tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post7293886784656180471..comments2024-03-27T08:46:54.369-04:00Comments on BabyBlueOnline: Breaking News: South Carolina Diocean Bishop Mark Lawrence targeted by 815 for "abandoning" The Episcopal ChurchAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17490745238430648958noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post-87783564995445183682011-10-12T14:36:48.069-04:002011-10-12T14:36:48.069-04:00It's incredibly difficult to know where the tr...It's incredibly difficult to know where the truth is in all of this mess. I do know that there are secessionist forces in the SC diocese that are salivating over the opportunity that recent actions may provide. They've been spoiling for the fight and just waiting for someone to fire the first shot. Whoever the short-sighted souls who kicked this hornets' nest are, you have my scorn! <br /><br />There are historical realities in play in SC that will make it much, much more difficult for the National forces to prevail in this fight and some very wealthy interested parties who will be more than willing to fund the cause. Whether Bishop Lawrence is at the root of this (and I tend to think he is NOT) remains to be seen.<br /><br />What this fight will do is to take a terrible toll on churches that are just trying to survive and go about doing the work of Christ on a daily basis. <br /><br />I chose to become an Episcopalian, and I would dearly love to remain one. Truth is, I'm rather progressive, but I'm working hard to live peacefully and IN CHRIST in my very conservative diocese. It's hard for me to see how all of this can end well for those of us in the trenches.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post-14641159083395664602011-10-09T08:05:48.918-04:002011-10-09T08:05:48.918-04:00This is good... those good people who have gone th...This is good... those good people who have gone the extra mile etc etc can now wake up and smell the revisionist coffee and street politics of those consolidating their takeover of TEC....now they try to do the same in the AC....'an inch at a time'.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post-46124072772814147432011-10-07T12:09:58.929-04:002011-10-07T12:09:58.929-04:00I don't know anything about that, Rabbit. How...I don't know anything about that, Rabbit. However, I have been told by people I respect at T19 that he is steadfast in his stauts as a continuing Episcopalian. If so, I think whatever this process is will evaporate quickly. The unfortunate thing is that any objective observor can see why the national church authorities, or other Episcopalians within the diocese might be concerned that all the machinations of renouncing canons etc look (perhaps misledaingly) like a faction within the diocese is positioning to jettison legal constraints on an exit with property. It would take a kind or moral and ethical eafness and blindness for people to do that from within the church. Any responsible member, especially clergy, would leave within thirty seconds of realizing they have reached the point where they cannot stay. I think more highly of Bishop Lawrence and his colleagues to think that they would behave like that. And I do think it would be very good for the Church to have their continuing voice. This may prove just to be a misunderstaninf, but one heavily fueled by actions within the Diocese. <br /><br />ScoutAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post-69154866334161664492011-10-07T06:54:34.714-04:002011-10-07T06:54:34.714-04:00Scout, I understand, perhaps mistakenly - if so, s...Scout, I understand, perhaps mistakenly - if so, someone please correct me - that Mark Lawrence no longer attends national TEC meetings. If so, his voice is not going to do a whole lot of good within our councils.Lapinbizarrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07686990585795363001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post-57406614666577728562011-10-06T20:55:40.074-04:002011-10-06T20:55:40.074-04:00K - a lot yet remains to unfold in this story and ...K - a lot yet remains to unfold in this story and I'm not sure I fully grasp it. I do feel confident enough in my reading thus far to say that it is highly likely that the trigger point for whatever this process is (and I am very unclear as to who started this and where we are on the process curve) is not differing views about orthodoxy, but concern that dissident South Carolinan episcopalians have been attempting to dismantle provisions and instruments of governance that would enable them to depart as a Diocese and to take property with them. There may be an entirely innocent explanation, and friends whom I respect assure me that Bishop Lawrence is intent on remaining within the Episcopal Church. We need his voice within our councils. That would please me greatly. Nonetheless, I can understand the concern, given recent events (e.g., renunciation of diocesan and national canons etc). Let's hope that this all goes away quickly when Bishop Lawrence makes clear his intention to stay within the church and dispels critics who wrongly (I hope) believe he is scooching toward the door, but is doing so while undoing legal constraints that have caused efforts to take over property in California, Ohio, Connecticut, New York, Georgia etc. to fail. <br /><br />Scout<br /><br />It is not a pleasant prospect for anyone, frankly, that this will rage on for any extended period of time. I am very sorry to see it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post-67422926145999763832011-10-05T17:24:06.940-04:002011-10-05T17:24:06.940-04:00Loyal Opposition or Boll Weevil, Andy? Depends on...<i>Loyal Opposition</i> or <i>Boll Weevil</i>, Andy? Depends on your standpoint.Lapinbizarrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07686990585795363001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post-7794863535289677792011-10-05T17:14:35.834-04:002011-10-05T17:14:35.834-04:00It's a sad day when one realizes that Bishop L...It's a sad day when one realizes that Bishop Lawrence is about as orthodox a bishop that is left in the Episcopal Church. <br /><br />He should correctly be considered liberal - he ordains women and uses the 1979 BCP. <br /><br />The seismic shift in culture means that he passes for orthodox in the new culture of the Episcopal Church. Sad sad days. <br /><br />I did send a message to his Canon to the Ordinary offering my prayers for him and the clergy in this stressful time. Good luck Your Excellency!Kelsonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327221.post-91712048001792725562011-10-05T16:58:18.362-04:002011-10-05T16:58:18.362-04:00A sad development indeed. +Mark J. Lawrence rema...A sad development indeed. +Mark J. Lawrence remained in TEC as <i>Loyal Opposition</i> and now he's receiving his thank you note from 815. I trust the Almighty will remember his perseverence.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03516444685469895837noreply@blogger.com