The Diocese of South Carolina synod has revised its bylaws in a bid to protect itself from legal predations from the national Episcopal Church. Meeting on Oct 15, at St Paul’s Church in Summerville, South Carolina adopted six resolutions that ended the diocese’s automatic accession to the national church’s canons.
At the close of its March meeting, Bishop Mark Lawrence postponed the 219th annual meeting of the diocesan convention, after US Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori engaged an attorney to represent the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. The diocese requested an explanation for what it saw as an unlawful usurpation of authority by the presiding bishop, and postponed the adjournment of its synod pending a response.
The presiding bishop declined to respond, but as it waited the diocesan leadership began a review of the national church canons enacted at the 2009 General Convention covering clergy discipline.
“What we found was shocking,” Canon Kendall Harmon told Anglican TV, as it “violates due process” and natural justice.
I’m so surprised. Kendall is so surprised. Are you surprised too?
Surprise, surprise. Larry
But Mrs Schori surely has been told my her high priced lawyers that the likelihood of winning a civil action against DSC in SC courts is small to nil. She is over a barrel on this one. She can make threats but if she does anything in court she’ll probably lose, and the Empress’s lack of attire will be exposed to all.
A very nice essay as well in TLC from Tom Graves from the Diocese of Dallas.