The consent period had just begun when the diocese’s annual convention met Nov. 9-10. Rather than adjourn, Eugene “Nick” Ziegler, the diocese’s long-time chancellor, advised the secretary of convention that it recess. Recessing, Mr. Ziegler stated, might save the diocese significant time and money if it needed to call another election because the delegates to the 2006 annual meeting would not be discharged and could be recalled if necessary.
The 90-minute June 9 meeting began with Morning Prayer before the business session was formally reopened. The first person recognized to speak was Ted Halkyard, a lay member of Grace Church, Charleston, who asked that the diocese employ the highest degree of transparency in its second attempt to receive consent to the election of Fr. Lawrence as bishop. In the only other piece of business, delegates elected Wade Logan to replace Mr. Ziegler, who has resigned as chancellor.
Bishop Salmon told The Living Church that the diocese’s standing committee had met immediately after convention adjourned on Saturday and would be completing plans for the Aug. 4 election after another meeting next week. Among the decisions yet to be made are whether to permit candidates other than Fr. Lawrence on the ballot. Rather than conducting a full search process, Bishop Salmon said the standing committee might permit either nominations by petition during an interval before the election or nominations from the floor on the day of the election.
“There was a good spirit at convention,” Bishop Salmon said. The standing committee wants to put in place a plan that builds on that, he added. “None of us want this election to fail.”