From the Episcopal Diocese of SC website:
June 24, 2009
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I begin by remembering the words of two remarkable followers of Jesus Christ. First, from the one who called himself the least of the apostles:
“For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:12)
And secondly from one of my earlier heroes of spiritual leadership, Charles Henry Brent—Episcopal Bishop of the Philippines and later Western New York—that apostle of Christian unity:
“Every self-respecting person craves an exacting task, a task that strains human nature. We need more than that degree of obligation which demands the exercise only of those gifts and powers that we know are ours. We must be under the domination of a responsibility which calls for the assertion of our latent and untried capacity, the power that declares itself only in the using.”
This summer like the last—which had the global events such as GAFCON and Lambeth—offers gatherings that can potentially change the landscape of Anglicanism in North America and throughout the world. I have sent one of our deans, the Very Reverend Craige Borrett, to be an observer at the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) gathering in Bedford, Texas. Even as I write this letter this landmark convention is meeting. It is made up of many with whom some of us here in South Carolina have served alongside in this Episcopal Church where, unlike them, we are still members. My prayers are with them as they meet in this pioneering work, even if we do not travel the same path, and though we function in some cases in parallel jurisdictions. Am I troubled by this development? Yes, for it is a bit odd at times to realize that we in the Diocese of South Carolina labor side by side, but not in full communion—and sometimes even in tension—with others who consider themselves and seek to remain, like us, as Anglicans. As sisters and brothers in Christ we are sometimes in and, sadly, sometimes out of fellowship. It is a temporary state I hope, brought about by the extraordinarily divisive times we are in. We travel what has been called the Canterbury trail on paths that sometimes are so close we can carry on hopeful conversations in sight of one another, and then there is a switchback that, even while traveling toward perhaps the same God-given destiny, takes us through trees which separate us from one another.
Later this summer, just two weeks from today, I will gather with the deputies of the Diocese of South Carolina, and other brothers and sisters in Christ at the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. We will meet from July 8—17th in Anaheim, California. Our beloved retired bishop, Ed Salmon, and I will be representing us in the House of Bishops. Those representing us in the House of Deputies are: In the clergy order, John Burwell, Steve Wood, Haden McCormick, and David Thurlow: and in the lay order, Wade Logan, Lydia Evans, Boo Pennewill, Reid Boylston, and Lonnie Hamilton (Alternate). Seasoned observers of General Convention and delegates to our own Diocesan Convention may immediately notice that long time General Convention strategist, Kendall Harmon, while elected to the deputation, is not slated to attend this year’s event. This will not go unnoticed in many quarters of the House of Deputies and it should not go unexplained to our own diocese.
In numerous conversations, Kendall and I have felt that the strategizing and networking to pass or defeat resolutions, for most of us in the conservative or reasserting cause, is no longer anything for which we have passion or, for that matter, any hope of success—even if we should attempt it. The cause of biblical orthodoxy within TEC is no longer a realistic thing to strive for through the councils of TEC. Politically speaking, we have lost the day. Those of us who are going from South Carolina go to bear witness—to speak the truth as we have received it, and with love (as St. Paul enjoins us). But the days of strategizing with others who may align sympathetically with us to win some political victory through resolutions on the floor of the HOD or HOB is, at least for now, a thing of the past. We are too small and insignificant of a “party.” Too many have been, or have felt, driven out of our Church. Along with these facts, I fear that the ecclesial-political operatives of General Convention seem too determined to ignore the prevalent teaching of Scripture and the Church, as well as the mind of the larger Communion, but we shall see. I do not state this as one who is disheartened by it. It is just a reality that needs to be recognized and admitted—call it “reality therapy” if you will. It is my conviction that Kendall’s time and energy can be better directed by working in his new role as Anglican Communion Development Coordinator. Just for your information, the Chairman of the Anglican Communion Development Committee is Fr. Bob Lawrence (no relation to me, as you know). Other deanery representatives are Frs. Chris Royer, Michael Hub, Michael Clarkson, Paul Fuener, and Charlie Walton.
As I stated in my Bishop’s Address at our Diocesan Convention in March, I see little reward or benefit in expending our resources and energies in unfruitful expeditions trying to stem the tide of revisionism in The Episcopal Church. Certainly I ask those who are intercessors to pray that God would “stay the hand of the revisionists” at General Convention. And we who attend will, under God, carry out our roles in faithful witness to the truth as we have received it in Holy Scripture and in the traditions of the Church. But the creative thrust of the diocese—beyond the gospel imperative to preach the gospel, make disciples, and plant churches as missionary outposts of the Kingdom of God—needs to be elsewhere than in political machinations of the General Convention. As I’ve stated before, God has called us to help shape the future of Anglicanism through mutually enriching missional relationships and through inter-diocesan, inter-provincial accountability. Certainly, Kendall as our Canon Theologian will monitor the developments at General Convention 2009, but I believe it is in keeping with our declared vision as a diocese to focus on what we believe God is calling us to do, not on the strategies and battles he called us to engage in yesterday.
Before I conclude, let me address an issue that I find is sometimes confusing to many within the diocese, as well as those who are watching us in the reappraiser wing of North American Anglicanism, specifically in what is called “The Inside Strategy.” Among the writers and bloggers of North American Anglicanism there has emerged what some call the inside and the outside strategy in battling with heterodox teaching and practice in the Church. Some who were once Episcopalians have left because they were convinced that anything resembling orthodox belief and practice was lost. Many of these are now gathering at the ACNA convention. They are sometimes referred to as engaging in the outside strategy. That is, in the cause of orthodoxy in North American Anglicanism they have left previously official churches, such as the Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church in the United States. According to this understanding it is believed the best way to revive or reform Anglicanism in North America is to work outside the established churches of the Anglican Communion. In distinction from those outside there are those who remain within TEC and the Anglican Church in Canada. Since they are staying, but still hold to the same understanding of the faith as those who have left, it is assumed by some that they must be carrying out an inside strategy of reformation. We in South Carolina are then said to be carrying out such an agenda—battling for orthodoxy, seeking to win back the day in The Episcopal Church in some maneuvering of ecclesiastical politics. While some within the Church may indeed be doing this, it is certainly not my intent. The stakes at present are much higher than what is happening in Episcopalianism or the continuing Anglican bodies in North America.
If we could be said to be carrying out an “Inside Strategy” it is not towards TEC: it is toward the Anglican Communion. Put simply, we remain inside the structures of the Communion to help shape the emerging Anglicanism of the 21st Century so long as we are able. It is ironic that as one of the few dioceses of The Episcopal Church with documented growth in every significant metric of measurement—membership, average Sunday attendance (ASA), spiritual vitality, finances, missional relationships through the last decade—we can influence the developments within global Anglicanism more effectively than we can influence our own Church! When conferences are held for bishops and leaders in TEC about growth and reaching new generations, why are experts brought in from non-Anglican sources and the prior architect of growth in the one diocese in TEC that has documented growth, Bishop Salmon, is not invited to speak? Why are the rectors in this diocese who have so clearly effectively reached their communities with the gospel never once referenced or consulted? Even the Presiding Bishop had to revise her statement that no diocese in TEC had seen growth, when documentation was cited that South Carolina had seen significant decadal growth. But, irony aside, getting back to my main point, our “Inside Strategy” is not to tilt at windmills in Quixotic fashion thinking we can turn back the clock to some prior age; it is to help shape the future that is emerging in global Anglicanism from within the Communion.
Certainly since we are in TEC we will bear witness to the truth, speak the truth, and stand steadfastly in the faith once delivered to the saints. We proclaim Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of the Father and the only mediator between God and humankind; teaching the trustworthiness of the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God; and abiding by the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of Christ as this Church has received them, not as the latest political machinations has sought to reinterpret them. Nevertheless, along with the Gospel mandate, our focus, energy, and resources must be devoted to helping shape an Anglicanism sufficient for the 21st Century by “Making Biblical Anglicans for a Global Age.”
Doubtlessly, the developments from the General Convention in Anaheim and at the ACNA Convention in Texas will change the mercurial landscape in which we have to carry out this work, perhaps making all too relevant the words I’ve cited from the Apostle Paul, and Bishop Brent at the beginning of this rather lengthy letter. It is possible we will be confronted with monumental challenges, even “a task that strains human nature” as Bishop Brent put it. Several of our deputies will be blogging from GC’09, and in all likelihood I will address issues that may emerge from the Convention. So please note: in order for us to take reconnaissance and inventory on the demands these two gatherings will place upon us in the diocese, I have scheduled a Clergy Day for Thursday, August 13th from 10:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m. at St. James, James Island (note: box lunches will be served). We will have reports from our deputies to General Convention as well as a report from Craige Borrett. Please keep our deputations as well as me in your daily prayers as we prepare for and debrief from General Convention.
Faithfully yours in Christ our Savior and Lord,
+Mark Lawrence
South Carolina
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