingly differentiate themselves and what impact that can have for both parties.
“Dr. Caldwell has given us a deep and wide account of a church
conflict where the time-honored Episcopal ‘middle way’ was
sacrificed on the altar of ideology. It is a tortuous story, but
leads one fervently to hope that such truth-seeking will pave the
way for eventual reconciliation.
—Henry N. Parsley, Jr., Bishop of Alabama (ret.)
“A thorough and balanced study of the events that led not only to
the schism among Episcopalians in South Carolina, but in four other
dioceses as well. There is something of interest for anyone
interested in the history of American religion, the Episcopal
Church, or contemporary reactions to the liberalism in mainstream
denominations.”
—Joan R. Gundersen, Archivist, Episcopal Diocese of
Pittsburgh
“The genius of Caldwell’s thorough treatment of the South Carolina
schism is that he possesses a thorough understanding of how such
issues as homosexuality, race, Prayer Book revision, the ministries
of women—and the courts’ rulings on matters of church and
state—affected the overall situation. He also demonstrates profound
insight into how each diocesan bishop influenced this important
period of church history.”
—Harold T. Lewis, rector emeritus, Calvary Episcopal Church,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, author of The Recent
Unpleasantness
“Dr. Caldwell’s narrative of this critical moment in Episcopal
Church history is fast-paced and compelling, a rare achievement in
such a comprehensive effort. . . . I couldn’t help thinking of
David M. Potter’s classic work, The Impending Crisis:
1848–1861, on the events, politics, and personalities that led
our nation to war over whether we would stay together or go our
separate ways.”
—Andrew Waldo, Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
“Caldwell’s book is indispensable for scholars of church history
and social change. It offers a detailed examination of how
contemporary ideas of theological purity effect broad church
Anglicanism. The author effectively identifies underlying causes,
direct causes, and initiating events. At the same time, he raises
questions regarding the perils of ideological purity, authoritarian
disoceasan power structure, conspiracy, church property, and the
quality of South Carolina’s circuit courts. “
---Samuel J. Richards Zurich International School / Zurich,
Switzerland
Product Details
- Title : A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina
- Author: Caldwell, Ronald James
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Publication Date: 2017
- ISBN: 9781498244671
Ronald James Caldwell is a professor of history, emeritus, at
Jacksonville State University, in Jacksonville, Alabama. He is the
author of numerous works on church history and modern European
history. From 2000 to 2003, he was librarian and assistant head of
the South Carolina Room of the Charleston County Public
Library.