The Right Rev. Mark J. Lawrence, 14th bishop of the Diocese of SC, whom TEC supporters have accused of plotting to lead the Diocese out of the denomination, was the only witness called during the final day of the trial. Diocesan attorneys asked him several questions about TEC\u2019s authority and the process followed to punish him.<\/p>\n
When asked if he had planned to lead the diocese out of TEC, he said, \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d\u009d He explained that no one had ever asked him to lead the diocese out and said it only decided to leave after TEC had taken steps to remove him as bishop \u201d\u201c violating its own process for doing that.<\/p>\n
The bishop also contradicted testimony from earlier in the week, in which TEC witnesses claimed that the denomination has supreme authority over its dioceses and congregations. The bishop said that he shared the opinion of 14 other bishops that TEC has no actual authority over its member dioceses.<\/p>\n