By Bruce Smith
ST. GEORGE — The bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina testified Friday that he never originally intended to split with the national Episcopal Church as a three week-trial stemming from the acrimonious division came to a close.
The bishop for the state’s parishes that are remaining with the national church, meanwhile, said he was praying for reconciliation.
Nearly two years ago, about 50 conservative Episcopal churches in the diocese split with the national church amid differences over a range of theological issues, among them differences with the national church over the authority of Scripture and its allowing the ordination of gays.
The seceding diocese, in the eastern part of the state, then went to court to protect the use of the diocesan name – the Diocese of South Carolina – symbols of the diocese, and title to a half-billion dollars in property it controls.
Read more at http://www.thestate.com/2014/07/25/3584530/testimony-in-sc-episcopal-break.html