Episcopal nominee at center of storm
Saturday, March 10, 2007
By Steve Levin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Nothing comes easy these days in the Episcopal Church.

Its latest controversy involves the Rev. Mark J. Lawrence, the former rector of a McKeesport parish who is bishop-elect of the Diocese of South Carolina.

Church canons dictate that his election be approved by a majority of both of the denomination's 111 diocesan bishops and standing committees. The former have done so. The latter have not, and as the midnight Monday deadline for consent approaches, the Rev. Lawrence could become the first clergyman in more than 70 years not to be confirmed as bishop.

The combination of the Rev. Lawrence's conservative theology and a determined effort by church liberals to block his confirmation have caused Episcopalians to characterize the vote as a bellwether of where the 2.2 million-member church is headed. the rest