"Biblical Anglicanism for a Global Future: Recovering the Power of the Word," is the theme for this year's Mere Anglicanism Conference. which will be held January 20-22 at St. Philip's in Charleston, in honor of the Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison. At a time when faithfulness to the Gospel has been undermined from within and without The Episcopal Church, Mere Anglicanism is committed to the recovery and renewal of faithfulness to the Gospel within the Anglican Way.

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For the fifth consecutive year, the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Mission Church located on Ashley River Road, (Highway 61), have embarked on a global outreach project to ship a twenty-foot container filled with school supplies, theological books, Bibles, church materials, Prayer Books, 1940/1982 Hymnals, medical supplies and relief items, including rice, clothes, shoes, beddings, etc, to the Church and people of Liberia. The Rev. James T. Yarsiah, Vicar of St. Andrew’s along with parishioners of the church, in collaboration with their sister church, the Old St. Andrew’s Parish has undertaken this worthy venture.

The St. Andrew’s Mission outreach project has raised a substantial amount, over $3,000 from external sources and this amount has helped cover the cost for truck services to drop and pick up the 20 foot relief container at St. Andrew’s Mission and transport same to the Port of Charleston. A considerable amount of this money has covered the cost for the freight/shipping of the container from the Port of Charleston, South Carolina to the Freeport of Monrovia, Liberia. The container was loaded on Saturday, March 27th at St. Andrew’s Mission Church’s campus at 2257 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414. The container set sail on April 5th and is expected to arrive at the Freeport of Monrovia at the end of May or early June 2010. It is approximated that the relief container will take about 45-55 days to arrive at the Freeport of Monrovia.

This outreach effort is the fifth of its kind at the Church, and it is geared towards helping in the rebuilding and empowerment process of the Episcopal Church of Liberia and other institutions in Liberia. In previous years, St. Andrew’s in collaboration with Churches in the Diocese of South Carolina, other institutions and organizations have shipped relief containers filled with church materials, Prayer Books, Hymnals, library and textbooks, medical supplies, school supplies, computers, dry food items, clothing, etc.

Donors and items given include:

* Medical University of South Carolina - several boxes of miscellaneous medical supplies/disposables (BP cuffs, gloves, bandages, syringes, etc.), equipment, etc.

* St. Francis Roper Hospital – several boxes of miscellaneous medical supplies, cups, and financial assistance ($500);

* The Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK/USA), Mrs. Patti Joy Posan, executive director of SPCK/USA – Bibles, Commentaries, theological books, Prayer Books, Hymnals, children books, etc (approximately 2,000 books);

* The Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, Tennessee, donated several boxes of composition books, school supplies, textbooks, clothes, etc and a financial donation of $1223.00 was also made towards the shipping cost;

* The Cuttington University Alumni Association in the USA, College textbooks donated by the Boston University and other individuals who have served as instructors at Cuttington. Financial donation ($500) was made to help cover shipping cost;

* Several Episcopal churches and parishioners in the Diocese of South Carolina donated boxes of used 1940/1982 Hymnals, used 1979 Prayer Books, theological books, acolyte robes, church hangings and linens, Bibles, chasubles, stoles, etc. Used clothing, shoes, beddings, towels, toys, rice, beans, etc were also donated.

* Many non-Episcopal churches, individuals and friends have also donated used clothes, footwears, beddings, towels, toys, etc.

As we anxiously anticipate the loading and shipping of another relief container to Liberia, the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Mission Church wishes to assure all donors that their donations will continue to make a big difference in the life of the church, schools, hospitals, orphanages, community, etc in Liberia. Our beneficiaries are deeply grateful to their American brothers and sisters for the love and support they have received through the Global Outreach Ministry of St. Andrew’s Mission Church, Charleston. To God be the glory for great things He has done!

We are grateful to Anglican TV for their coverage of the Reconvened 219th Diocesan Convention. To suppor the work of Anglican TV you may donate here.


Interview with the Rev. Canon Dr. Kendall S. Harmon, October 15, 2010

Alan Runyan Explains the Canons in Context, October 15, 2010

The Rt. Rev. FitzSimons Allison Preaches, October 15, 2010

Remarks of the Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence during the Reconvened Convention, October 15, 2010

Bishop Lawrence's Remarks, Continued, October 15, 2010

Charles Richard “Dick” Banks

Mr. Charles Richard “Dick” Banks, 89, of St. Matthews, died Thursday evening, March 11, 2010, at Calhoun Convalescent Center. The funeral was held at 2:00 PM Monday, March 15, 2010, at St. Matthew’s Parish Episcopal Church in Fort Motte with the Rev. Michael Hub officiating. Burial was in Houser and Banks Family Cemetery, Hwy. 176. Dukes-Harley Funeral Home of Orangeburg was in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers were William Westbury, Stephen Bruner, Jeff Reid, Kenneth Creekmore, Mike Pedings, and Hane Fair.

Mr. Banks was born in Calhoun County, a son of the late Wesley Dingle Banks and Katherine Early Banks. He found his love for photography in 1935 and in 1953, he started with Lackey’s Studio. He worked in the studio for eight years and continued assisting Mr. Lackey until 1984. Mr. Banks was also Project Photographer for the WPA Clearing Project for Santee Cooper and worked with W.D. Banks Logging Company in the early 1940’s. In 1960 Mr. Banks was elected Clerk of Court for Calhoun County and served until 1984.

Mr. Banks was very active in his church and community. He was a member of St. Matthew’s Parish Episcopal Church, where he served as Senior Warden and sang in the choir for many years. He was then given the honor of Warden Emeritus. He was a delegate to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina Provincial Synod in the 1940’s and a delegate to the Diocesan Convention annually from 1942 until his health no longer allowed him to continue.

He served as secretary/treasurer of Democrats for Eisenhower. Mr. Banks was the first chairman of the Calhoun County Historical Commission, now the Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center. He was the first chairman of the SC Historical Society, the predecessor of the SC Historical Assn. He was a member of the Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center and the Orangeburg Historical Society.

Survivors include first cousins, J.H. Fair, St. Matthews, Arthur J. Banks, Lexington, Helen Banks Bruner, Sumter, and many other cousins; caregivers, Blondell Glover and Stroman Glover; and friends too many to count. Dick loved people and they loved him. Visitation was held Sunday evening, March 14, from 6 to 8 PM at the funeral home. Memorials may be made: St. Matthew’s Parish Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 447, St. Matthews, SC 29135 or to the Houser and Banks Family Cemetery Fund, c/o Martin Banks, 716 F.R. Huff Dr., St. Matthews, SC 29135.