In a move that was as stunningly predictable as it was stupid clever, Space Alien Bandit Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, has put the boot into Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Diocese of South Carolina, (DSC) prompting one of the oldest and healthiest Anglican dioceses in North America to leave the Episcopal Church.
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| Bishop Mark Lawrence |
Last year, bishop Lawrence was anonymously accused of "abandonment of communion" but two of the three charges were dismissed by a disciplinary panel of bishops especially convened to deal with the alleged infractions. Dismissed that is until this month, when Lawrence was informed by the Bandit Bishop that he had abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church and wasn't allowed to function as a bishop.
This triggered secession clauses in the Diocese of South Carolina's Constitution, prompting it to leave the Episcopal Church. Next step? The Episcopal Church will sue the DSC for all its money and property after forming a potemkin diocese to serve as plaintiffs. That will bring the total number of traditional dioceses being litigated against by the Episcopal Church to five, San Joaquin, Pittsburgh, Quincy, Fort Worth and now South Carolina.
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| Sue You |
I won't comment further except to recommend A.S. Haley's post on Anglican Curmudgeon, but I will leave you with a test.
Imagine, for a moment, that you're the leader of a wealthy little denomination that's shrinking at an alarming rate of 50,000 members a year. One of your more numerous dioceses, with 29,000 members, publicly dissents from your prophetic pro-gay agenda. What do you do?
A. Try and find a way to co-exist with the dissenting diocese and concentrate on mission.
B. Sue the dissenting diocese and lose 29,000 people.
If you answered "A" you have failed the test to become the next Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. If you answered "B", well done! You too can be a space alien and have a grand penthouse apartment on New York's prestigious 5th Avenue! But remember, lest you get too carried away by the logic of your position, a church without members isn't really a church at all.
Carry on suing,
LSP
