AP News, October 30th, 2007
A theologically conservative bishop whose election to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina was invalidated by the national church has gained approval a second time and will be consecrated, officials said Monday.
The Very Rev. Mark Lawrence will be consecrated on Jan. 26.
Lawrence, who was a priest in the tradition-minded Diocese of San Joaquin, based in Fresno, Calif., was first elected bishop in September of last year.
But the national church's Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori took the unusual step of invalidating the election in South Carolina, which has rejected her authority because of her liberal theological outlook.
Theological conservatives are a minority within the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church, which has been divided since the 2003 consecration of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire.
Jefferts Schori said the standing committees of several dioceses had failed to submit proper written consent as required by church law. The diocese received 57 consents — one more than required — from dioceses nationwide but some came by e-mail and were not considered valid.
The South Carolina diocese held a second vote on Lawrence in August. He received 128 "yes" votes from local clergy, parishes and missions. Only two clergy and three parishes dissented.
His second election was earlier approved by the national Episcopal House of Bishops and by the end of last week, more than enough standing committees nationwide had approved, said the Rev. J. Haden McCormick, who heads the standing committee of the South Carolina diocese.
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On the Net:
Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina: http://www.dioceseofsc.org/
The Episcopal Church: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/
