Opinion ID: 6333186
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Parish Analysis9

Text: Judge Dickson reviewed the Goodstein trial record on the issue of accession and found no Parish created a trust in favor of the National Church or its diocese. He ruled the Parishes merely promised allegiance to the National Church and no Parish expressly acceded to the Dennis Canon. To review Judge Dickson's decision—to determine what actions constitute express accession to the Dennis Canon and whether individual Parishes created a trust in favor of the National Church or its diocese—we turn to the actions taken by each individual Parish. 9 For reference, we have included an Addendum to this opinion which contains a summary of all the potential evidence of accession for each Parish. The Parishes are listed in the Addendum in the same order in which we list their disposition below. There were typographical errors in the documents summarized in the Addendum and we chose not to correct them. Considering the Parishes' knowledge of the Dennis Canon and participation in adopting the Diocesan Canon, we must evaluate the Parishes' actions under South Carolina trust law, including the requirements that the owner take present action coupled with the present intent to create a trust for the beneficiary. Most of the twenty-nine Parishes remaining in this case amended their governing documents at various times after the National Church adopted the Dennis Canon in 1979. The National Church and the Associated Diocese argue these actions by each Parish constitute express accession to the Dennis Canon. In the pages that follow, we will analyze the actions taken by each individual Parish to determine whether those actions constitute express accession. Whether a Parish took an action is a question of fact, on which we defer to the circuit court if there is any evidence to support the finding. See Hardy v. Aiken, 369 S.C. 160, 165, 631 S.E.2d 539, 541 (2006) (noting a question of fact in a law action [is] subject to an any evidence standard of review when tried by a judge without a jury (citation omitted)). However, the question of whether an action known to have been taken by a Parish created a trust in favor of the National Church and its diocese under South Carolina trust law is a question of law. This Court does not defer to the circuit court concerning questions of law. See City of N. Myrtle Beach v. E. Cherry Grove Realty Co., LLC, 397 S.C. 497, 502, 725 S.E.2d 676, 678 (2012) (Questions of law are decided with no . . . deference to the trial court. (citation omitted)). One Parish—Trinity Episcopal Church, Pinopolis—is particularly unlike the other Parishes. The National Church contends Trinity, Pinopolis was required to submit an application for admission into the Lower Diocese in which it was required to state its willingness to conform to the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention and the Constitution and Canons of this Diocese. There is no such application in the record before us. Thus, as far as we can tell, Trinity, Pinopolis did not take any action that could be argued to have created a trust. Further, as we will explain in Subsection III.B.v, even if Trinity, Pinopolis had submitted an application containing this language, a willingness to conform to the Canons does not indicate Trinity, Pinopolis took present action or had the present intent necessary to create a trust under South Carolina trust law. A willingness to take action is not itself a present action; it is the contemplation of future action. Therefore, we find there is no evidence of express accession to the Dennis Canon by the following Parish, and there is no trust in favor of the National Church or the Associated Diocese over its property: • Trinity Episcopal Church, Pinopolis The remaining twenty-eight Parishes fall on a spectrum of specific actions alleged to constitute accession, ranging from pledging allegiance to the National Church and its diocese to reciting the Dennis Canon verbatim in their governing documents. For each of the Parishes, we consider the actions taken within its own governing documents adopted after 1979 along with the Dennis Canon and the Diocesan Canon. i. Parishes that did nothing more than pledge or affirm allegiance to the National Church and the Lower Diocese and do not mention the Canons Four Parishes took no more action than to pledge or affirm in their constitutions or bylaws allegiance to the National Church and its teachings, or to acknowledge the National Church and the Lower Diocese's religious authority. For example, The Church of the Epiphany—located in Eutawville, South Carolina—included in its 2002 Bylaws a provision that stated, The object and purpose of the corporation is for the support and maintenance of a Church . . . in the [Lower Diocese] for the public worship of Almighty God in accordance with the doctrine and practices of the [National Church] and the [Lower Diocese], together with such other religious, educational and charitable works as may properly be connected therewith. Nowhere in this provision does Epiphany, Eutawville act in a manner that creates a trust under South Carolina trust law. In these words, Epiphany, Eutawville merely promised allegiance to the National Church and the Lower Diocese. Epiphany, Eutawville did not take the necessary present action nor indicate the necessary intent to create a trust. The other three Parishes in this category included similar provisions in their governing documents. These provisions contain no reference to the Canons of either the National Church or the Lower Diocese. The provisions merely set forth the Parishes' doctrinal beliefs and a promise to follow the religious teachings of the National Church and the Lower Diocese. Without more, as Chief Justice Beatty wrote in 2017, this promise cannot deprive them of their ownership rights in their property. 421 S.C. at 251, 806 S.E.2d at 103 (Beatty, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part). Consequently, the following Parishes did not expressly accede to the Dennis Canon and did not create a trust under South Carolina trust law: • The Protestant Episcopal Church, Of The Parish Of Saint Philip, In Charleston, In The State Of South Carolina • The Protestant Episcopal Church, The Parish Of Saint Michael, In Charleston, In The State Of South Carolina and St. Michael's Church Declaration Of Trust • Church of the Cross, Inc. and Church of the Cross Declaration of Trust, Bluffton • The Church of the Epiphany, Eutawville ii. Parish that considered its canons null and void if in conflict with the Canons of the National Church or the Lower Diocese One Parish—The Vestry and Church Warden of the Episcopal Church of the Parish of St. Helena and the Parish of St. Helena Trust—stated it pledges to adhere to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the National Church—similar to the Parishes discussed in Subsection III.B.i—and also provided that any of its bylaws that may be in conflict with the canons of the National Church or the Lower Diocese shall be considered null and void. These provisions are included in St. Helena's 1987 Bylaws. The words adhere to may be stronger than the language used by the Parishes discussed in Subsection III.B.i, but the use of the word pledges nonetheless contemplates future action, not the present action necessary to satisfy the first element mentioned above. St. Helena's Bylaws do mention the Canons generally in the clause about conflicting canons, but they make no mention of the Dennis Canon. This language does not show a present action necessary to create a trust nor does it indicate the intent necessary to create a trust based on the Dennis Canon. We find the following Parish did not expressly accede to the Dennis Canon and did not create a trust under South Carolina trust law: • The Vestry and Church Warden of the Episcopal Church of the Parish of St. Helena and the Parish of St. Helena Trust, Beaufort iii. Parishes that operated or were organized pursuant to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese Five Parishes stated in their governing documents they were organized for the purpose of operating an Episcopal Church pursuant to or organized pursuant to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese. For example, The Church of the Resurrection, Surfside included in its 1983 Bylaws a statement that it is organized for the purpose of operating an Episcopal Church pursuant to the Constitution and Canons of the [Lower Diocese] and of the [National Church] now in force or as hereafter may be amended. Like the Parish of St. Helena discussed in Subsection III.B.ii, the words contemplate the future action of operating a church, not the present action necessary to satisfy the first element mentioned above. We view organizing and operating a church as different from, and not involving, the disposition of real estate by creating a trust. While the governing documents for these five Parishes do mention the Canons generally, they do not specifically mention the Dennis Canon. Therefore, the following five Parishes did not expressly accede to the Dennis Canon and did not create a trust under South Carolina trust law: • Christ St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Conway • The Church of the Resurrection, Surfside • The Church of St. Luke and St. Paul, Radcliffeboro • The Vestry and Church Wardens of St. Paul's Church, Summerville • Trinity Episcopal Church, Edisto Island iv. Parish that stated it was subject to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese One Parish—St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Bennettsville—not only stated in its 2002 Articles of Incorporation that it was organized under the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese but also that it was subject to the Canons. There is no specific reference to the Dennis Canon. While this is more than simply being organized under the Canons, the language subject to refers to future action—in this instance the future action of the drafters of the Canons—not the present action of the property owner that is necessary to satisfy the first element discussed above.10 In addition, this language gives no indication of the necessary 10 The Dennis Canon provides that any trust in favor of the National Church and the Associated Diocese shall in no way limit the power and authority of the Parish . . . so long as the particular Parish . . . remains part of, and subject to this Church and its Constitution and Canons. However, as we have already stated, being subject to the Canons of the National Church is not itself sufficient to create a trust; there must be a separate present act creating a trust. intent to create a trust based on the Dennis Canon.11 Therefore, the following Parish did not expressly accede to the Dennis Canon and did not create a trust under South Carolina trust law: • St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Bennettsville, Inc. v. Parishes that agreed to be bound by or agreed to conform to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese Three Parishes amended their constitutions or bylaws after the National Church adopted the Dennis Canon in 1979 to include phrases such as we agree to be bound by or to conform to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese. There is no specific reference to the Dennis Canon. As with the statements we discussed in Subsections III.B.ii, iii, and iv, we believe these statements contemplate how a parish is going to act in the future. They do not show present action coupled with a present intent to create a trust based on the Dennis Canon. For example, The Church of the Redeemer in Orangeburg included in its 2000 Constitution a statement that it shall conform to the Constitution and Canons of the [National Church], and the Constitution and Canons of the [Lower Diocese], which are now, or hereafter may be enacted by the authority of the same. The phrase shall conform to is an agreement to comply with some future requirement; here, the Canons. Future compliance with the Canons is not present action and does not indicate these Parishes had the present intent necessary to create a trust based on the Dennis Canon. Therefore, the following three Parishes did not expressly accede to the Dennis Canon and did not create a trust under South Carolina trust law: 11 St. Paul's, Bennettsville also included in its Bylaws a provision stating, The Vestry shall be authorized and empowered to acquire and purchase such real and personal property as they may deem necessary for the purpose of the congregation, and the same to sell, transfer, mortgage or authorize the disposition of as they may deem expedient so long as such acts are in accord with the Canons of the Episcopal Church. Although this phrase gives authority to its governing body concerning real and personal property and limits that authority so long as such acts are in accord with the Canons of the National Church, it is not evidence St. Paul's, Bennettsville took a present action to satisfy the first element discussed above. Like the phrase subject to, this provision contemplates future actions by the Parish. For further explanation of the language in St. Paul's, Bennettsville's Bylaws, see infra note 12. • All Saints Protestant Episcopal Church, Inc., Florence • The Church of Our Saviour of the Diocese of South Carolina, John's Island • The Church of the Redeemer, Orangeburg vi. Parishes that adopted or acceded to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese Nine Parishes amended their constitutions or bylaws after the National Church adopted the Dennis Canon in 1979 and after the Lower Diocese adopted the Diocesan Canon in 1987 to include phrases such as we adopt or accede to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese. For example, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church's 2005 Bylaws provided, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church accedes to and adopts the Constitution and Canons of the [National Church] and of the [Lower Diocese] and acknowledges this authority accordingly. As we explained, the National Church's Canons include the Dennis Canon and the Lower Diocese's Canons included the Diocesan Canon, both of which recite a trust over All real and personal property held by or for the benefit of any Parish in favor of the National Church and its diocese. Therefore, the Parishes that used this language took present action that created the trust the National Church and the Lower Diocese recited in those Canons. While none of these documents specifically mention the Dennis Canon, we find the language adopt or accede to represents a sufficient affirmative present action—in light of the knowledge these Parishes had of the Dennis and Diocesan Canons—to satisfy the two elements described above. Consequently, the following nine Parishes took sufficient actions indicating the necessary present intent, and each created a trust under South Carolina trust law in favor of the National Church and its diocese: • The Church of the Good Shepherd, Charleston, SC • The Church of the Holy Comforter, Sumter • St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Hartsville • The Vestry and Church Wardens of the Episcopal Church of the Parish of St. John's, John's Island (Charleston) • The Vestry and Church Wardens of St. Jude's Church of Walterboro • Saint Luke's Church, Hilton Head • St. David's Church, Cheraw • The Vestry and Church Wardens of the Parish of St. Matthew (St. Matthews, Fort Motte) • The Vestries and Church Wardens of the Parish of St. Andrew (Old St. Andrew's), Charleston vii. Parishes that acceded to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese and recognized the Lower Diocese's beneficial interest Four Parishes are identical to the nine Parishes in Subsection III.B.vi, except for the fact that these Parishes went further to recognize the Lower Diocese's beneficial interest in their property. This recognition is additional evidence of these Parishes' intent to create a trust in favor of the National Church and its diocese. For example, the Church of the Holy Cross, Stateburg included in its 2011 Bylaws a statement providing, the Vestry shall in no case alienate or encumber any of the real and personal property of the corporation without the same having been submitted first to the congregation . . . and having received the affirmative vote thereof for such alienation or encumbrance. Immediately following this provision, Holy Cross, Stateburg included a footnote stating, Diocesan Canon require [sic] Standing Committee approval. The Standing Committee was a committee of the Lower Diocese authorized to act on behalf of the Lower Diocese in accordance with its Constitutions and Canons. Therefore, Holy Cross, Stateburg not only referenced the Diocesan Canon in 2011 but also demonstrated a recognition that any alienation or encumbrance of its property must first be submitted to the Lower Diocese for approval. 12 Trinity Church of Myrtle Beach and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Charleston also recognized the Lower Diocese's beneficial interest in their properties in their governing documents. Both Parishes included nearly identical statements, providing, The Vestry . . . shall hold, manage, and administer all Church property including real property which they shall have power to sell, alienate, mortgage, lease or otherwise 12 The analysis of whether Holy Cross, Stateburg satisfied the second element discussed above—intent to create a trust—is the same as our analysis for St. Paul's, Bennettsville, but the outcome of the case for the two Parishes is different. This is because Holy Cross, Stateburg took affirmative present action in its 2011 Bylaws to accede[] to the . . . Canons of the [National Church], but St. Paul's, Bennettsville merely stated it was organized under and subject to the Canons. deal with and dispose of by deed of other documents executed by the Wardens or one of them; provided that the Vestry shall not sell, alienate mortgage or otherwise encumber the Church property without the written consent of the Bishop and the Standing Committee of the Diocese as provided in Diocesan or National Church Canons. These provisions show both Parishes recognized the National Church and the Lower Diocese's beneficial interest in their property by requiring any alienation or encumbrance of such property first requires the written consent of the Lower Diocese. The last Parish in this category—Vestry and Church Wardens of the Episcopal Church of the Parish of Christ Church, Mount Pleasant—amended its Bylaws in 1980 to include a provision stating, In the event Christ Church, Mount Pleasant, S.C. should ever dissolve . . . , the Standing Committee of the [Lower Diocese] shall become the managing body of the corporation, with full power and authority without restriction, to sell or mortgage its property or any part thereof, to convey any or all of its property to the [Trustees]. This provision recognizes the Lower Diocese's successor interest in Christ Church, Mount Pleasant's property. However, by also including the provision The terms of these By-laws which may be in conflict with the Canons of the [National Church] . . . are hereby amended to conform to such canons, Christ Church made a present amendment to that provision to incorporate the Dennis Canon and to recognize the Lower Diocese's present beneficial interest. Christ Church, Mount Pleasant is different from the other Parishes in this category in that it last amended its Bylaws in 1980. Because this amendment was made seven years before the Lower Diocese adopted the Diocesan Canon, we cannot rely on Christ Church, Mount Pleasant's participation in the Lower Diocese's adoption of the Diocesan Canon as evidence of its intent to create a trust. Nevertheless, we find Christ Church, Mount Pleasant's recognition of the Lower Diocese's beneficial interest in its property, coupled with the statement accede to the . . . Canons of the [National Church], demonstrates it satisfied both elements discussed above, and thus did expressly accede to the Dennis Canon through the adoption of its 1980 Bylaws. Therefore, the following four Parishes took the necessary present actions indicating the necessary present intent, and each created a trust under South Carolina trust law in favor of the National Church and its diocese: • The Church of the Holy Cross, Stateburg • Trinity Church of Myrtle Beach • Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Charleston • Vestry and Church Wardens of the Episcopal Church of the Parish of Christ Church, Mount Pleasant viii. Parish that recited the Dennis Canon in its constitution One Parish—St. James' Church, James Island, SC—did even more than accede to or adopt the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese. St. James' Church recited a version of the Dennis Canon in its own constitution, stating, All real and personal property held by or for the benefit of any Parish . . . is held in trust for the Church and the Diocese thereof . . . . If express accession to the Dennis Canon by adopting or acceding to the Canons of the National Church and the Lower Diocese is sufficient to create a trust, then verbatim recitation of the Dennis Canon is clearly sufficient as well. Consequently, the following Parish created a trust under South Carolina trust law in favor of the National Church and its diocese: • St. James' Church, James Island, SC