I will be meeting with the Standing Committee, Deans and others after my return late Wednesday evening. I will be clarifying my thoughts and seeking greater clarity from the Lord in the intervening days. Please keep me in your prayers as you will be in mine. God has prepared us as a diocese to address this hour in the life of our Church””of that I am confident. It is not a time for alarm. It is a time for thoughtful and steady resolve. We face significant challenges. They are no longer the challenges of tomorrow they are the challenges of today. This cannot be brushed aside as if it is of little consequence.
There is an increasingly aggressive displacement within this Church of the gospel of Jesus Christ’s transforming power by the “new” gospel of indiscriminate inclusivity which seeks to subsume all in its wake. It is marked by an increased evangelistic zeal and mission that hints at imperialistic plans to spread throughout the Communion. This calls for a bold response. It is of the utmost importance that we find more than just a place to stand. Indeed, it is imperative that we find a place to thrive; a place that is faithful, relational and structural””and so we shall!
I think a wonderful thing has happened. Bishop Salmon did not want to drop this in his lap, but rather give him time to get used to the area in which he leads, then the Good Bishop did what he had to do. Thank you, Bishop Lawrence, for standing for what is right and Holy in this horribly deccrepid time of TE”C”.
It’s somewhat ironic that the Anaheim Statement was below this statement by Bishop Lawrence. How many Bishops could sign onto this statement? Clarity!
There can’t be ANY doubt that this bishop will be sticking with the Communion and the historic faith of the Church — even if his national church is not (which it clearly isn’t). There are probably three or four more diocesan bishops still in TEC who will stick with him. Most of the rest of the so-called “Communion Partner” bishops, however, will either wait for retirement or stick with TEC when the choice comes between the Communion and the TEC. May the Lord bless you and keep you and your diocese safe Bishop Lawrence, you’re clearly sailing into waters even more troubled than those you’ve been sailing through.
“This calls for a bold response. It is of the utmost importance that we find more than just a place to stand. Indeed, it is imperative that we find a place to thrive; a place that is faithful, relational and structural—and so we shall!”
Is there any chance that the archbishop of Canterbury will provide any kind of assistance to struggling Episcopalians who want to remain faithful Anglicans? What can +RDW do?
Is there a larger strategy being thought through or at least hoped for here? Are the TEC-resident, CP clergy hoping for a way out–or a way through–that will provide AC coverage in the courts? Or: could +RDW create a Windsor-like structure himself?
I don’t see how, but I don’t know his options. The above are not rhetorical questions. I would love to hear from those more knowledgeable than I.
Clearly, bishops like Lawrence and others are feeling the squeeze. He seems to be seeking a place, a structure, that, I assume, would not mean a precipitous departure from TEC. Is anything going on behind the scenes?
The wrenching thing for many of us is that we were (theologically) Anglican moderates, who feel let down by the TEC center. Now we feel ecclesiastically homeless. Archbishop Williams must have a sense of this. It seems to me that Bishop Lawrence is really seeking to help people who are no more and no less than mainstream Anglicans.
Well David (#4), here’s what the Church Times in England suggested:
“But unless the Communion can embrace ACNA, whose views are no different from many African provinces, and the US Episcopal Church and its web of global sympathisers, it is not trying hard enough. The great challenge of the 21st century is how people of different faiths can live together.” http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=78020
No. 5, quoting from the Church Times: “’But unless the Communion can embrace ACNA, whose views are no different from many African provinces, and the US Episcopal Church and its web of global sympathisers, it is not trying hard enough.'”
Well, I don’t think that simply embracing ACNA would give Bp Lawrence and his diocese the help they really need. So I would respectfully suggest that the AC and Rowan Williams try even harder than that.
Well we will have to see. My bet is that he will do nothing, but I would love to be proved wrong.
I was blasted in some other post for saying we should walk away from TEC and follow God [Mathew 19 21-30] as this would not be wise stewardship of our property, but that is the heart of the passage Tec will use our love of these materialistic things to hold us hostage should we in SC give up our property willingly? No but should we not move forward any way knowing this is a possibility trusting to God that what is done in faith will be rewarded. The good guys don’t always win but those that die quietly are rarely remembered, are they? Pray that those with authority are wise and levelheaded . Good that I was not at the convention or the Preston Brooks comparisons would be flying.
This is a marvelous, calm, confident statement that should encourage all orthodox Anglicans, inside and outside SC, and set off loud alarms in the ears of our foes. As ++Bob Duncan likes to say, [i]”Courage breeds courage.”[/i] Bravo!
I don’t know what kind of “bold response” the noble +Mark Lawrence may be considering, but he certainly sounds in earnest. I can’t wait to see what the Diocese of SC’s bold response to the scandalous, outrageous actions of Gen Con is going to look like.
David Handy+