The leader of Midlands and Upstate Episcopalians said this week he remains in prayer and open talks with his fellow bishop in the Lowcountry in hopes of staving off a fracture within the state and the national church over gender issues.
The national church earlier this month approved a same-sex blessing rite and expanded ordination to include transgendered persons.
Bishop W. Andrew Waldo has tried to keep his diverse Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina unified despite theological differences over the controversial issues. He said this week he hopes that his friend, Bishop Mark J. Lawrence, leader of the more conservative and traditional Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, in the Lowcountry, will remain on that same path.
Where did they get this drivel? From the Forum? Sigh. I get so tired of them saying the sky is falling (in this case, the diocese is leaving).
I don’t think +Waldo ever actually says that Dio SC is planning to leave (according to the article)?
The sense is more that he fears that they will, and is trying to talk them out of it, just in case.
All of the righteous indignation has to result in some material action (not just a well-written letter, editorial, or essay) or it’s all for naught.
At some point SC will have to get off the fence. That may be a ways away yet, but the day is coming whether they want it to or not. What would happen if bishop Lawrence were incapacitated by illness, or God forbid, died? Can anyone for one second think that the powers that be in TEO would allow another Lawrence to be elected bishop there?
While some of TEO’s latest innovations are optional for now, how long will that last? If you wonder if they will foce gay marriage and transgendered clergy on everyone, just remember what happened with women’s ordination. Any tolerance of dissent is purely temporary.
One day South Carolina is going to have to make some tough decisions, and they would do well to start preparing for that day sooner rather than later.
#3, South Carolina has already made – and continues to make – some tough decisions.
[blockquote] “What would happen if bishop Lawrence were incapacitated by illness, or God forbid, died?” [/blockquote]
The same applies to every diocese in the world. Not just to Anglicans either. If+Lawrence is no longer available, the diocese will choose a new bishop. If the Synod and standing committee are committed to orthodoxy, then they will choose well. TEC of course can then attempt to delay or block the choice, but recent developments indicate that TEC will be reluctant to do that if the whole diocese is behind the choice.
Sure, if Dio SC somehow gets a revisionist bishop foisted on them, then the clergy and members will have to make some hard choices. Just as any diocese in any church (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox) would also be faced with a hard choice in similar circumstances.
[blockquote] “While some of TEO’s latest innovations are optional for now, how long will that last? If you wonder if they will foce gay marriage and transgendered clergy on everyone, just remember what happened with women’s ordination. Any tolerance of dissent is purely temporary.” [/blockquote]
I agree. No-one should have any doubt that TEC will do its best to force things like gay marriage onto every dicoese, if it can. However, there still remains a question as to whether it can do so, if the clergy and laity of a particular diocsese hold firm.
[blockquote] “One day South Carolina is going to have to make some tough decisions, and they would do well to start preparing for that day sooner rather than later.” [/blockquote]
Agreed. I suspect they have been preparing for that day for some years already, but that is a matter for them.
There are actually quite a few examples around the world of individual orthodox dioceses standing firm in a sea of liberalism, effectively quarantining themselves against liberal attacks. But you are correct, those situations do not happen by accident. Careful preparation and planning is needed.