Rejected Episcopal Priest Up Again for Election

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina has again nominated a conservative bishop whose first election had been thrown out.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of South Carolina met early this month and agreed to call for a special convention to elect a bishop on Aug. 4 at St. James Church.

The unanimous nomination on June 9 of the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence as the next bishop of the diocese comes by the prediction of some bishops who felt Lawrence should have been consecrated the first time in March.

Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori had declared Lawrence's first election "null and void," citing that some of the votes were electronically submitted and did not have the required signatures attached. It was the first time in over 70 years that consents for consecration of a bishop were denied.

During the March election, Lawrence, a priest in the conservative Diocese of San Joaquin, was asked to give his affirmation that he would not take the Diocese of South Carolina out of the Episcopal Church. The S.C. diocese had rejected the authority of Jefferts Schori, who supports ordaining homosexuals and blessing same-sex unions. Lawrence gave his affirmation in December and again in March.

When the election was thrown out, conservative Anglicans were outraged that someone who "clearly" meets the standards for church leadership was blocked from approval to lead the Diocese of South Carolina.

The Very Rev. William McKeachie, dean of South Carolina, called the decision "the latest outrage from the national church." He expressed hope that Lawrence would not withdraw his name from a second search.

Despite consent responses to elect Lawrence not meeting canonical requirements, Bishop Edward Salmon, who is retiring from the South Carolina post, said bishops and standing committees of other dioceses "had intended to consent to the election even though technicalities had prevented it."

"The Holy Spirit had spoken in the election of Fr. Lawrence," said Salmon.

According to Salmon, the South Carolina Standing Committee "will implement an intensive effort to receive the consents during the 120 day period."