Episcopal Church Takes Action Against the Bishop and Diocese of South Carolina

Titus Online ^ | 10/17/12 | Kendall Harmon

[marshmallow]

On Monday, October 15, 2012, Bishop Mark J. Lawrence, the 14th Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina was notified by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, that on September 18, 2012 the Disciplinary Board for Bishops had certified his abandonment of The Episcopal Church.

This action by The Episcopal Church triggered two pre-existing corporate resolutions of the Diocese, which simultaneously disaffiliated the Diocese from The Episcopal Church and called a Special Convention. That Convention will be held at St. Philip’s Church, Charleston, on Saturday, November 17, 2012.

Read it all .

Other Documents:

Certificate of Abandonment

Timeline of TEC Actions Against Bishop Lawrence

[marshmallow]

"Y'all abandoned me..."

[Arm_Bears]

I didn’t leave the Episcopal church; the Episcopal church left me.

(And they won’t stop calling and asking for money.)

[markomalley]

From one of the parishes in the diocese: http://www.holycross.net/index.cfm?section=1&page=41

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On Monday of this week, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church acted on a month-old finding of her bishop’s disciplinary board and declared our bishop, Mark Lawrence, to be inhibited in his ability to function as a bishop in the Episcopal Church.

Full details are here on the website for the Diocese of South Carolina.
Under Title IV Church canons that our diocese does not recognize as valid, charges have been brought by unnamed people within the diocese that claim that our bishop has abandoned the Episcopal Church. Bishop Lawrence asserts (as he has all along) he did not abandon the Episcopal Church.

What I see happening here is what happened in 2011 when similar unnamed people brought similar accusations against our bishop. Those charges were eventually dropped. These charges could have been dropped if the church was still under the rules in effect back then. But canonical changes went into effect in 2012 which cause us to have to be where we are today. Where we are today is that we have a special clergy meeting called for this Friday (10/19) and the bishop and our chancellor have a meeting scheduled next week with the Presiding Bishop. A special Diocesan Convention has been called for November 17th.

I want you to know that we, at Holy Cross, are going to be just fine. As a regional dean I found out about this on Tuesday, and I’ve already been spending considerable moments in prayer. And the thought I get in my prayer is assurance from God that all will be fine with Holy Cross. I am getting the feeling that we (Holy Cross) are going to come out of this unscathed. I really believe I am hearing from the Lord on this and while I invite your prayers, I do ask you not to worry. I would ask you to please join me in what I am doing. What I am doing is found in Philippians, chapter 4:

“Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
— (Philippians 4:6-7)

I am not worried, nor am ever going to worry about things over which I have no control. For Holy Cross, it is business as usual, and in the months to come, we will be proceeding on that assumption. I’m not going to focus on that which only God can fix. I’m going to focus on what God has given me charge over, and that is the mission of Holy Cross. The mission of Holy Cross is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). My hope is that you will join me in that sole (and soul) focus. Of course, I will be praying for cooler heads to prevail.