Bishop-elect Lawrence Sees Election Resistance in Broader Context
12/06/2006

The Very Rev. Mark Lawrence, rector of St. Paul’s Church, Bakersfield, Calif., recognizes that he is in a difficult position. Elected Bishop of South Carolina Sept. 16, Fr. Lawrence must receive consent from a majority of standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction within 120 days from Nov. 9, the date they were formally notified of an election.

Some Episcopalians note that Fr. Lawrence has supported the Diocese of South Carolina’s decision to request alternate primatial oversight (APO) and are concerned he will attempt to lead the diocese out of The Episcopal Church. Others have not forgotten that he helped write the minority report recommending against the New Hampshire consecration during the 74th General Convention in Minneapolis. Two groups have written to the standing committees and bishops expressing reservations.

“I don’t take this personally,” Fr. Lawrence said in a recent interview. “This whole question about consent has never been about Mark Lawrence. It’s about APO. It’s about uniformity. It’s about what boundaries we will accept as Episcopalians.” the rest