CT: After Bishop Is Accused of Abandoning the Episcopal Church, Diocese Really Does

From Christianity Today online.

The Diocese of South Carolina announced on Wednesday (Oct. 17) that it has disaffiliated from the Episcopal Church, escalating a long-running skirmish and setting the stage to become the fifth diocese to secede from the denomination.

South Carolina said the split was triggered by disciplinary action taken against Bishop Mark Lawrence, its conservative leader. The diocese passed a resolution on Oct. 2 stating that it would immediately secede should the Episcopal Church “discipline, impair, restrict, place on administrative leave, charge, derecognize” or otherwise inhibit the diocese or its leaders.

Twelve lay Episcopalians and two priests in South Carolina brought the charges against Lawrence. The denomination’s 18-member Disciplinary Board for Bishops found him guilty of abandoning the Episcopal Church and renouncing its rules in September.

If you want to know one of the reasons why the Episcopal Church is dying–besides its wholesale abandonment of the gospel–look no further. While not surprising, this is sad, in part, because it gives the Church and the Christian faith another black eye. This, in turn, gives enemies of the cross more ammunition to spread their lies.

Pray for +Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina, that God will lead them to a new affiliation and safe harbor. Pray for Mrs. Schori and her minions, that God in his mercy will rescue them from their darkness.

Read the whole sad story.