The Rev. Paul C. Fuener, rector of Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church in Georgetown, agrees. He says although South Carolina is listed in many publications as the “fifth” diocese which may leave the National Episcopal Church, that is unfounded, he says. He agrees with Burwell’s sentiment (above).<\/p>\n
“At present most everybody wants to hold together as a diocese,” Fuener said. “We have never talked internally about leaving. If we were to join this new province, we would have to split because everyone wouldn’t want to do that. We tend to be united as a diocese.”<\/p>\n
He says the formation of a new Anglican province would be “truly extraordinary.”<\/p>\n
“It is not every day that an entire diocese of one of the Anglican provinces gets together and says it is no longer going to be in the province,” Fuener said. “It is sad to me, not upsetting, that it has come to that point where the actions of our national church have driven people to this conclusion that they can’t stay.”<\/p>\n