What's going on in the Diocese of South Carolina?

Adam Parker of the Charleston Post and Courier takes a whack at explaining the peculiar legislation that will be considered by the Diocese of South Carolina this weekend:

One diocese resolution calls on leaders "to begin withdrawing from all bodies of the Episcopal Church that have assented to actions contrary to Holy Scripture, the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this Church has received them, the resolutions of the Lambeth Conference which have expressed the mind of the Communion, the Book of Common Prayer and our Constitutions and Canons, until such bodies show a willingness to repent of such actions."

Another resolution calls for an endorsement of an Anglican Covenant, "expressing our full commitment to mutual submission and accountability in communion, grounded in common faith."

A third resolution states that "this Diocese will not condone prejudice or deny the dignity of any person, including but not limited to, those who believe themselves to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered," but "will speak the truth in love as Holy Scripture commends …"

These statements, and others made in recent months have caused many in the diocese to question its future.

Bishop Mark Lawrence has answered questions in writing for Parker.

He says, in part: Flannery O'Connor once said in explanation of her odd characters and aberrant stories, "To the hard of hearing you must shout; to the near blind you draw large startling figures." That's what I see us called to do. The legislative and governing bodies of The Episcopal Church have grown nearly deaf and purblind -- I'm suggesting we speak in louder ways and draw figures that may actually be seen."

The bishop's rhetoric of conscience would be easier to credit had he not been caught redhanded earlier this year plotting to have a conservative parish in the Diocese of Colorado placed under his authority without informing Colorado's bishop, the Rt. Rev. Rob O'Neill.

Posted by Jim Naughton on October 12, 2009 9:24 AM | |
Comments (5)

Being in the prophetic role is rarely popular, but I believe that it is TEC and not South Carolina which is playing the part of the prophet at the moment. Perhaps it is difficult to see one' need for repentance when calling out the perceived sins of others.

Posted by Peter Pearson [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 12, 2009 11:09 AM

The legislative and governing bodies of The Episcopal Church have grown ... purblind

Um, "Log/Splinter", Mr. Lawrence?

JC Fisher

Posted by tgflux [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 12, 2009 5:21 PM

You know, what strikes me most about the interview with Bishop Lawrence is the tone of the questions. Granted, I'm not thrilled with his answers. However, by and large he's doing exactly what he's said he would do: stay within the Episcopal Church, is as close to the line as he can without a foot fault. In fact it's the questioner (is this Parker?) who seems determined to talk about departures - South Carolina's from the Episcopal Church, parishes from the Diocese of South Carolina, or the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion.

As I said, there's little in the Bishop's statements to please me. However, he's not the one pitching ACNA, or confusing DEPO with invitations for foreign interventions.

Marshall Scott

Posted by mscottsail [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 12, 2009 7:51 PM

As I see Bp. Lawrence's plan, he will stay in the Episcopal Church, but he will undermine TEC whenever possible.

Posted by GrandmèreMimi [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 13, 2009 1:27 PM

As I see Bp. Lawrence's plan, he will stay in the Episcopal Church, but he will undermine TEC whenever possible.¨ GM

Exactly. It´s not being clever, it´s being difficult, crude, deceitful and damaging to others (of course he and his righteous accomplices are thinking only of them, them, and more them...nothing classy about this treacherous act defiance...tantrums at the childcare diocese of the Southern branch of the former diocese of San Joaquin.

Posted by Leonardo Ricardo [TypeKey Profile Page] | October 13, 2009 5:26 PM

Add your comments

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Reminder: At Episcopal Café, we hope to establish an ethic of transparency by requiring all contributors and commentators to make submissions under their real names. For more details see our Feedback Policy.

Advertising Space