Deadline for South Carolina Consecration Expires
03/13/2007

The deadline for receiving consent to the consecration of the Very Rev. Mark Lawrence as Bishop of South Carolina expired at midnight on March 13, but whether the diocese has received approval to proceed with the consecration may not be known for several more weeks.

Before the South Carolina consecration can occur, Fr. Lawrence must receive consent from a majority of bishops and standing committees, according to the Canons and Constitution of the General Convention.

The 56 affirmative votes necessary from bishops was received several weeks ago. Early in the afternoon on March 12, the Rev. J. Haden McCormick, president of the South Carolina standing committee, reported having received unofficial positive votes from 55 standing committees, one less than necessary for the consecration to proceed. the rest