Steve Wood was waiting to say this but was not called on by the chair:
South Carolina stands before you with broken hearts. By passing Resolution D025 and C056 this General Convention has overturned the clear and consistent teaching of Holy Scripture and the Christian Church. We will have repudiated the teaching and practice of the Anglican Communion. The Communion’s patience and generosity toward the Episcopal Church makes our persistent refusal to heed their requests to us to honor the two called for moratoria all the more devastating.
Many of us us here this morning, and in Dioceses, parishes, and pews throughout the Episcopal Church, disavow this General Convention’s actions. We will now prayerfully seek ways to be faithful to the Anglican Communion and to the mutual responsibility and interdependence to which we are called, no matter what the cost.
Hmmmm…membership of over 30,000, ASA around 13,500. Poof!, gone, and all that’s left is a pile of bills from the lawyers 815 hires to sue everyone in sight.
Is this what the revisionists mean by “growth?”
I doubt that they will leave. Their Bishop promised not to leave when he was being confirmed He seems like an honest person.
No Eugene, he promised not to “lead the Diocese out of TEC” (I believe those were the words). Sounds like he is not doing the leading…this statement is from the Deputies, not the Bishop.
But wait, didn’t they read the explanation from Bonnie and Kate? Oh wait, they did…they’re just not fools.
#1, I think what you are going to see are reasserting dioceses becoming bunkered against the rest of TEC, having mission with parts of Africa and with ACNA, and, basically, ignoring TEC and reappraising dioceses. You will also see them stop funding 815, like Dallas has for years. TEC will probably pass something at the next GC2012 requiring funding from constituent dioceses and then putting liens on diocesan assets of those who don’t pay up – sort of like our diocese did last year, when voluntary 10% went to mandatory, with the consequence of refusal to pay being loss of all vote the first year and bishop having option of dismissing clergy of a parish and declaring parish to be a mission the second year.
By the way, TEC and GC2003,6, & 9 are the very definition of tyranny according to Thos Jefferson. Regardless of collegiality expressed by HOB statements, life is going to now become pretty rough for conservatives who remain in TEC … even rougher than in the past … and He calls some of us to it.
This is the diocese that my family comes from. My parents live and worship in Georgetown County. I have people buried at Old Sheldon Church.
I could not be prouder of the Diocese of South Carolina. The Bishop, priests and laity will be in my prayers.
I have no idea where this will lead, but it is almost certain to be interesting.
My guess is SC will not leave, it will be kicked out for non-compliance with something or other. The question is how long will it take?
Monica,
I think it will be worse than that. Parishes within the diocese will be asked to hold same sex “marriages.” Those priests who refuse will be inhibited and will lose their unvested retirement. Those vestry members who support such priests will be removed from office. TEC may be really cruel and compel Bishop Lawrence to do its dirty work here.
SC will never be kicked out – it’s like the Diocese of Virginia – one of the oldest in the country. Like Matthew A, this is the diocese my family comes from and I grew up in (St. Philip’s and St. Michael’s in Charleston). I am very heartened by this message, but I wonder how it will play out in reality. I’m afraid sophy0075 is correct – the bishop and clergy will be under constant attack from without and within (there is a very progressive contingent inside that likes to be very politically correct). Diligent prayers for South Carolina are important.