The US Episcopal Church’s disciplinary board for bishops has ruled that the Bishop of South Carolina, the Rt Revd Mark Lawrence, has “abandoned the Episcopal Church”.
The ruling means that Bishop Lawrence – who has been engaged in a long-running battle with the Episcopal Church in the US, particularly over the issue of openly gay clergy – is “not permitted to perform any acts as an ordained person”, an official statement said.
The diocese of South Carolina said in response that the ruling had “triggered” a resolution which “disaffiliated” it from the Episcopal Church….