However, as an orthodox TEC bishop told VOL, the unity proposed by ACI theologians on the basis of mutual affection and diversity, but not doctrine, is not good news.

Lawrence may well propose that the Diocese of South Carolina be an orthodox diocese on the first level of the Anglican Communion - Rowan Williams' two levels idea, but not the second level, said the source.

His diocese is divided on the issue of staying or leaving TEC. Some on the Standing Committee want him to leave TEC, which he cannot do because of the enormous litigation that would tear up the diocese along with its parishes, a number of which would like to see the diocese leave TEC.

Lawrence has been decidedly outspoken about The Episcopal Church under the leadership of Katharine Jefferts Schori. Prior to attending GC2009, he said that the time had passed for engaging in political maneuvering to try to defeat the revisionist agenda, and that he did not intend to waste his energy doing so in Anaheim.

He was accurate in his appraisal as to what transpired. Two resolutions were passed allowing for the possibility of consecrating more LGBT bishops thus effectively setting aside the B033 moratoria, and laying the groundwork for the formal adoption of same-sex marriage rites.

In an interview with AnglicanTV, Lawrence stated, "It seems to me that on the far side of General Convention 2009, the Diocese of South Carolina must find a place to stand and a place to thrive that is relational and structural, and we shall find that place to stand and that place to thrive. We will find a way forward in the midst of all of this and God will strengthen us for the challenges at hand. I am almost eager for the opportunity that lies ahead of us."

Following GC2009 Lawrence wrote a letter to the clergy of the Diocese - http://tinyurl.com/mjld99 - with this analysis:

"Where is The Episcopal Church after General Convention 2009?

"First, TEC has contravened the clear teaching of Holy Scripture and breached the bonds of affection within the Anglican Communion. At General Convention 2003 the debate centered on the clarity of Lambeth 1.10. At GC'06 it focused on the Windsor Report and process which had less clarity than Lambeth 1.10. Here in 2009 Lambeth 1.10 and Windsor were hardly mentioned and the debate returned occasionally to B033 which of course was far weaker than what Lambeth 1.10 or Windsor called for. The trajectory is clear-greater and greater autonomy, license, and stepping apart. Yet the official spin of TEC continues unabated.

"Secondly, during our debate some protested that we are moving too quickly. The question is not how quickly we are moving. If blessing same-sex unions is morally wrong now, it will be morally wrong in the future. The matter in dispute in TEC is not like the one St. Paul writes about in I Corinthians 8 of a morally neutral activity such as eating meat offered to idols. In that situation whether to eat or refrain from eating was to be guided by the conscience of other Christians. But this question is completely different, it involves the nature of Christian marriage and the teaching of the universal church about the proper context in which to use the gift of sexuality. The problem isn't the speed at which the train is moving down the rail: it is the destination to which it is headed.

"Thirdly, while the full significance of TEC's adoption of C056 is not yet clear to me, this much is clear: In allowing Bishops "generous discretion" for granting the blessings of same-sex "marriage" we have entered into a new era of pastoral and canonical chaos, with General Convention's approval."

The Bishop concluded his letter by saying:

"There is an increasingly aggressive displacement within this Church of the gospel of Jesus Christ's transforming power by the "new" gospel of indiscriminate inclusivity which seeks to subsume all in its wake. It is marked by an increased evangelistic zeal and mission that hints at imperialistic plans to spread throughout the Communion. This calls for a bold response. It is of the utmost importance that we find more than just a place to stand. Indeed, it is imperative that we find a place to thrive; a place that is faithful, relational and structural-and so we shall."

A number of clergy recently put out a statement of their own under the title, "Where We Stand".

"Recent events in the American Episcopal Church have sparked strong reactions from people in nearly every Christian denomination. Even here in the Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head communities, many people have weighed in with comments both pro and con.

"Given the Episcopal Church's unique place in American history, and the fact that many of its recent decisions (particularly those regarding human sexuality) call into question long-standing Christian beliefs, none of this is particularly surprising. Issues of such substance naturally transcend denominational boundaries.

"Therefore, it is important for the members of these communities to know that we, the leadership of The Parish Church of St. Helena, The Church of the Cross, and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, disassociate ourselves from the actions of the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in July 2009. During its deliberations, that body denied the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Holy Scriptures (Old and New Testaments), overturned the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, and refused to abstain from the ordination of persons whose manner of life violates Christian tenets in practice for almost 2,000 years. These are actions we cannot condone.

"Instead, we will continue to stand where the vast majority of the world's 77 million Anglicans stand and where the Anglican Church has always stood. We will continue to be faithful to the Scriptures and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has ever been sufficient to heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, and raise those dead in their trespasses and sins to the new life of grace-a Gospel that we remain convinced still has the power to do these things today.

"As always, the doors of these parish churches are open to everyone. We all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. The church is not a place for those who have managed to "get their act together;" it is a hospital for sinners, of whom we are chief."

Below are signatories to this statement:

THE VESTRIES

Cindy Collins
John Gray Jane Hincher
Maude Hornsby
Jane Manos
Ann McDuff
Steve Melvin
Gail Mullen
Bob Mullen Melba Outlaw
Peter Payne
Jan Pringle
Sharon Sanders
Charley Webb
Bill Thompson
Stew Brown
Ray Cook
Burt Harding
Natalie Mann
Ken Miller
Al Stahl
Linda Wakefield
Lisa Arraj
Mike Blackshire
John Brackett
Will Bridgers
Tom Conner
Marilyn Eitel
Judy Kirby
Brenda Lieberman
Connie Rathman
Mark Vanagel
David Warren
John Wigington
Gail Znachko

THE CLERGY

The Rev. Jeffrey Miller
The Rev. Mark Avera
The Rev. Andrew Pearson
The Rev. Chad Lawrence
The Rt. Rev. Alden Hathaway
The Rev. Charles Owens
The Rev. Chris Royer
The Rev. Greg Kronz
The Rev. Tom Hendrickson
The Rev. Kathie Phillips

THE CHURCHES

The Parish Church of St. Helena (Episcopal) Beaufort, SC
The Church of the Cross Bluffton, SC
St. Luke's Episcopal Church Hilton Head, SC

Whatever happens on Thursday the diocese will be locked forever in an ecclesiastical battle with the leadership of The Episcopal Church that will not go away if it stays. The bishop and the diocese may well vote to change the diocesan constitution, as the Diocese of Albany has done, to make sure that no one following him would be anything but orthodox. If Lawrence and his diocese remain in TEC and all monies are withheld from the national church, it still leaves him vulnerable until such time as the Archbishop of Canterbury offers a way forward for orthodox dioceses like South Carolina, Central Florida, Western Louisiana, Western Kansas, Albany et al to allow for a graceful exit with their properties. That is not going to happen any time soon, if ever.

END