A Message from Bishop Mark Lawrence to the Diocese of South Carolina

Posted by Kendall Harmon

On Thursday, November 15, 2012, the following message to the people of the Diocese of South Carolina from Bishop Mark Lawrence was placed in the Charleston Post and Courier. The Bishop's message reminds us that we are still here, where we always have been: a historic diocese remaining faithful to the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ and recognized as such by the vast majority of the Anglican Communion in spite of recent attempts to assume our identity by the new TEC Steering Committee.

(Along with the bishop's message a list of some of the many Rectors who endorse his message and stand with him appeared. Originally only rectors were being listed, but as additional clergy have asked that their names be added to the list, the diocese is updating the page.)

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Bishops • TEC Conflicts • TEC Conflicts: South Carolina • TEC Diocesan Conventions/Diocesan Councils • * South Carolina

15 Comments
Posted November 15, 2012 at 7:56 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Kendall Harmon wrote:

This appears here in the local Charleston paper on page 5

November 15, 11:27 am | [comment link]
2. SC blu cat lady wrote:

WOO HOO! Well done Bishop Lawrence and kudos to those rectors/clergy who are standing with the bishop for the faith!!! Kendall+, will this also appear in other papers across the region? I have “shared” this on my FB page.

November 15, 1:05 pm | [comment link]
3. Ryan Danker wrote:

God bless the Diocese of South Carolina, her laity and clergy, and Bishop Mark Lawrence!

November 15, 1:07 pm | [comment link]
4. David Wilson wrote:

Is not John Burwell a rector in the Diocese of South Carolina and a supporter of the bishop?  I did not see his name lsited on the letterhead.

November 15, 1:28 pm | [comment link]
5. "Peter in the pew" wrote:

Patience, patience, all will out.

November 15, 1:41 pm | [comment link]
6. Ralph wrote:

I especially appreciated the phrase, “While the “national” Episcopal Church has married yesterday’s fads and is quickly becoming today’s widow…”

How true.

November 15, 1:46 pm | [comment link]
7. SC blu cat lady wrote:

#4,  David.  Yes, John Burwell+ is a priest and rector in the diocese. I am not sure how these clergy/rectors’ names were the ones used. I just saw on Kevin Kallsen’s FB page where he has a link,  he mentioned that more names are being added every minute. You can find this at the diocese’s website but as a PDF.

November 15, 2:17 pm | [comment link]
8. cseitz wrote:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/notice/presiding-bishop-issues-pastoral-letter-episcopal-diocese-south-carolina

[Thankyou Professor. Seitz - Item posted and can be talked about at this post - Please would commenters now keep this thread for comments about the letter from the actual Bishop of South Carolina - thanks - Elf]

November 15, 4:39 pm | [comment link]
9. Dacama wrote:

If you have any questions about a priest staying with Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina or choosing to leave for TEC give them a call and ask!

Wording amended slightly for clarity-ed.

November 15, 5:31 pm | [comment link]
10. Kendall Harmon wrote:

In terms of #7 if you click on the link above in the post, it will take you to the page that is being updated.

For example Wey Camp at Trinity Edisto was not on the list this morning but is now, etc. Also note that Ted Duvall did not sign the ad but is backing Bishop Lawrence and the diocese as he explains in his own communication with the parish where he serves (now posted).

This is a time not to make assumptions and to be sure to check things carefully to find out what exactly is or isn’t true.

November 15, 5:38 pm | [comment link]
11. SC blu cat lady wrote:

Excellent point, Kendall+. This is the time for prayer not making assumptions. Remember what making assumptions can do. Don’t want that to happen.

November 15, 5:55 pm | [comment link]
12. MichaelA wrote:

“It should give all our members profound encouragement to know that we have heard from Archbishops, Presiding Bishops, and diocesan bishops from Kenya to Singapore, England to Egypt, Ireland to the Indian Ocean, representing the overwhelmingly vast majority of members of the Anglican Communion that they consider me as a faithful Anglican Bishop in good standing and this diocese as part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.”

True. It has been very encouraging to read the numerous letters and communiques that have been pouring in from around the globe.

“They have also called for the leadership of TEC “to repent and return to the Lord”.”

I do hope that TEC heeds this gracious call from the rest of the Anglican Communion, before it is too late and the Lord’s earthly judgment falls on them.

November 15, 6:11 pm | [comment link]
13. Cennydd13 wrote:

12.  They won’t MichaelA, because they see themselves as being immune to His judgment.

November 16, 4:09 pm | [comment link]
14. David Wilson wrote:

Not making any assumptions but there are some rather important names missing for whatever reasons.  Perplexing, at least

November 16, 8:23 pm | [comment link]
15. CSeitz-ACI wrote:

One can infer from the PB’s letter that the clergy who do not opt out of the disassociation will be deposed.
The clergy who brought charges against +Lawrence will obviously opt out.
Is there some good reason to be sure that clergy allies of the Episcopal Diocese now disassociating (one assumes this will happen) be left in TEC, by design? Something like this happened at GC of course.

November 17, 8:22 am | [comment link]
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