Burnt toast: Two observations on the recent HOB meeting

One observation from a layman and one from a bishop, both arriving at basically the same conclusion - the Episcopal Church as we knew it is toast, and burnt toast at that.

From Captain Yips [boldface mine]:

. . . And revulsion over the descent of what’s left of The Episcopal Church into mere lawless chaos. With the contrived and illicit expulsion of the Bishop of Pittsburgh, the House of Bishops, the same House that tolerates the manifold inanities of John Spong, that couldn’t bring itself to bring James Pike to account, has declared its absolute irrelevance - to anything. How the vote was contrived and excused is not terrifically important. With it, the EpiscoLeft has declared that the revolution must go forward.

I am, happily, out of TEC and won’t return. The fight in the Diocese of Chicago was lost a long time ago, probably when I was in my 20s, and when we didn’t know there was a fight on anyway. . .

Read it all.

And from Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Diocese of South Carolina [boldface mine]:

. . . Once again within a few months the landscape of The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion has changed—as if Gafcon and Lambeth were not enough. What does this deposition mean? Frankly, it is still unfolding, but I offer the following reflections:

• The House of Bishops whether intentionally or not has enhanced the power of the Presiding Bishop. With consequences far beyond the deposition of The Rt. Reverend Robert Duncan, this vote by interpretation and application of Title IV.9, has established invasive reach for the PB. It is now possible for a sitting bishop of TEC to be deposed without prior inhibition or trial, rendering superfluous the role of the three Senior Bishops of the House. Beyond this is the quizzical ruling that it takes more votes from the House to receive the resignation of a retiring bishop then to depose a sitting one! Then there is the curious fact that it takes a two-thirds vote of the house to overturn a ruling of the chair, thus when combined with rendering moot the role of the senior bishops and the plain reference to a needed “majority of the whole house entitled to vote” in Title IV.9—there is enhanced power to the PB regardless of who may hold the chair, now or in the future. A development mercurial indeed, when one considers the PB and House of Bishops have repeatedly declined the authority to speak on behalf of The Episcopal Church when queried for commitments by the Communion’s Instruments of Unity; deferring instead to the authority of General Convention. . .

All of this leads me to believe that the challenges that lie before a predominately conservative diocese like South Carolina have now been enormously increased if only because of the perception of our parishioners and clergy—but, more pertinently from what I fear is a failure of the present House of Bishops to realize just how far from historic Christianity our church has drifted. To many of our minds this, far more than Pittsburgh’s present challenge to TEC’s discipline and polity, is what has led to this current crisis. Beyond this the checks and balances previously given to us in the Constitution & Canons seem profoundly weakened. Phrases long understood as clear apparently can be spoken of as ambiguous. If what appears to be the plain meaning of a canon can be dismissed with apparent ease and with no recourse; if the request from such a monumental gathering as Lambeth 2008 urging greater dialogue and forthright conversation within the body of Christ seems to count for so little here in the first action of the House—even after so many TEC bishops report being profoundly moved by the grace exhibited toward us from those provinces grieved and hindered by our prior actions; and when there seems to be so little recognition that it has been the very actions of our General Convention and HOB in recent years that has so alienated dioceses like San Joaquin, Pittsburgh and others that their laity and clergy vote in such large majorities to remove accession clauses—judicious governance and Christian unity will drain like water from an opened hand. One might have wished for a more generous spirit and greater patience toward our own aggrieved members. Indeed one has to wonder where such tone deafness and purblindness come from. . .

Read it all.
H/t to TitusOneNine.

Steve Wood (S.C.) and the Presiding Bishop

From Steve Wood of the Diocese of South Carolina, thoughts on his recent meeting with the presiding bishop and six other rectors:

What I think:

I think that the financial challenges facing the reorganization of the National Church offices could be addressed with a return to creedal Christianity and a cessation of the lawsuits.

I think that the conservative/re-asserting remnant will get their legislative clocks cleaned at General Convention 2009.

I think that B033 is going to be repealed at General Convention 2009.

I think that the marriage (in States where the legislature or courts have ruled this legal) or blessing of same-sex persons will be authorized at General Convention 2009.

I think that the 2009 General Convention will modify the “Dennis Canon”, giving the National Church property ownership (it’s hard to remember that until 1979 PARISHES “owned” their property - not the Diocese or National Church).

I think that many in leadership at the 2009 General Convention will be content to walk apart from the Anglican Communion.

I think that based on the experience with women’s ordination the 2009 General Convention will debate, and defeat, a “conscious clause” with regard to same-sex ordinations and blessings/marriages.

I think that the above actions will render it impossible for anyone left from “my side” to remain within TEC (though, of course, some will).

What I hope:

That a new North American Anglican Province is formed in the very near future.

Read it all.

Angel Oak

Angel Oak, John's Island, South Carolina

The Angel Oak is a Live Oak (Quercus Virginiana) that is a native species found throughout the Lowcountry (Costal Carolina). Believed to be in excess of 1,500 years old, its massive, draping limbs and wide spreading canopy present the aura of an angel but the naming of this tree was acquired from the tree's previous owners, Martha and Justin Angel.

We used to stop by to take a look at this when I was little - supposedly it's the oldest living thing east of the Mississippi and is now owned by the City of Charleston.

+Mark Lawrence (South Carolina) is going to GAFCON and Lambeth

I've seen several inquiries as to whether Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Diocese of South Carolina in going to Lambeth or not. So, straight from the June 3, 2008, issue of the South Carolina diocesan e-newsletter, here is +Lawrence's answer:

Gafcon and Lambeth Ahead

Recently many in the diocese have asked me if I am going to Lambeth this summer, and the answer is yes. Others have asked if I’m going to Gafcon and the answer is yes, but I can only fit the “Jerusalem Week” into my schedule. I believe it is important for me to wade into the muddy gulf that divides so many within the Anglican Communion. Yet increasingly in these travels one of the things I find consoling is that when I return to Charleston and South Carolina, it feels like I’m coming home. That is a most welcome sense, I assure. This is enough for now—I look forward to sharing more with you in the weeks and months to come.

Faithfully yours,
Mark Lawrence
Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina

Check it out.

AnglicanTV: Extreme makeover: Church edition

Take a look at the (fictional) Rev. Percy Veering on AnglicanTV:

Sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.

Five dioceses publicly oppose depositions of Bishops Schofield and Cox

Here are the five dioceses (so far) that have publicly opposed the actions of the Presiding Bishop and the Episcopal Church house of bishops:

• The Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina (The Rt. Rev Mark Lawrence endorsed the letter) March 27


• The Standing Committee and Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Western Louisiana (in a resolution authorized by the diocesan Standing Committee and endorsed by the bishop, D. Bruce MacPherson, and Diocesan Council) April 14


• Diocesan Board and Standing Committee and Bishop John W. Howe of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida May 15


• The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Springfield (The Rt. Rev Peter H. Beckwith endorsed the letter and actions of his Diocesan Council) May 22


• The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northern Indiana May 27

H/t to VirtueOnline.

Why I left ECUSA, Part 1: A brief history

The first in a series outlining why my family and I believe it is time for us to leave the Episcopal Church

Part 1: My background in the Episcopal Church: A Hebrew of Hebrews (with all of the pride that St. Paul infers going along with that)

The information quoted below is from The Huguenot Church, organized as the French Protestant Church, Charleston, South Carolina, in their service bulletin for the Commemoration of the Three-hundredth Anniversary of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, April 21, 1985 (Huguenot Society President in 1985: Theodore Guérard, my father):

The H.M.S. Richmond

In 1679 René Petit, King’s Agent in Rouen and Jacob Guérard, a gentleman of Normandy, petitioned the Privy Council of England to transport foreign Protestant families to one of the English plantations, preferably Carolina, to establish there the manufacture of silk, oil, and wine.

This petition was referred to as the Carolina Proprietors and with their approval went next to the Lords of Trade, where, finally, probably due to Ashley Cooper’s membership on the Board, it was accepted by the King in council. The venture, therefore, received the personal approval of Charles II.

Accordingly, H.M.S. Richmond sailed from England December 19, 1679, bringing to Carolina the first contingent of the Petit-Guérard Colony and landing them at Oyster Point, Charles Town, in April of 1680.

Early records show that the following individuals and families were among the passengers on the H.M.S. Richmond.

Number of Famillies
. . . . . .
P. Guérard of Normandy with his Famillie

The French Huguenots, of course, soon became Anglicans.

I was

• Born into the Mother Church, St. Philip’s Charleston


• Received the sacrament of Holy Baptism “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”


• Confirmed by Bishop Gray Temple


• Went on youth retreats at Camp St. Christopher


• Had weekly EYC combined with St. Michael’s (where my mother’s family attends, and where my sister now goes, having married into a St. Michael’s family – ah, the rivalry!)


• Had pre-marital counseling at The Falls Church (the only church in the D.C. area that the rector at St. Philip’s would accept as providing proper counseling – at the time I had no idea why he was so adamant about this)


• Married (by the 1928 Prayer Book, of course) at St. Philip's (and finally lost the "Guérard" which no one outside of Charleston could ever pronounce or spell)

Father, uncle, cousins were senior wardens, vestry members, etc., etc.

Remember vaguely hearing discussions among the “grown-ups” about women’s ordination, but everyone seemed to agree that it was nothing to worry too much about in Charleston

Attended church intermittently in the D.C. area (yes, basically a C&E Christian, although I had discovered C.S. Lewis in 8th grade, so hope remained)

Moved to southern California, opened the phone book to find out where the Episcopal Church was in Carlsbad (because I figured that would be a good place to meet people), saw Holy Cross “a mission church” (what’s a mission church? I had no idea), saw St. Michael’s By-the-Sea (founded 1894) and thought, well, that sounds like the closest thing I’ll ever get to a Mother Church here.

We went to St. Michael's our first Sunday in California and continued for 14 years. God led us there, I am sure. And God softened my heart there as well to His Word.

It was my first Anglo-Catholic church, but still familiar since there was the Book of Common Prayer - even if we did have Communion every week and say the Nicene Creed (all 1979 prayer book innovations, in my opinion) and use incense, unlike growing up with Communion once a month and the Apostle’s Creed in the weekly Morning Prayer service (and no incense, please). Fr. Neal Moquin, the rector, is a graduate of Nashotah House and a Forward in Faith priest and the curate, Fr. Doran Stambaugh, also a Nashotah House graduate, was ordained by Bishop Keith Ackerman (Quincy).

My husband was received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Gethin Hughes (now retired, San Diego) and our son was baptized at St. Michael’s. I have served on the Altar Guild and the Vestry, gone to the Mom's Group, the Women's Book Group, the Lenten series, been a delegate at two diocesan conventions, etc.

And I have felt the Holy Spirit there truly, in the people, in the place, and in my heart.

So, why leave and why now? Ah, that's Part 2.

Wadmalaw Island

I wish I had a better picture - but this is the place I miss the most.

South Carolina asks Presiding Bishop to postpone San Joaquin special convention

From The Living Church [boldface mine]:

Bishop Mark Lawrence of South Carolina and the diocesan standing committee have made public a letter sent March 27 to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in which she was asked not to proceed with a “special convention” meeting she announced and personally will convene on March 29 at St. John the Baptist Church in Lodi, Calif. . .

“Additionally, for the good of our Church, we ask you not to proceed with the planned election of a replacement for Bishop Schofield until the matter of his deposition can be legally and canonically resolved,” the letter added.

“The Diocese of South Carolina demonstrated our commitment to the proper observance of The Episcopal Church Canons with two election conventions and 18 months of Standing Committee and Bishop confirmations. Because we feel so strongly that the canons were not followed in the depositions of Bishops Schofield and Cox, we must respectfully refuse to recognize the depositions, and we will not recognize any new bishop who may be elected to replace Bishop Schofield, unless and until the canons are followed.”

Neva Rae Fox, public affairs officer for Episcopal Life Online Media, and other officials from the Episcopal Church Center, were traveling to Lodi when the letter was made public. Ms. Fox said shortly after her arrival on March 28 that she had “not received any notification of any change in plans to proceed with the special convention.”. . .

Read it all.

Weekly update from Bishop David Anderson, AAC

Via email [boldface mine]:

Beloved in Christ,

Much of the news this week centers on the recent actions of The Episcopal Church House of Bishops (TEC-HOB) and the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori (KJS) in relation to a vote to depose retired bishop William Cox and former TEC bishop John-David Schofield (JDS). Dovetailing into these legally questionable depositions are two subsequent issues: the fact that the deposition notice for Bishop Cox misstates his title and the diocese he retired from; and the calling for a Special Convention of the Diocese of San Joaquin to elect a new bishop.

An article in the Living Church states: "In a March 12 press conference, Bishop Schori stated she had not followed rules governing the requirement that the 88-year old retired bishop be granted a speedy trial, that he be informed of the charges against him in a timely fashion, and that the consent of the church's senior bishops be solicited by the Presiding Bishop to suspend him from office pending trial." Additionally, for Bishop Cox and Bishop JDS, the issue of whether there were votes enough to depose is at stake. If the rule of law is at the whim of the chief executive, no one is safe, conservative or revisionist - it's just a case of when KJS will come for you.

Please bear with me and we will go through the details. According to TEC canon law, a quorum to conduct business is a majority of (nearly) all of the bishops in TEC (Article I.2 TEC Constitution), but it is believed that fewer than that number of bishops were present at the officially called meeting. This would mean that no binding business could be lawfully transacted. To have a quorum would have required one half plus one of the whole number of bishops entitled to vote, which includes Diocesans, Suffragans, Coadjutors, and Assisting bishops (Retired bishops and those "In assignment to positions created or endorsed by the General Convention", although having a vote, apparently do not count toward establishing a quorum).

The canonical standard to depose a bishop is harder, and requires a majority vote of (all) the whole number of the bishops entitled to vote (Canon 9:Sec.2). This does include those who are retired or in assignment to positions created or endorsed by the General Convention. The majority required to depose is of the full body as if all were present. This is a "super majority" in actuality, since seldom would the "whole number of the bishops entitled to vote" be present. The problem was that this number of bishops wasn't even in attendance that day. Even if all of those bishops in attendance had voted for deposition (and they didn't) there still would have been an inadequate number of votes. How could the Presiding Bishop and the Chancellor David Booth Beers (DBB) determine that the proceedings were lawful when they violated the canons? Because they believe they can do this and get away with it - and the truth is, in today's Episcopal Church, they may get away with it. The corruption in Christology, Theology, and Moral Discipline in TEC extends into gross arrogance and the use or disregard of Canon Law as is convenient to KJS and DBB.

This disregard for the rule of law by TEC means that KJS and her Chancellor DBB are functioning as police, prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner, and most of the other TEC bishops fall in dutifully behind them. One must ask, "Where are the sometime "Windsor Bishops" in all of this? We see no protests except from Bishop John Howe and now from South Carolina; have the "Windsor Bishops" lost their voices? " Speak now or forever hold your peace," would be one way of phrasing it.

Since the legality of the deposition of JDS is in serious doubt at the present moment, the position of Bishop of San Joaquin may not be vacant! How can KJS call a Special Convention for San Joaquin, nominate Bishop Lamb as the next San Joaquin Diocesan, chair the meeting and elect her nominee? This doesn't look like a good government model for the free world, instead it looks like a pogrom against orthodox Anglican church leaders still in TEC as well as those whose departure was recent (and hastened by the abuse to which they have been subjected).

American journalist Steve Levin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Jefferts Schori will begin to poll bishops nationally in April in an effort to move the deposition of Bishop Bob Duncan ahead to May. She has perhaps several agendas at work, one being to depose him soon so that the Archbishop of Canterbury has the excuse to "dis-invite" Bishop Duncan from Lambeth publicly and further undercut the orthodox Anglicans. A second reason is so she can declare the Diocese of Pittsburgh vacant and move her minions into position. The Diocese isn't set to formally decide on staying or going from TEC until the October-November time frame, but without a bishop, she can begin the attempt to undercut the Standing Committee of the diocese.

As preparations for TEC's 2009 General Convention begin to unfold (yes it is coming like an asteroid in Earth orbit), one area of critical note for clergy will be changes in the misconduct canons. The "Title IV Task Force II" is proposing changes which would expand the definition of the chargeable offence "conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy" to include virtually any public criticism that offended someone, including telling the truth about the outrageous conduct of the Episcopal Church or its people and policies. It would cover not only sermons, newsletter articles, and teachings in parish coffee hours, but blogs and online postings.

Unless there is massive pushback from those still in TEC, clergy will be disposed of rather easily. As soon as TEC is able to acquire a Mind Reading Machine, they can depose clergy for inner thoughts, too - why wait until they say something? What is next, you ask... perhaps if a priest is found to be reading the AAC's Encompass Magazine, or the Leaders or Weekly Updates, or the StandFirm website, or David Virtue's Virtue on Line, that will be conduct unbecoming and subject to immediate execution. The future inside TEC is going to get hotter after 2009. An inconvenient truth: Ecclesial Warming ahead!

The good news we are hearing is that responses are being received to the Global Anglican Future Conference and Pilgrimage invitations, and although there are limited seats available, there is high interest in filling those spots. The AAC is providing a working team of several of our AAC staff to help with support tasks such as the registration process, etc. Donations for scholarships for bishops needing assistance to attend GAFCON can be made online at the American Anglican Council website or at this link.

Some have jested about the Send-A-Bishop-to-GAFCON funding request: if you like the bishop you can give him a round trip scholarship and let him get home again. Seriously, do give the scholarships to GAFCON some thought and prayer.

Blessings and Peace in Christ Jesus,

The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr.
President & CEO of the AAC

Attention, Diocese of South Carolina: Planned Parenthood is coming

I read this today on Dawn Eden's blog, The Dawn Patrol. She has been in Charleston on a book tour and also experienced an Anglican liturgy with Dow Sanderson.

Dawn reports (and read it all):

. . . On the way to the first stop of my Carolinas mini-tour, Pauline Books and Media on downtown King Street, Annette, a volunteer for the diocesan Respect Life office, told me that Planned Parenthood is planning an abortion megamill in Charleston along the lines of its mammoth center in Aurora and the one it is currently building in Denver. They are holding Tupperware-style neighborhood parties to raise funds for the mill, she said. . .

I don't know any more about this, but considering what PP has done in Aurora, this is scary stuff. (And I'm still trying to visualize "Tupperware-style neighborhood parties" that promote PP - hummmm. . . )

I see that both St. Philip's and St. Andrew's have Anglicans for Life chapters listed but I don't know how active they are. So if anyone from Charleston knows more, please let me know.

Also, check out Dawn's blog for what happened in Aurora, Illinois, and how it could happen anywhere - I've just linked to one post, so search on her blog for "Aurora" to see the whole story.

South Carolina: Bishop Mark Lawrence’s opening remarks

From Steve Wood's blog:

Bishop Lawrence’s opening remarks at the clergy day on March 3. The opening was divided into two parts in order to make the file sizes smaller. Each part is approximately 7.5 minutes long.

Part 1

Part 2

Audio recordings of the visit of the Presiding Bishop to the Diocese of South Carolina *UPDATED

From TitusOneNine:

This has taken a lot of work by a number of people and I am delighted it can be released. Please take the time to listen to it carefully and listen to it all.

In your comments please focus on the content of what was said as far as possible. Thanks--KSH.

UPDATE: From Bishop Mark Lawrence [boldface mine]:

I have read the recent article from the ENS regarding the Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori’s visit to the Diocese of South Carolina. It was a gracious and accurate description of much of our time together. Indeed, there was a warm hospitality which we were most intentional in cultivating through our prayers and our hearts. What the article failed to convey, however, is the depth of the theological chasm that lies between many of us in South Carolina (and others within the church for that matter) and the trajectory of so much of the leadership of The Episcopal Church. To explore these cavernous depths is indeed the great work that lies before anyone in leadership today. Along with showing hospitality and witnessing to God’s work among us, the earnest exploring of this chasm was and remains one of our chief objectives.

And a great response from Steve Wood, St. Andrew's, to a commenter on T19 who wonders "For those T19 readers who are in the Diocese of SC and feel you are in a Christ-centered and Holy Spirit-filled church, how are you personally dealing with the Episcopal and even Anglican church storm overheard?. . .and are your clergy helping you deal with it or are they asking you to ignore it (or something that is equivalent to soldiering on without focus on the issue)?" His answer:

Tammi, as a clergyman in the Diocese of SC let me tell you how I’ve responded:

1. I have regular parish-wide meetings, including Q & A, providing updates, and personal commentary. Among other things, I validate their pain and embarrasment while wanting to bring an historical and biblical perspective, drawing upon previous church conflicts.
2. I write about events on my blog, including my personal thoughts on all matters.
3. I am up-front with folks in our new members class about the mess. Amazingly, the mess has not been much of deterrent: +Fitz was just here for our 3rd adult confirmation service of the year, confirming 67 adults.
4. I attempt to “keep the main thing the main thing.” That is, we preach the Gospel (to the best of our abilties). Having recognized the conflict - above steps - we focus on Jesus and His message.
5. We are heavily engaged in mission & evangelism.
6. We pray - a lot! Our intercessors keep these matters as a regular feature of prayer.
7. For those who feel the need to separate themselves we, very sadly and with much love and many prayers, help them find a church home in a denomination (or non-denomination) that will nurture their faith and allow them to be fruitful members of the Kingdom.

May I say that nothing has driven me to my knees more, nor caused me to shed more tears, than the manner in which the Reappraisers have rent asunder the bonds of our affection, and, more importantly, betrayed their sacred trust given by Christ Himself to protect and nurture His Bride.

What can I say - I'm jealous! Especially since South Carolina is my family diocese - wish I were still there {sigh}

The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church visits the Diocese of South Carolina *UPDATED*

A report from Al Zadig, rector of St. Michael's, posted by Steve Wood, rector of St. Andrew's:

. . . Bishop Lawrence then talked about the four main issues needing to be addressed. He said we first need to talk about the spin that is coming out of the national church regarding the orthodox in the church…ie..how many orthodox people, churches and dioceses have actually left the Episcopal Church? The second issue being the often repeated statement by the national church that the Holy Spirit is doing a new thing in the church. Thirdly, the canons of the church and not Holy Scripture are increasingly becoming our authority, and the canons (church law) are being exalted over Scripture. Finally, the issue of the Uniqueness of Jesus Christ as savior of the world (a niche’ of theology called Christology).

Having noted the format, you might be asking, well, what about the P.B.? How did she respond? Throughout the day the P.B. answered in very short sentences, often with no connection to the topic. Following a powerful talk given by Bishop Lawrence on Christology, her response was to speak about the need to be in conversation with a willingness to think of God beyond the boxes we put him in…full stop. Her theme of the day seemed to be re-reading Scripture, re-evaluating our understanding of Jesus Christ, re-interpreting marriage all through the lens of experience. That our very experiences of life and theology are on equal ground with the authority of Scripture. This gives way to the new theology of same-sex blessings, Jesus as one among many Gods etc.

What came out of our time together? Only time will tell, but for many it was an eye opener to the extent of the differences that exist between the national church and the orthodox dioceses of this country. I would say objectively that we fulfilled the title of the day which was charity and clarity. Charity was displayed, and even greater clarity given..clarity that we are not two churches under one roof but two very different religions. . .

One of the most profound learnings for me during our day of Clarity and Charity was a simple vacuum of any coherent theology coming from the Presiding Bishop. There was no there-there, no center of theological gravity. The most often repeated word from her was experience. Re-evaluating marriage, Scripture, the uniqueness of Jesus Christ through our own experience. I felt as if the head of the Unitarian church was at the microphone and not the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. . .

Read it all.

UPDATE: A clear juxtaposition in perspective to the above is this story from EpiscopalLife Online with its "official" report on the meeting in South Carolina [boldface mine]:

Charity and Clarity

The private conversation for active clergy at St. Andrew's, called Charity and Clarity, drew nearly 100 active priests and deacons from all areas of the diocese. After a presentation by Lawrence and an invitation to conversation from the Presiding Bishop, Jefferts Schori and the clergy engaged in an open, honest and frank discussion, ranging from biblical interpretation and church politics to congregational growth.

"You've come to one of the few dioceses in the Episcopal Church which is growing," Lawrence said. "In fact, it's one of the few dioceses of the Episcopal Church which is growing faster than the demographic growth in the area."

Noting that "not all are of the same theological stripe," Lawrence stated the clergy share an "unwavering commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ."

Lawrence asked for an "earnest and focused conversation about the things that are so troubling to us."

In the ensuing two-hour discussion, the Presiding Bishop was asked about numbers, about apostolic succession, and about the needs and wants of the Diocese of South Carolina. A dominant concern voiced was that their more conservative views are not heard or represented by the national church leadership.

The Presiding Bishop addressed each comment that was presented. She expressed her appreciation for the conversation and her hope that the conversation won't end when she leaves the diocese. "The gift of this community is our ability to have real conversation and dialogue with each other," she said. "We have need of all parts of the body.". . .

Read it all.

South Carolina: Conclusion of the Clergy Day

From Steve Wood, rector at St. Andrew's Mount Pleasant, on today's meeting with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori:

There’s a wonderful little encounter between Alice and Humpty Dumpty in the book, Through the Looking Glass, which best described the day with the PB:

‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,’ it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.’

‘The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’

‘The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master - that’s all.’

I haven’t heard such theologically incoherent language since I left the Diocese of Ohio. The epigrammatic moment came at the very end of the day when Ms. Jefferts-Schori gestured dramatically to express her bewilderment over the communication gap that remained, even after three hours of conversation, and concluded by saying, “I am very struck by our inability to communicate.” Of course, the problem, from my limited, sinful point of view, is that the clergy of South Carolina seem to foolishly believe that words have meaning and should convey substance and content.

A couple of people asked me why I didn’t ask her a public question. There were four reasons and one action.

First, as host of the event, I felt obliged to host and attend to the details involved in hosting. Secondly, I was not involved the planning of the day and the people responsible had developed a satisfactory and reasonable process for conversation in which substantial issues were raised. Thirdly, I don’t believe in publicly “jumping” someone, especially if we’ve not had prior personal conversation. Fourthly, Anthony, who did speak, spoke well on behalf of St. Andrew’s.

Now, the action. Please know that for the sake of personal integrity, and for the parish which I have both the privilege to serve and the responsibility to protect, I did have a brief face-to-face conversation with the PB. While the specifics are private, I attempted to communicate to her my observation and belief that The Episcopal Church as currently represented by our national leadership is no longer a Christian Church, has embraced a false gospel, and, its descent into error and irrelevancy has been hastened by her leadership.

I am anticipating that both audio and video recordings of the day will be made available shortly. I’ll keep you posted. . .

Check it out.

AnglicanTV: Photos from Bishop Lawrence consecration

From Kevin Kallsen at AnglicanTV:

If you would like to purchase pictures for publication please email anglicantv@gmail.com -- http://picasaweb.google.com/AnglicanTV/ConsecrationOfBpMarkLawrence

AnglicanTV: Live stream of the consecration of Bishop Mark Lawrence

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Mark Lawrence: Becoming the bishop

See AnglicanTV for live streaming of Mark Lawrence's consecration. From the Bakersfield Californian [boldface mine]:

The gold in the bishop's ring and pectoral cross that the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence will begin wearing today came from jewelry lovingly donated by congregants of St. Paul's Episcopal Parish downtown.

And between 60 and 70 of Lawrence's ex-parishioners are joining him across the country today during his consecration as the 14th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina in Charleston's Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul.

"We who have been with Father Mark for the last 10 years have known from the very beginning that he was bishop material. I was hoping someday that it would be San Joaquin but God had other plans," said Denise Irvin, who has been a member of St. Paul's for more than 50 years and remembers the Bakersfield-born Lawrence and his wife, Allison, from the time they were "new Episcopalians trying to discover the faith they'd just found."

Like the gold smelted to make Lawrence's Episcopal jewelry pieces, the 57-year-old himself had to pass through a refiner's fire -- albeit of a spiritual kind.

Although he was first elected bishop by the South Carolina Diocese in September 2006, that election was declared "null and void" on a technicality in March 2007 by the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Lawrence, a traditionalist, and the more liberal Jefferts Schori don't see eye to eye on a number of theological matters, including the interpretation of certain Scriptures, the consecration of gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex unions.

It was only in October that an unequivocal majority of bishops and standing committees were found to have given their consents to Lawrence's second election in August, thus ensuring that he would sit on the bishop's chair.

Lawrence's eldest son, Chad, 33, is a former Bakersfield City School District teacher at Franklin Elementary and Dr. Juliet Thorner schools. He said the waiting period between his father's first and second election, which was accompanied by "a lot of allegations" and "attacks" against his parents, took a toll on both of them, especially because Lawrence never actively sought to become bishop, but rather answered what he felt was a calling from God.

"(My parents were) a major source of inspiration for myself the way that they remained faithful and continued to plug along," he said, "and seek God throughout a period when there were untrue things being said about them."

Lawrence remains within the Episcopal Church and subject to the authority of Jefferts Schori. By choice, however, many of his ex-parishioners do not: In a Dec. 8 vote by an overwhelming majority of conservative delegates following the lead of San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield, the diocese chose to split from the progressive Episcopal Church and begin answering to the authority of the Anglican Church's South American Province of the Southern Cone.

Now that Lawrence's calling into a higher level of responsibility has become a reality for him -- a bishop is to be "the shepherd of the shepherds of God" and "the chief shepherd of the diocese," he said -- Lawrence is a very busy man.

"The closest I can compare what I'm going through right now is trying to learn a new language in an intensive program," he said. "There are so many dimensions to the ministry and work of a bishop that I'm immersed in learning all the dimensions."

Since relocating to South Carolina near the start of this year, he has been learning all he can from retiring bishop the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon Jr., who served in that capacity for 18 years and will be one of Lawrence's consecrating bishops. Lawrence will have to oversee at least 70 missions and parishes and about 30,000 diocesan members. He will be responsible for the confirmation of new believers and the ordination and appointment of deacons and priests in parishes within the diocese.

He will also have to sit on the boards of two seminaries, several colleges and a slew of other institutions to which the South Carolina Diocese is connected.

The bishop-elect's consecration this morning will be preceded by the ringing of cathedral bells, the formal opening of the cathedral doors, music and solemn processions.

Lawrence said the event will be attended by national and international Episcopal bishops and other dignitaries, as well as Charleston city and South Carolina state officials. There will also be people close to Lawrence, including Irvin, whom he handpicked to "present" him to the consecrating bishops in accordance with church protocol.

Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori, who is visiting the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia this weekend, was not asked to be the chief consecrator for Lawrence -- an exception which is allowed by church law -- according to the Rev. Canon Dr. Charles Robertson. But, Robertson said, she has been invited "and has gladly accepted" to visit the South Carolina Diocese in February.

The Lawrence clan, including Lawrence's wife, his five children and six grandchildren, will also be at the ceremony to support him. . .

Irvin said St. Paul's altar guild presented Lawrence with the bishop's robes he plans to wear today, and parishioners also gave the avid hiker of the Sierra Nevada the base part of his bishop's staff, which is made out of California redwood.

"He will have a little part of California with him everywhere he goes," Irvin said.

Read it all.

Diocese of South Carolina votes to dissociate itself from the RCRC (pray for San Diego next)

Wonderful news! From TitusOneNine:

Resolution Passed by South Carolina Diocesan Convention Today

Resolution:

Be it resolved that the 217th Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina dissociates itself from the affiliation of The Episcopal Church (TEC) with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC).

Explanation:

On the 12th of January 2006, the Executive Committee of The Episcopal Church voted to formalize the relationship between The Episcopal Church and the RCRC, a registered political lobby, which advocates for unlimited abortion rights in the political realm. The literature and website of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice reveal that it advocates positions specifically at odds with those of the Episcopal Church as expressed by a resolution of the 1994 General Convention declaring that, “As Christians, we believe strongly that if [the right to abortion] is exercised, it should be used only in extreme situations. We emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience.” Further on this the final day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it must be noted that this affiliation represents yet another divergence from the normative moral teaching of Catholic Christianity.

Please pray for the Diocese of San Diego at our convention next month (Feb. 8-9). We have a similar resolution up for vote:

RESOLUTION 08-07
THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO
34th ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION, February 8 & 9, 2008

Title: Resolution Regarding The Episcopal Church and The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Proposed By: St. Michael’s by-the-Sea vestry
Date: November 28, 2007

WHEREAS the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church by official action on January 12, 2006, formally affirmed the affiliation of the Episcopal Church in the United States with the “Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice,” formerly known as the “Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights,” which is an organization which actively promotes abortion on demand for any reason for all nine months of pregnancy and

WHEREAS we believe the goals and principles of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) as stated on their Website conflict with biblical theology related to the sanctity of human life, and

WHEREAS the 75th General Convention of 2006 was denied the opportunity to make any vote concerning the continued membership of The Episcopal Church in the RCRC

therefore be it

RESOLVED that the 2008 Convention of the Diocese of San Diego (34th Annual Diocesan Convention) dissociates our Diocese from that action of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church which affirmed the affiliation of the Episcopal Church with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and from any participation in or support of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

EXPLANATION OF RESOLUTION:

In January, 2006, the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church formally affiliated with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The Episcopal Church as a whole has never had the opportunity to vote on this affiliation. At our February 2006 convention, the Diocese of San Diego passed a resolution requesting that this affiliation be voted on at General Convention 2006 since membership in an organization which supports abortion affects TEC as a whole and each member by association.

All resolutions relating to RCRC membership died in committee and none were presented to General Convention for vote. In light of this, as well as published statements by the RCRC which contradict the Book of Common Prayer and General Convention resolutions regarding abortion, we would request that the Diocese of San Diego disassociate itself from the decision of the Executive Council to affiliate with the RCRC and also not participate in or support, financially or otherwise, the RCRC.

AnglicanTV covering the Diocese of South Carolina convention

Check out AnglicanTV for coverage of the diocesan convention for South Carolina.

And from BabyBlueOnline:

Head over to Anglican TV - they are discussing postponing the election of deputies to General Convention. Kendall Harmon has requested the the election be postponed until the next Diocesan Council so that the Diocese can decide if/how many deputies to General Convention. The concern was that "business as usual" is pushing through. Right now the Bishop has taken the floor to oppose Kendall's motion. The Bishop's concern is that it will get the new bishop's episcopate off on the wrong foot. It's rather unprecedanted to have the bishop take the floor during a debate. He must be worried. Go here and watch the proceedings.

The initial vote they took appeared to be even split. The Diocesan Chancellor has now taken the floor. It appears that the diocesan brass oppose the postponement. Kendall is willing to standdown if there is a guarantee that this discussion will happen. You can see that they want to trust the brass. But it's quite obvious that South Carolina is split.

It has now been withdrawn. Once the bishop spoke against it, the air went out of the tires. Very interesting. Watch that space.

Check it out.