"Any kind of public controversy is not a good thing," Salmon said. "The
church is in turmoil on a number of matters, and that turmoil has
expressed itself at Pawleys Island. We need to be sure we do not say
anything about the other people involved and focus on what the Lord wants."

The All Saints congregation voted to change the church's corporate
charter, deleting references to the Episcopal Church USA and the
Episcopal Diocese of S.C., in response to the consecration of Gene
Robinson, the church's first openly homosexual bishop. But All Saints
leaders have been fighting the diocese in court for three years over
ownership of the church property on Kings River Road, valued at about
$50 million.

Salmon said the diocese had tried to leave the All Saints situation
alone. "We thought that if we didn't do anything destructive, we could
work it out," he said. "The issues at hand are the property and the
bishop's authority in the church. I could no longer look the other
way." Salmon said there must be an Episcopal congregation in existence
to hold title to the All Saints property when the lawsuit is settled.

A more immediate question came from the audience. "Can we meet in the
Old Church?"

Salmon said he could not answer that question last night but promised to
pursue the matter this week. He said a retired minister could easily be
found to preach at a church service. The majority of those at last
night's meeting wanted to have 8 and 10 a.m. services in the historic
old church.

"Why do we have to ask them to go to our church?" another member of the
audience asked Salmon. "They have taken it over," Salmon answered.
"While I don' t agree with what they've done, let's treat them as
Christian people and pray for them."

All Saints spokesman Russ Campbell said the request to use the Old
Church will be sent to the church council and then to chancellor Ross
Lindsay III for a legal opinion. "It's a legal matter," Campbell said
last night.

Another member of the audience last night asked about going to the All
Saints Access service. Church officials have said the dissidents could
attend any service, but technically they will be visitors. "Worship
won't taint your soul," Salmon assured the questioner.

Another asked about giving money to the Episcopal Church.

"Make your contributions to this congregation," Salmon said, pointing to
the people seated around him and adding the wardens would organize a
means of collecting money and depositing it in a new bank account.

Another asked Salmon if he had ex-communicated warden Doc Lachicotte and
the other vestry members at All Saints, as they have claimed.

"I've not ex-communicated anybody," he said. "They are no longer
communicants in good standing by leaving the church. They can't have it
both ways, leave the church and remain in good standing."

Salmon said he has no earthly idea how the situation at All Saints will
play out. "The diocese's strength is in jeopardy when a group can take
over its property. The strength would be gone. We've got to find a way
to allow All Saints to function as it always has."

END