South Carolina tries again

The Diocese of South Carolina, which elected Mark Lawrence to be there next bishop, but failed to receive the needed number of consents to that election is planning to a new election with Mark as the only candidate as of now.

They are creating a process for additional nominees to be named by petition.

From the Diocesan website:

"At its meeting, the [Standing] Committee unanimously agreed:

1. To call for a Special Convention to elect a Bishop. The Convention is to be held at ten o’clock a.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2007 at St. James’ Church, James Island, South Carolina.

2. The Standing Committee unanimously nominated The Very Reverend Mark J. Lawrence to be the next Bishop of South Carolina.

3. Because of the necessity for background checks, no nominations from the floor will be allowed at the Convention. In lieu thereof, the Committee has established a petition process..."

Read the rest here.

Posted by Nicholas Knisely on June 15, 2007 7:51 PM | |
Comments (3)

As I read this news from South Carolina in the crisp early morning of a Saturday in June I can't help but think of the amazing narrative that we find ourselves in right now in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. I have my own feelings about this development of nominating one candidate, and I have my own cynicism about it. However, I find myself overtaken by curiosity about what chapter God will be writing next in this grand narrative, and also how we might fill in the margins.

Posted by Peter Carey [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 16, 2007 6:59 AM

Peter,

I'd be more cynical, too, if it weren't for the unique situation in this case (a highly unusual consent process that crashed due to technicality.) I suppose, based on what's shown here, that if the people of the Diocese feel strongly enough that this renomination of Mark Lawrence+ is improper, they can raise up one or more petition nominees as alternatives.

Otherwise, this election is more of procedural matter to move back into a consent process that we all hope will turn out more clearly either way this time.

Posted by The Rev. Richard E. Helmer [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 16, 2007 9:41 AM

In my view there's no room for cynicism. It's not as if Lawrence would lose this time around if there were other candidates. Would you want to be one of those candidates?

The order of business is to run the consent process again. Diocesan standing committees this time around are on notice that their timely and procedurally correct consents (or not) are required.

Posted by John B. Chilton [TypeKey Profile Page] | June 16, 2007 9:51 AM

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