TEC Moves Against South Carolina Bishop and Diocese; Special Convention Called

Game on

How inclusive of TEC…

Prayers for the folks of Dio. South Carolina.

What the heck?!?  I guess nothing TEC does should shock me, but this is . . . shocking.

Really?  No one should be shocked by this, sad though it is. 

Mark - we are with you in prayers and spirit.  I am sorry Shori et al have chosen this path.  See it as a mark of your true faith.

Well, I’ve been waiting for years for Bishop Lawrence (with all due respect) to pull out of TEC, he has consistently resisted this idea (for perhaps good reasons), and so maybe now the LORD has allowed this to come about. I say, good riddance. Perhaps this is why Bishop Lawrence has been resisting pulling out—he wanted the national church to do it. It shows who the aggressor is in the case. I say, we thank God this has come to pass, and make tracks to align w/ the best of the new networks of Bible-believing Anglicans in North America.

PS: Why are there only 3 comments here? Is this such a late-breaking story? Or am in the wrong forum?   

To God be the glory, regardless of how Ms. Jefforts-Scori conducts herself.

-Duncan Jaenicke

So what has been happening between Sept 18th and Oct 15th?  Did they certify his abandonment without consulting with him (i.e. was it a trial in absentia)? Has TEC been using that time to undermine DSC?

May God bless this new opportunity for Anglicanism in South Carolina to grow and flourish, and my He guide them in their selection of a new affiliation.

This makes filling out my pledge card so much simpler.

I think it’s part of the new TEC evangelism plan to punish those dioceses that are growing.

So I had a look at the charges of abandonment.  Some seem ridiculous, such as “Bishop Lawrence’s action in directing the issuance of these quitclaim deeds” violated the “doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church.” 

So TEC has real estate doctrine and does real estate worship?  Seriously?

If TEC wanted to keep the DSC real estate, all they needed to do was accomodate and be sensitive to conservative Christian beliefs and values.  It was very clear that DSC was not eager to leave.

Damn unbelievable, that’s what this is.

I am heartsick at this news.  Bishop Lawrence and those he shepherds will be in my prayers.

There go those “good” ASA numbers.

I’m thinking of running a book on this one.  My money’s on Mark Lawrence; any takers of the TEC side?  I will give you odds.

I thought at the time that the DSC’s walkout was unwise. And Mrs Schori’s ruthlessness might be admired in a rather horrified way, as one admires a forest fire. But her victories are always Pyrrhic, which proves the poor decision-making power of her leadership. All this does for her is to further assure that TEC is only known for institutionalized conflict (as the current Bishop of Honduras has pointed out), which assures that nobody at all will want to go to a TEC church.

Come now, A Senior Priest. Labyrinths, parades, and raisin cakes will always appeal to some small cultist minority.

Kate Schori, the Dean Wormer of TEC.

I wonder how this will affect those still in TEC, whether orthodox or revisionist.  They condemned him, without trial or notice, and notified him of it a month later, and then scheduled two reconciliation meetings, one of which occurred before the notice was sent?  How would this look to Bishop Waldo, for instance?  How can anyone trust these people after this kind of duplicitous behavior?

May God guide his every step.

+Lawrence has purportedly been inhibited

http://www.diosc.com/sys/images/documents/tec/tec_restriction_of_ministry.pdf

Oh for the love of God (not meant as an epithet).  This is not surprising.  To expect anything else from KJS and crew shows either infantile naivete or psychotic denial.  The “revised” disciplinary canon makes such a move possible.  No trial, no due process, just the whim or venom of the person who sits in the big office of 815.  They are fighting a war of attrition and are accelerating the losses any way possible.

Those who try to play nice, while remaining “orthodox” will soon enough meet a similar end.  A bishop will retire and consents will be withheld for his successor if he fails to meet the party standard.  Another bishop will forego an HOB meeting and be deemed to abandon the communion of TEC.  A diocese will refuse to fund the abomination of desolation with it’s assessment and the bishop will be deposed.  “Episcopal” oversight will be imposed until those remaining fall into line.

The final act is beginning to end.

The Lord laughs at the wicked, because He knows their time will come. - Ps 37:13

James Manley and all,
It will be interesting to see how the “restriction” goes over as I am sure ours is not the only parish with a scheduled visit from Bishop Lawrence with confirmation coming up soon.  This newly scheduled convention means that our regularly scheduled convention for March may be the *fateful* convention which interestingly enough is not planned to be in Charleston.  We live in interesting times.

I agreed freed, this is most likely the beginning of the end.

Here’s the official line.

TEC (The Episcopal Club) has spoken.

May God guide and give strength to all that belong to Him.

The latest news I have is that the clergy of the Diocese of South Carolina are meeting this Friday from Church of the Holy Communion. Scroll down to the third paragraph.

Pray for protection from cynicism.

Spend time from now into November praying in St Philip’s to rid it of all nasty spiritual critters, and to fill it fully w/ the Holy Ghost.  Pew by pew, corner by corner, pulpit, confessional areas.  Downstairs, upstairs, indoors, outdoors.  Pray that the place will be so full of the Holy Ghost that it will exude Light, welcoming those who love God and driving away those who don’t.  Pray that nothing/no one who doesn’t love God can tolerate being there, because it is fully God’s .  Those who recognize and acknowledge God as God will be on their knees and feet, praying and praising; and praying, one day at a time, especially for on-going strength over the next weeks, months, years.  Pray that those who run from St Philip’s will recognize what has been happening, repent of their own part, seek reconciliation with God, and be able to enter again without the fear and terror that had driven them out this November.  Pray that on-going believers will receive and love them.

Pray that at all times, others will also be interceding. 
Continued prayer for protection from cynicism.

Pray that Katharine Jefforts Schori will repent.

Over the recent years, I have witnessed a bishop demoting Jesus to the pantheon of Hindu gods, another praising an Episcopal priest practicing Islam, Buddhist mandalas in Episcopal cathedrals, and countless heretical statements. 
Would that the discipline committee of the HoB had been as zealous defending the honor of God.

There is, apparently, no bottom limit to the folly of the episcopal church’s leadership. #26’s suggestion for prayers of repentance is well founded.

Totally expected.  Once more we see the Beast persecuting God’s people.  My prayers are with Bishop Lawrence and the real Diocese of South Carolina.

#26 Maineiac and all,
Just remember the sign outside St. Philip’s reads ” The only ghost at St. Philip’s is the Holy Ghost!

I am not betting any money that KJS will repent anytime soon.

Amen, Jill Woodliff #27.  Where their money is, there will their hearts be also.  This action is about money and not about the love of God.  Lord, have mercy.

Katherine, I agree that money is one of the driving forces, not the only one.  The lawyers in the Episcopal Forum and elsewhere will probably gain billable hours.  I don’t know what financial resources the diocese has, but the same spirit that has devoured the trust, relationships, membership, and finances of TEC is thrashing about, looking for more fodder.

Perhaps Communion Partners will intervene, and bring about reconciliation. Or, perhaps the Archbishop of Canterbury. Or, the other Instruments of Communion. Or, the conservative TEC bishops.

This comes across to me as a no-win situation for TEC. I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m actually surprised.

They’re blinded by hate, I guess.

+Dorsey should be ashamed.

Reality is - this is mostly about sex, homosexual sex in particular. 

This is the same old worship of Baal that infected the Children of Israel now and then throughout the Old Testament now infects Christ’s Church.

Science, Statistics and Scripture stand unified against these fools.

Well, I’m not surprised at this. It was inevitable. The only question was when, not if, it would happen. Wonder if she has Bishop Love in her sights, too; he really hasn’t given her any excuse - other than voicing his opinion at the convention.

The names of those who betrayed their bishop and diocese are now public. God have mercy on them.

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/10/18/south-carolina-episcopalians-explain-complaint-against-bishop/

Sadly, I know four of these people as fellow parishioners. Two of whom who have not shown their face in church for several months. Make of that what you will. I know what I think.

#37, Even Judas showed up at the Last Supper.

Ralph,
I would prefer that they show up at church even if they are members of the forum. In fact, I know other parishioners who are also Forum members and they show up regularly for church and other activities.  Now if they dislike the parish and our bishop that much, I suggest they find a church home in nearby Diocese of Upper South Carolina which may be more hospitable to their theology. Why stay away? Move on if you don’t like the parish. Simple.

Here’s a list of the people and their churches:
Robert R. Black - Grace, Charleston
Margaret A. Carpenter & Charles G. Carpenter - St John’s, Florence
Frances L. Elmore - St John’s, Florence
Eleanor Horres - Grace, Charleston
John Kwist, Margaret S. Kwist - St Paul’s, Summerville
Melinda Lucka - Grace Church, Charleston
Barbara G. Mann, David W. Mann - Grace, Charleston
Warren M. Mersereau - Christ Church of Our Saviour, Kiawah Island
Dolores J. Miller - St John’s, Florence
Robert B. Pinkerton- St Marks Chapel, Port Royal
M. Jaquelin Simons - St Paul’s, Summerville
Mrs. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, unknown
John L. Wilder and Virginia C. Wilder - Grace, Charleston
Rev. Colton M. Smith - St Stephen’s, Charleston
Rev. Roger W. Smith- St Marks Chapel, Port Royal

They all seem to be members of the Episcopal Forum of SC. Their website is here.

Hi Matthew,
Yep, I know 4 of these people as they are fellow parishioners. Two are former board members of the Forum. Interestingly enough, St. Mark’s Chapel, Port Royal has not been admitted to nor in union with the Diocese of SC. Notice the names of the accusers are NOT mentioned on the Forum’s website even though most if not all are members of the forum.

If you go to the Forum’s website, they follow the story from the diocese with one fromSteve Skardon/SC Episcopalians website.  Once again, he places the blame on the diocese. Oh right, these accusers were acting in the best interest in the unity of the diocese- uh huh. tell me another!! Sheeeesh!

How ugly, twisted, and base - and to what end? the embrace of sinfulness and rebellion from their maker.  This is the fruit borne by those 14 in [40], enabled by the leadership of TEC. 

No doubt they are now requesting a second serving of Turkish Delight.

Mrs Benjamin Bosworth Smith is the widow of a former rector of Grace. So that’s her affiliation.

Thanks#43, We were wondering how Mrs Benjamin Bosworth Smith was affiliated with the diocese.