These two key dimensions of our vision, however, must be carried out with Another Fundamental Dimension of our diocesan life. Our constitution reads “The Church in the Diocese of South Carolina accedes to and adopts the Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church”¦.” The relationship is there””though we may understand how it needs to be carried out in different ways. Certainly many of us in this diocese, but let us remember by no means all, have been on a very different course from the policy setters at recent General Conventions. The Standing Committee and I, following the path trod by Bishops Allison and Salmon, have felt compelled on several occasions to differentiate ourselves from statements or actions of various leaders in TEC””such as compromises toward the Uniqueness of Christ; certain non-Canonical actions of the Presiding Bishop and the HOB; as well as the controversies regarding Human Sexuality. I anticipate the continued need for such differentiation in the months and years ahead.
Beyond differentiation there is important witness still left to do, and from which I believe God has not yet released us. I believe the House of Bishops, and the Executive Council, following the lead of General Convention 2006 has resisted the change that the Holy Spirit seems to be urging us toward as Anglicans””such as, the call toward a more responsible autonomy and inter-provincial accountability. Yet these bodies have fearfully protected the prior century’s polity and structure when 21st Century structures are needed. It continues to astonish me that so many leaders in our Church favor revision of our doctrinal and moral teaching and yet uphold relatively recent canons and polity with a fervor that would be admirable if held toward the fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles. This heel-dragging protectiveness was shown clearly in New Orleans in 2007 when the HOB refused to adopt the Primates’ Communiqué from Dar es Salaam, arguing that it was contrary to the polity of our Church. The bishops were soon followed by the Executive Council, therein making it difficult if not impossible for the Presiding Bishop to follow through with the Primates’ directives. If we had received the Primates’ recommendation the four dioceses which have since left would be intact and in TEC today! Even more recently, this fear was shown afresh when individual bishops who seemingly have little respect for the Windsor Process and the Anglican Covenant accepted the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury to attend Lambeth and then spoke against any progress towards a Covenant. They will not be able to hold back the future of global Anglicanism permanently. Either Episcopalianism will repent of its unscriptural autonomy or it will spread its splintering tendencies of the last forty years throughout the Anglican Communion.
I believe our steadfastness will be of service within TEC””if only by challenging the structural conservatism of the theological innovators to face the changes of the future. Even more importantly it will be of service for the Anglican Communion as it moves towards the emerging structures God is providentially shaping.
[blockquote]Presently, we are among a decreasing number of dioceses in North America that are in full communion with every Anglican province. All of the thirty-eight Provinces of the Anglican Communion consider themselves in full communion with us. Not all the dioceses of the Episcopal Church, or those dioceses that have left TEC, can make such a statement.[/blockquote]
Is there a “list” anywhere of which TEC dioceses are still in Communion with all the provinces of the Communion? Obviously, Qunicy, Ft. Worth and San Joaquin are not in communion with TEC. One assumes that Springfield, W. Kansas (which dioceses are sometimes listed as CP and sometimes not- depending on who is writing the list), most or all of the CP dioceses, and some of the non-CP former “Windsor bishops” remain in communion with all Anglican provinces.
One is left wondering whether a bishop who recognizes the removal of +Henry Scriven’s orders can be said to be in full Communion with the Church of England (much less Uganda or Nigeria). Are provinces on record for which TEC dioceses they recognize and which they do not (other than N. Hampshire- where I am sure most if not all recognize Anglicans resident there, even if they do not recognize the bishop).
Twelve hours later and only one comment. So much for interest in the “inside strategy.” It will be interesting to revisit “differentiation” twelve years from now when S.C. is required to accept practicing homosexual clergy, perform same sex weddings and contribute to a denomination promoting abortion on demand.