LEAVE THE GUN, TAKE THE CANNOLI

from Midwest Conservative Journal by The Editor

Come to find out that the Episcopal Organization’s hit on South Carolina Episcopal Bishop Mark Lawrence has been in the works for some time:

A gathering of national church loyalists has learned that Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is backing their move to claim the mantle of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.
The presiding bishop’s attorney told the 15 Nov 2012 meeting of TEC loyalists   the national church had been preparing for the fight with Bishop Lawrence and the majority faction in the diocese for some time.  However assertions made at the meeting that the former Bishop of East Tennessee will be intervening on behalf of the presiding bishop supplant Bishop Mark Lawrence were unfounded.

One of capo di tutti capi Schori’s hired South Carolina consiglieres spilled the beans.

Questions over the presiding bishop’s actions have arisen in light of statements made by Mr. Tom Tisdale, a lawyer Bishop Jefferts Schori given at a 15 Nov 2012 “clergy day” held at St Mark’s Episcopal Church in Charleston.  An open letter to the bishops of the Episcopal Church detailing her alleged violations of the canons prepared by the Anglican Communion Institute has also prompted questions.

In his address to the approximately 40 clergy and lay members of the diocese present, Mr. Tisdale stated that in light of the suspension of Bishop Lawrence on 15 Oct 2012 by the presiding bishop and the vote by the standing committee to withdraw from the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, there was no functioning ecclesiastical authority in South Carolina.

He stated he was legal counsel for the presiding bishop in South Carolina and a “few months ago” had been asked to organize a transition group by the national church in preparation for such an event.

The transition group, he told those present was composed of 10 lay members: Hillery P. Douglas, Chairman; Erin E. Bailey, Holly H. Behre, William P. Baldwin, Charles C. Geer, Lonnie Hamilton, III, Margaret S. Kwist, Rebecca S. Lovelace, John O. Sands and Virginia C. Wilder; and four clergy: the Rev. James E. Taylor, the Rev. Richard C. Lindsey, the Rev. Wilmot T. Merchant, II and the Rev. Calhoun Walpole.

The transition group would be assisted by a steering committee included the presiding bishop’s lawyer Mr. Tisdale, attorney Melinda Lucka, the Rev. Michael Wright and two episcopal advisors: Bishop vonRosenberg and Bishop John C. Buchanan.

According to those present at the meeting, this steering committee would work under the auspices of the presiding bishop with the transition group and will inform her what actions she should take to reorganize the diocese.

Okay.  Mr. Tisdale is Mrs. Schori’s legal representative in South Carolina which means that Mr. Tisdale’s services had to have been engaged  well before the controversy began.  And the fact that this meeting took place “a few months ago,” well before the story broke nationally, clearly suggests that Schori meant to have Lawrence capped in any way possible, another fact Tisdale basically admits.

In a question and answer session following his presentation, Mr. Tisdale was asked by the five rectors and retired clergy present questions as to how to proceed until March.  To whom should they apply for permission to conduct marriages for divorcees?, one cleric asked.

Mr. Tisdale responded Bishop vonRosenberg was responsible and he would also take charge of the licensing of clergy until the March 2013 convention when a provisional bishop be appointed. A provisional bishop could not be appointed immediately, Mr. Tisdale said, as the presiding bishop could not act until the House of Bishops deposed Bishop Lawrence at their March meeting.

Said it before and I’ll say it again.  What Christians remain in the Episcopal Organization have exactly two options.  They can either walk away from TEO or they can get thrown out.  But one way or the other, they are leaving.