We are grieved, however, by the attitude and actions of the leadership of The Episcopal Church and their efforts to demand canonical obedience through unjust means to their ungodly agenda. As we have made clear in the Jerusalem Declaration we reject their authority and call on them to repent and return to the Lord.
Please know that we continue to recognize you as a faithful Anglican bishop and the Diocese of South Carolina as part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Well, that’s a strong affirmation and recognition.
One assumes, though, that TEC will take the Honey Badger approach, rather than repenting and returning.
I wonder whether TEC will respond to them.
The term “ungodly agenda” doesn’t even [i]begin[/i] to describe TEC’s plans. It is far worse than that, and I thank God that the GAFCON primates have shown their support for +Mark Lawrence and the people of his diocese. This good man has had to endure much at the hands of Jefferts Schori and Company, and I praise him for having the courage to stand up to them and for what is right.
Bravo – God bless these faithful Primates and Provinces; what a contrast to the doltish silence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and [presumably on his encouragement] the English Bishops. Shame on you in our church.
Reading this reminds me distinctly of encouragements from the great names, such as Paul, to far off areas where Christians were being persecuted. It felt that way as I read it.
[blockquote] On behalf the FCA Primates Council [/blockquote]
With that one line and the two signatures affixed, that pretty much represents some 50 or so million Anglicans worldwide. Praise God for these prayers and support.
I would be very interested to know what KJS thinks of this, or if she thinks at all; knowing that so many Anglicans are represented by GAFCON. 50 miilion Anglicans is no small change!
Mark McCall from the ACI has a new piece over at The Living Church:
http://www.livingchurch.org/dumbing-abandonment-down
Having read McCall’s article, and knowing the history of KJS’ actions and their repercussions which have adversely affected TEC, it is a constant source of wonder why presentment charges have not been filed against her. There is plenty of reason to do so, yet no one is willing to risk his or her career, while knowing full well what is happening to their Church.
They are fools of the first order. But then again, she has cleaned house and gotten rid of every bishop, priest, and deacon who has dared to defy her, hasn’t she? Who has the guts to tell her to stop? The answer is [b]NO ONE.[/b]
And they deserve what they get for being so cowardly.
True.
Oh well, on they will go, re-implementing a losing strategy in the hope that the next time they do it, things will be different. There are still quite a few trust funds to plunder, so for the next few years things can continue much the same. TEC numbers will shrink, but slowly, and increasing numbers of parishes will close, but mainly away from the main centres so the trendy supporters of TEC won’t notice. From time to time they will merge dioceses.
I am glad to see that ACNA and other Anglican groups are continuing to plant new churches. I hope that in this way new Anglican presences will be established in areas of the USA which have been abandoned by TEC.
And yet Schori, by her presence on the ACC, has the self-presumed authority to cast a vote on whether or not the ACNA can be a part of the Communion? Especially galling, isn’t it, when the GAFCON primates, who are growing in strength, by the way, are so supportive of us?
Cennydd,
I truly considered doing just that (presentment charges against the PB) or whatever charges I could bring under the new Title IV charges. I decided not to do that simply because it would have brought the wrath of the PB against +Mark Lawrence and the diocese even sooner. However, what is stopping anyone else from sending in charges against the PB under the new Title IV canons???
I have filed charges against a judge of a cat association (TICA)- 15 pages of single spaced text and 17 pages of “attachments”/documents clarifying my accusations. Cost me a bundle- about $200.
Why use the instruments of the enemy against the instruments of the enemy? Our Lady of Litigation has her reward – chaos and decay all around her, collapse and ruin, emptying bank accounts feeding Goodwin Proctor and emptying pews.
To use the tactics of the Devil who is in full rage within The Episcopal Church is surely to follow him. No – pray for your enemies, for it is God’s church, and he will protect those who acknowledge His name [Psalm 94]
However, do call Williams and Kearon to account who enable our Lady of Litigation and welcome her into the Councils of the Christians, no doubt encouraged by the squillions she feeds them and their pet projects.
Pageantmaster,
Sometimes filing charges against them is the only way they will realize that they have done something very bad. However, I would say that +Lawrence agrees with you as he was wanting to some sort of legal settlement with the PB. While that had been stalled due to the PB’s vacation schedule, the DBB met and went ahead with abandonment charges against +Lawrence. Nice,eh?
#15, deep down in their hearts, they know full well that they have done something very bad. And, they know that it is all written in a book, stored in a treasury in heaven. And, they know that they will have to account for this some day.
Filing temporal charges against the PB and her minions might well make some folks feel good. But, the filings would be ignored – just as they’re going to ignore the GAFCON letter. Such is the nature of totalitarianism, despotism, etc.
Not to worry. Great will be their eternal reward, unless they repent and seek forgiveness. I likewise would pray that they will return to our Lord and Savior, on their knees.
16. Ralph, that’s all well and good, but what is needed now here on Earth are [b]canonical charges[/b] against Schori. She must be [b]deposed[/b], but she’s got the House of Bishops in her pocket, and there’s no denying that. How much longer will she be allowed to get away with her terror campaign against the faithful who oppose her and what she’s perpetrated upon Christ and His Church?
#16 Ralph, I am not so sure. I believe their delusion is so complete they don’t see the actual harm from their actions. Remember there are 4 of these people in my parish so I have seen them up close. One friend said it best, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. Luke 23:34.
Yes, exactly!
Cennydd,
Let’s say you and I get together to start writing up some formal charges against the PB. We get it done and send it off. What is the likely hood that those charges would ever be handed over to the right person? Slim to none. Even if they land on the right desk, I agree with Ralph. The charges would simply be ignored. While the temporal *cold war* against the PB may be lost, there is still an eternal war to be fought. I truly believe that will be where this war is truly won. Stop looking at this as a defeat and fight for the eternal truth. That is the best thing any of us can do right now. Fight the good fight!
I agree that filing charges would have no effect and be a waste of effort.
Katherine Schori has the support of a majority of the players in TEC – bishops, clergy, and influential laity. If she was gone, they would find someone else to do the same thing. That is the harsh truth – these people are like dogs returning to vomit (Proverbs 26:11).
We need to support Dio SC by prayer and with public expressions of support. Don’t underestimate the effect of these – I suspect it is one of the reasons that TEC has moved immediately to the conciliation process. +Lawrence and his team have been busy maintaining links with everyone from Gafcon to the bishop of London, the ABC and non-Anglican groups. There are many in TEC who would prefer not to have a scandal.
And what applies to KJ Schori also applies to +Lawrence – he isn’t some maverick dictator, but is doing what he is doing with the full support of his standing committee, clergy and influential laity. The few hard heads at TEC are aware of that, and of how handling this wrongly could be a PR disaster.
I am sure +Lawrence and his standing committee have been preparing their responses and contingency plans against various moves that could be made by TEC. Pray that the Lord will continue to guide them in the most appropriate way to handle what is happening, and that nothing will hinder the work of the gospel in South Carolina.
And those of you in ACNA – keep your focus on church-planting and evangelism. That is what will eventually bring TEC down, plus has the added advantage of saving souls! 🙂
Filing charges against the lawless leader of a cowed society is an exercise in futility.
Here is another story that deals with where we are as a Diocese. http://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_3ff09f30-2542-11e2-af02-001a4bcf6878.html
Great link Milton. I note the following interesting bits:
[blockquote] “In practice, that would mean, if adhered to, employment of anyone, no matter what their chosen ‘gender identity or expression,’ †Lewis said. “This is now part of the discipline of TEC. In the area of worship, TEC this summer formally approved a liturgy for the blessing of relationships we firmly believe to be contrary to scripture. None of these are secondary issues.†[/blockquote]
Once again, secular media are willing to publish the simple truths of the orthodox defence. Thank the Lord for this.
[blockquote] “Lewis said it could be easily demonstrated that the Diocese of South Carolina has a larger portion of the membership of the worldwide Anglican church now in communion with it than does TEC.” [/blockquote]
Amen!
So true, MichaelA!
It was a much better report that the one slanted in favor of TEc by Adam Parker of the Charleston, South Carolina paper. Reading his stuff, if one wasn’t up on what is going on, one would think the Diocese of South Carolina is split down the middle. It was done, in my opinion, to placate the secular liberals that don’t even go to church. It was sickening stuff to read. This piece on SCNOW shows the truth of the matter and how about 75% of the public feel in this state. It is tailored to the readership, not the politically correct leftists that would like to rule.
The recognitions and support of others means precisely nothing to DSC the only, the key point is its survival as an institution in the place where it is. If the Diocese manages that, everything else will follow.
ASP at #25, “precisely nothing”? How do you work that out?