Episcopal News Service March 16, 2007
Reactions to Lawrence announcement note 'sorrow'
By Staff
[ENS] News that the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence's election as bishop of South Carolina was voided brought reactions ranging from "sorrow" with the process to disappointment with the result.
On March 15, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori declared "null and void" Lawrence's election as fourteenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, citing a lack of adherence to canonical requirements in a number of the responses [ENS article: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_83687_ENG_HTM.htm].
Lawrence, 56, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Parish in Bakersfield, California, in the Diocese of San Joaquin, was elected September 16. The diocese must now hold another election.
Episcopal Church canons govern the process, requirements, and consent procedures for the election of bishops.
Ministry Canon III.11.4 (b) calls for consent from standing committees "signed by a majority of all the members of the Committee."
Further, it states, standing committee members must sign in their own handwriting: "In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this (blank) day of (blank) in the year of our Lord (blank)." [http://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/canons/CandC_FINAL_11.29.200 6.pdf, pages 101-102]
Where the signature requirement has not been met by standing committees, the forms have been rejected, according to canon.
Full story:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_83781_ENG_HTM.htm
--This article was prepared by Jerry Hames, Nan Cobbey, and Sharon Sheridan of Episcopal Life, and the Rev. Jan Nunley and Neva Rae Fox of the Office of Communication.
- - - - - - - - -
To SUBSCRIBE to Episcopal News Service, send a blank email message, from the address which you wish subscribed, to join-enslist@epicom.org and include "subscribe" in the subject line.
Send QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS to news@episcopalchurch.org
ENS provides information and resources which we consider to be of interest to our readers. However, statements and opinions expressed in the articles and communications herein, are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of ENS or the Episcopal Church.