I am very glad to see this in the State which will be read by many all over SC including Columbia and the upstate. I am glad to see more clergy taking this very public stance of support for our bishop.

Possibly the most significant thing about this is that Bishop Hathaway signed it.

Very impressive.  Plus, the publishing of this notice is in itself a witness to the rest of society, who are likely to take a real interest in what is going on. 

James Manley at #2, please forgive this ignorant foreigner, but who is bishop Hathaway and what is his significance?

MichaelA, I don’t believe that Bishop Hathaway (Episcopal Bishop of Pittsburgh before Bishop Duncan) has publicly split with TEC before this announcement.  For a while he lived in Florida, and he attended several meetings of the old Anglican Alliance of North Florida as an interested visitor 7 or 8 years ago but would not leave TEC.  I imagine that Bishop Schori will now seek to have him deposed for abandoning the communion or what-not.

Very thankful that this is in The State newspaper.

When do we get it in the Greenville News???

Good question, Sarah. I don’t know.

James Manley and MichaelA, Bishop Alden Hathaway is listed as “Bishop in Residence” at St. Helena’s Parish, Beaufort on the diocese’s website. I believe he is retired now and living near Beaufort, SC.
Also, Bishop Hathaway gave the homily/sermon at +Mark’s Lawrence’s Consecration in Jan. 2008. I believe Bishop Hathaway was bishop of Pittsburgh when Mark Lawrence was in that diocese as a priest.

These congregations do not appear on either today’s Diocese of
South Carolina ad or on the continuing-Episcopal list.  I’d be grateful
for any information about them.

      All Saints Hampton
      Christ Florence
      Christ Mt. Pleasant
      Advent Marion
      Ascension Rembert
      Atonement Walterboro
      Good Shepherd Sumter
      Holy Apostles Barnwell
      Holy Cross Sumter
      Redeemer Pineville
      Resurrection Surfside
      Iglesia San Juan Johns Island
      Old St. Andrew’s Charleston
      St. Albans Kingstree
      St. Albans Blackville
      St. Andrew’s Mission Charleston
      St. Augustine’s Pinewood
      St. David’s Cheraw
      St. George Summerville
      St. James Goose Creek
      St. James McClellansville
      St. James Strawberry Chapel
      St. Paul’s Bennettsville
      St. Philip’s Denmark
      St. Stephen’s St. Stephens

Hi TomRightmeyer,
As I wrote before, it is best to go by who voted at Convention. There is not a list of parishes/missions at Convention but there were 41 parishes and 14 missions represented at convention out of a total of 78 (as I counted on the diocese’s website). There were three resolutions before the convention. Resolutions 1 and 2 were by voice vote. So it is impossible to tell how a parish/mission may have voted on those two. Resolution 3 was “by orders”. According to my hubby who was at convention, several parishes/missions on your list were at convention. They may have been some of the the few abstentions. Some of the parishes/missions were at convention and voted “yes”.

According to another post by Kendall+:

The final vote (ie Resolution 3), which was by orders, was for approval of amendments to the diocesan canons, likewise removing all such reference to the Episcopal Church.  It passed with an overwhelming vote of 96% (71 clergy) in the clergy order, with 3 abstaining. In the lay order, the vote passed with 90% in favor (47 yes with 5 abstentions).

Because this final vote was by orders (in which clergy and lay delegates vote separately), it may be impossible to know how many parishes/missions abstained from voting. 71 clergy voting yes with 3 abstentions and 47 lay delegates voting yes with 5 abstentions and NO “no” votes is a pretty strong statement of approval for what the standing committee did.

Kevin Kallsen of Anglican TV who has been at the conventions of departing dioceses mentioned that most dioceses were much more divided than South Carolina. He could not remember a convention with NO “no” votes. Truthfully, I think we all need to remember that individuals/parishes will have the time to make a decision if they have not already. Also, just because a delegate abstained from voting does not necessarily mean that the person does not support the actions of the standing committee.

Tom, I don’t know of any “continuing-Episcopal” list except what you can discern from the “steering committee” of the rump/faux diocese or from a membership list of the “Forum”. That group is not well defined but at the moment does not seem to represent more than 10-12 parishes. If you have such a list, please share. Even in a parish such as Grace Episcopal in Charleston which is the cornerstone parish for the “Forum”/faux Diocese, there are parishioners who support the standing committee and bishop.

All, please let us all remember the gracious spirit in which Bishop Lawrence gave his address to the Convention and aim to be just as gracious towards those with whom we disagree.

God continue to bless and protect Bp Lawrence and all of the faithful parishioners of SC. KJSchori isn’t finished shooting at them yet, I’m sure.

These are the congregations that have been reported as “remaining Episcopal” or accepting the authority of General Convention:
      All Saints Hilton Head
      Calvary Charleston
      Christ Denmark/Bemberg
      Epiphany Summerville
      Grace Charleston
      Heavenly Rest Estill
      Holy Communion Allendale
      Holy Communion Charleston
      Holy Cross Pawley’s Island
      St. Mark’s Charleston
      St. Stephen’s Charleston
      St.Stephen’s North Myrtle Beach
      St. Thomas North Charleston
      And St. Mark’s Port Royal - a congregation served by clergy actually but not canonically resident in South Carolina and not a congregation of the present diocese.  One of the complaints in the first group was that Bishop Lawrence had refused to accept this congregation into the diocese.

In terms of those parishes staying with the national church, they have a website set-up that includes a list of those they believe are “staying,” whatever that means. I in no way support this effort, but here is there site: http://www.episcopaldioceseofsc.org

God bless the Diocese of South Carolina and Bishop Mark Lawrence.

Or “their site” to use proper English.

#4 and #6; My dad, Bishop Alden Hathaway, did not leave TEC six years ago because he had more work to do in TEC -  work that could not be completed in Tallahassee.  He went to South Carolina a diocese very supportive of his Gospel preaching and missionary zeal, and found a home at St. Helena’s , Beaufort.  He was honored to play a role in the nomination, election and consecration of his former priest, and friend, Mark Lawrence South Carolina’s XIV Diocesan Bishop.  Together, with the priests and other lay leaders of the Diocese they have worked to help connect South Carolina into World Anglicanism, a witness for Jesus Christ and his Great Commission.  And what a witness they have made for our Lord in five years. 

But if Bishop Hathaway and Bishop Lawrence are to be deposed then at least they can know with blessed assurance that they gave it all and it was TEC, in the end, that rejected their message.

Thank you Alden Jr for your post.  And I agree with a hearty, Amen!