Given the gravity of all these concerns, we will now give serious consideration to seeking review by the U.S. Supreme Court. We believe the number and character of the issues at stake in this ruling merit review by the high court. Because of the long road of litigation that has brought us to this day, all the parties to this case will need to take counsel together before deciding our next steps.

We remain confident that God is at work in even these circumstances to redeem and use them, as He does all things, for His glory and the building up of His Church."

The Diocese also provided the following list of additional details:
• As Justice Kittredge noted in his dissenting opinion, "For the purpose of resolving the rehearing petitions, I requested a fifth justice be appointed to fill the absence created by Justice Hearn's recusal so that a full court could decide this matter of great importance. My request was rejected, which I find shocking. Under these circumstances, to disallow a full court from considering the rehearing petitions is deeply troubling and, in my opinion, raises constitutional implications as the Court has blocked a fair and meaningful merits review of the rehearing petitions."

• Former Chief Justice Jean Toal, in her dissenting opinion, had this observation to make about the denial of Rehearing. "...the Court's collective opinion in this case gives rise to great uncertainty, in that we have given little to no coherent guidance in this case or in church property disputes going forward. Given our lack of agreement, I have no doubt the court will see more litigation involving these issues and similarly situated parties."

• In 2012, the Diocese of South Carolina, along with 50 of its congregations voted by an 80% margin to disassociate from The Episcopal Church. In a complicated and sharply divided ruling consisting of five separate opinions, the S.C. Supreme Court appeared to rule on August 2 this year that parishes which had "acceded" to the national church are subject to a trust interest in their property by (TEC).

LINKS:

A copy of today's Rulings can be found here:
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/2017-11-17_recusal_denied.pdf
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/2017-11-17_rehearing_denied.pdf

A copy of the Diocese's filed Petition, Motion and Affidavits can be found here:
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/2017-09-01-petition-for-rehearing.pdf
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/2017-09-01-motion-to-recuse-and-vacate.pdf
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/crystal_affidavit_2017_8_29.pdf
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/fox_affidavit_2017_8_30.PDF
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/2017-9-25-reply-to-petition-rehearing.pdf
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/2017-9-25-reply-to-motion-to-recuse.pdf
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/2017_10_13_response_to_amicus_brief.pdf

Supreme Court's Current Ruling and Video of Oral Arguments:
http://www.sccourts.org/opinions/HTMLFiles/SC/27731.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu8CShvWcC8&feature=youtu.be

Judge Goodstein's Orders from the Trial Court:
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/15_2_3_final_order.pdf
http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/goodstein_denies_reconsider_2_23_25.pdf

South Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct
Canon 2 - http://www.sccourts.org/courtreg/displayRule.cfm?ruleID=501.0&subRuleID=Canon%202&ruleType=APP
Canon 3 - http://www.sccourts.org/courtreg/displayRule.cfm?ruleID=501.0&subRuleID=Canon%203&ruleType=APP

History of the Case and The Diocese of South Carolina:
http://www.diosc.com/sys/legal-media

A recent statement by over 110 clergy of 10 difference denominations affirming our legal concerns:
https://www.palmettofamily.org/diocese-supporters/

The Statement by the Rector of St. Philip's, Charleston regarding the potential impact of this ruling:
http://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/court-ruling-imperils-freedom-to-worship-sanctions-confiscation/article_45d05da6-9a1c-11e7-8bdd-db20e560504a.html