4) Don’t bring in an expert witness by the back door as a tactic (by the national church) to delay the trial.

5) Don't try and blindside the judge by introducing witnesses who have not been pre cleared and think you can get away with it. You won't.

6) If you think you can roll into South Carolina with a lot of high priced lawyers and treat the judge like a southern hick, you will get your head handed to you on a platter, especially as the judge in question is Jewish and has a higher IQ than most TEC bishops combined.

By all accounts, TEC lawyers led by David Booth Beers have made multiple mistakes in this three week long trial. It's biggest was to invite former Bishop of East Carolina Clifton Daniels III - a 40 watt light bulb in 100 watt firmament - to testify on behalf of the national church. He testified that there is nothing in the Church’s Canons and Constitution that says a diocese cannot secede from the national church which, as soon as the words were out of his mouth, must have had David Booth Beers choking on his $300 silk tie.

A side bar lesson (No. 7) for the national Episcopal Church is that the South is on the brink of rising again and there is nothing they can do about it.

Ten days out and by all accounts, TEC is going down in flames proving that the national Episcopal Church is not invincible and its general convention resolutions don't hold much sway in a secular court.

Even a famous historian who tried the old hierarchical line did not go down well either. That dog won’t hunt. Judge Goodstein reiterated to both parties that South Carolina is a “neutral” principle state and will only consider how this relates to property law. Think All Saints’ Pawleys Island.

If all goes as planned, Bishop Mark Lawrence's version of events is going to win. He will get to retain somewhere between $500 and $800 million worth of real estate. Not bad for three weeks work. Only Warren Buffett might possibly do better.

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