Thursday, August 13, 2009

Well THAT didn't take long...

Episcopal Cafe is reporting that Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Diocese of South Carolina is calling for a special diocesan convention:

[T]he Standing Committee and I are calling for a Special Convention of this diocese to be held on Saturday, October 24th....
...
The Standing Committee and bishop will be proposing a resolution to come before the special convention that this diocese begin withdrawing from all bodies of governance of TEC that have assented to actions contrary to Holy Scripture; the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this church has received them; the resolutions of Lambeth which have expressed the mind of the Communion; the Book of Common Prayer (p.422-423) and the Constitution & Canons of TEC (Canon 18:1.2.b) until such bodies show a willingness to repent of such actions.
It looks as if he's angling to have the Diocese of SC sign on to +Rowan Williams' "Anglican Covenant," so that he can finally get away from all of us revisionist, homo-lovin' heretics. You can read the whole thing here.

14 comments:

June Butler said...

It looks as if he's angling to have the Diocese of SC sign on to +Rowan Williams' "Anglican Covenant," so that he can finally get away from all of us revisionist, homo-lovin' heretics.

Can he do that? Is there presently a process established for individual dioceses to adopt the Covenant, or does Bp. Lawrence believe by having his diocese vote to sign on to the Covenant that he will thereby establish the process?

His statement is confusing to me, but perhaps that's what it's meant to be.

Ann said...

Some believe that when Rowan said the basic unit of the church is the diocese - he was inviting individual dioceses to sign on -- there is a group called Communion Partners who think this way.

June Butler said...

Oh yes. The letter. In Rowan's reflection on GC, that path seems only a possibility for the future, but some groups ran with the possibilities before Rowan even wrote his reflection and moved forward on what they would like to see happen, which, if you think about it, is a rather smart strategy on their part.

Wormwood's Doxy said...

It's called "creating facts on the ground," Mimi. And it's exactly the way the Windsor "Report" became law...

June Butler said...

I am but an innocent naif, and I see through this tactic, so why does the ABC fall for it? He makes me crazy. Truly, before this mess is over Rowan will have sent me over the edge. Help me!

Wormwood's Doxy said...

Mimi--didn't you work in an academic library?

If so, this should come as no surprise to you... ;-)

It's 5:00 here. I order you to go have a nice glass of wine and not think about the spineless man with the scary eyebrows.

Cheers,
Doxy

June Butler said...

Doxy, for most of my working life, my clients were the hoi polloi, cast-offs, and crazies who gather in public libraries. I worked for only two years in an academic environment, but you're right. That was long enough for me to know better and not be surprised by Rowan. Folks like him should never be in positions of leadership in which the ability to make good decisions is a necessity.

However, there were just as many crazies in the academy. (No offense, IT. I don't mean you.)

IT said...

Mimi love if you knew me better, you would!

I have had a week of relentless academic politicking over teaching load, salary inequities, and other issues and right now I'm about as crazy as they come.

Unfortunately it is not yet 5 o'clock and I have miles to go before I wrap my mitt around a glass of wine (though for preference I think mine will be a martini, slightly wet, with a dash of bitters. I've EARNED it.)

June Butler said...

Whoops! Doxy (almost like Doctor - well close enough) prescribed a glass of wine. I must run and drink.

IT, my dear crazy academic, my sympathy. I think you have EARNED something stronger than wine.

Unknown said...

A lot of anger/unhappiness directed towards Williams. But he's in England. Aren't you independent of the English? Can't you pretty much do what you decide through your own church legislature without being afraid he's going to show up and yell at you?

David said...

Could some 'splain to me how withdrawing from all bodies of governance of TEC is, in essence, any different than what the ex-bishops of Pittsburgh, San Joaquin, and Fort Worth tried to do ?

Please use small words, as I am apparently too simple-minded to understand the nuances of +Lawrence's reasoning...

The Werewolf Prophet said...

Doxy: "the spineless man with the scary eyebrows."

ROLFMAOPMP! What a perfect description of ++Williams!

IT said...

Hi, Wolfie!

Nice to see you!

Wormwood's Doxy said...

Werewolf Prophet--thanks! I think +Rowan must feel drawn to Bob Duncan because of the eyebrow thing... ;-)

I loved your diary at Street Prophets. And I think you have one of the coolest blog names I ever saw.

Cheers,
Doxy