Diocese Gathers in Summerville for 226^th Annual Convention

Listen to the Bishop's address, the Convention sermon, view the videos and the convention photo album in the Convention media collection.. 

“I am strongly in favor of affiliation,” said Bishop Mark Lawrence in his address to the 226th annual Convention of Diocese of South Carolina, prior to their vote. “I believe that now is the time.  For if one believes as I do that we in this diocese are to make Biblical Anglicans for a Global Age and to help shape Emerging Anglicanism in the 21^st Century there is no better place to do this in North America than the ACNA.”

Over 350 lay delegates and clergy from 52 churches in the eastern portion of South Carolina gathered for the two-day convention, which was held March 10-11, 2017 at St. Paul’s Church in Summerville.

“What a simply wonderful, uplifting, exciting and spiritually led convention,” said John Benson, a lay-delegate from Prince George Winyah, Georgetown. “I was enriched by the workshops, Friday's service, the uniting sermon and, of course, the working of the Holy Spirit throughout the Saturday convention. Archbishop Foley Beach's appearance was the icing on the cake.”

Read more ...

223rd Convention Votes to Accept Provisional Primatial Oversight from bishops in the Global South

The Diocese of South Carolina voted unanimously to join the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GFCA) and temporarily enter into a formal ecclesiastical relationship known as provisional primatial oversight from bishops in the Global South during their 223rd Annual Convention held at Christ Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC, March 14-15, 2014.

Nearly 400 people attended the weekend gathering where delegates and clergy also voted to create a task force to explore more permanent affiliation options for the diocese. The task force will offer recommendations at the next Convention, which will be held in March 2015.

Local critics of the Diocese’s 2012 separation from The Episcopal Church had said the disassociation would isolate the Diocese from the Global Anglican Communion. While the Diocese has maintained many informal relationships with organizations that are part of the communion, this formal primatial oversight arrangement makes clear that the Diocese is officially part of the greater Anglican Church.

Convention Workshops Kick Off Weekend

The Diocese kicked off the weekend with four workshops open to the public. The Rev. Dr. Kendall Harmon, Diocesan Canon Theologian unpacked “The Jerusalem Declaration: Owning our Faith and Call,” preparing delegates and clergy for the vote that would come the next day. The Rev. Canon Winfield Bevins of Kardia Church Planting and Re:Missioning Initiative spoke on Re:Missioning Your Church 10 Vital Signs of Church Health. The Rev. Dr. Joel Scandrett, Assistant Professor of Historical Theology & Director of the Robert E. Webber Center at  Trinity School for Ministry spoke on Christian Faith Formation: Ancient Resources for Future Discipleship and  Langdon Stewart,  who is on staff at Church of our Saviour, Johns Island, spoke on Evangelism.

“Kendall did a superb job explaining the background of the Jerusalem Declaration,” said Bill McRee, a parishioner from St. John’s, Florence, who was elected to serve on the Advancement Society. “He explained how it came to be written and how it enables the Diocese to move forward working with other provinces making biblical Anglicans for a global age.”  Download Canon Harmon's talk.

Read more ...

By Joy Hunter, Director of Communications

“A breath of fresh air,” was how the Rev. Louise Weld, Associate Rector at St. James, Charleston, described the 224th annual Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina, which was held in Charleston, March 13-14, 2015. “I felt like there was a big emphasis on evangelism and sharing your story,” said Weld, “in the Bishop’s address, in presentations, in video clips. There was a new thrust - a breath of fresh air. We’ve moved on and are about the Lord’s work!”

Workshops and Worship

The convention kicked off Friday afternoon with six workshops open to the public offered at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.

Read more ...

On Saturday, March 15, 2014 during the 223rd Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina the following individuals were elected to serve in Diocesan offices and positions:

Standing Committee

(Three -year terms)
The Rev. Iain Boyd, The Rev. Mike Lumpkin, Karen Kusko and Rob Shelton;

Diocesan Council

(Three-year terms)
The Rev. Janet Echols, The Rev. Bob Horowitz, Kathy Hamilton and Chuck Wilson;

Advancement Society

(three-year terms):
The Rev. Marcus Kaiser, Bill McRee and Mary Rife;

Trustees

Reid Boylston, Scott Poelker

(one-year unexpired term)
Karolyn Ohanesian

Ecclesiastical Court

(three-year term):
The Rev. Linda Manuel, The Rev. Bill Oldland, John Acken and Ann Willis.