The Diocese of South Carolina needs to distance itself from the governing bodies of The Episcopal Church, its bishop said Thursday in an address to clergy meeting at St. James’ Church, James Island, Charleston, S.C.
 
The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, bishop since January 2008, did not urge the diocese to break all ties with The Episcopal Church.
 
Bishop Lawrence and the standing committee have called for a special convention on Oct. 24 to vote on proposals that Bishop Lawrence presented during the meeting. He and the standing committee discussed these proposals during a marathon meeting on July 28.
 
The proposals include:
 
• Reading a letter aloud at every ordination service that specifies what it means to be loyal to the “doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this Church has received them.” Bishop Lawrence asked whether this vow includes adhering to the resolutions of General Convention.
 
• Withdrawing as a diocese from “all bodies of governance of TEC that have assented to actions contrary to Holy Scripture; the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this church has received them; the resolutions of Lambeth which have expressed the mind of the Communion; the Book of Common Prayer (p.422-423) and the Constitution & Canons of TEC (Canon 18:1.2.b) until such bodies show a willingness to repent of such actions.”
 
• Affirming the latest draft of the Anglican Covenant.
 
“I believe we ought to sign on to the Ridley Draft of the Covenant as it presently stands in all four sections,” Bishop Lawrence said. “Therefore we need to begin the process of studying the Ridley Draft in every deanery and parish and be prepared to vote on it either in the special convention in October or, if that's too ambitious a time frame, no later than our Annual Diocesan Convention in March 2010.”
 
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