Last month, the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, became the fourth American Episcopal diocese to formally break away from the Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of Anglicanism, in a long-simmering feud over Biblical authority that included the 2003 consecration of the church’s first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, of New Hampshire.
Although discussions are ongoing, Bishop Mark Joseph Lawrence, of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina in Charleston, said the state diocese does not plan to join the newly formed Anglican Church in North America.
“I anticipate the Diocese of South Carolina holding to the faith that is revealed in Holy Scripture, defending that and moving forward with the mission of the church here and throughout the world,” Lawrence said. “This is not just a national church issue. It is an issue for the worldwide Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part. I think (the split) was primarily because many of the leaders of the Episcopal Church have been tone deaf to the needs of the conservative parishioners and clergy. I know many of the players involved, and I understand their distress and concerns.”
There can be no better example of whistling past the graveyard than the views expressed in this article.
Definition:
To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation; To proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome. To enter a situation with little or no understanding of the possible consequences.
Wait until General Convention 2009
I am still shaking my head. So this is where the DIocese of South Carolina stands!!??
Fr. Kingsley Jon-Ubabuco
The Anglican Communion Institute, Communion Partners, Covenant and Fulcrum would all support Bishop Mark Lawrence in his position.
Fulcrum has just published a [url=http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/page.cfm?ID=369]Fulcrum Response to the Church of England Evangelical Council statement and motion of 4 December 2008[/url], which relates to this issue.
I don’t really care who published what. This article just makes me sick!
At least some in thef “Episcopal Forum” don’t believe it, they are not sure at all that things won’t change. But I’m not convinced.
Grandmother in SC
[i]the state diocese does not plan to join the newly formed Anglican Church [/i]
It sounds like the author of the article thinks, with good reason, that the Diocese of South Carolina includes the whole state, which it does not. I really wish the church would change the names of dioceses like this which do not cover the entire eponymous state. It just adds to confusion. The Diocese of California is the other notable diocese like this. Let’s just call it the Diocese of San Francisco, shall we? That’s what it is.
Of course, I could have added the ‘Diocese of Texas’ and others.