Large South Carolina church votes to leave TEC

(Staff)  One of the largest congregations in the Diocese of South Carolina has voted 703-19 to leave the Episcopal Church (TEC) and affiliate instead with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). St. Andrew’s in Mt. Pleasant near Charleston voted to leave the theologically liberal denomination even though its local Diocese of South Carolina is considered one of the most orthodox within the national church and has a strongly orthodox bishop, Mark Lawrence. Bishop Lawrence has said he will let the clergy and congregation depart without any retribution.

However, the Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, may litigate against the church and could discipline and even attempt to depose Bishop Lawrence for his leniency. The office of the Presiding Bishop had instigated 60 lawsuits against churches that have departed from TEC.

In a pastoral letter, Lawrence wrote that he was “saddened” but “not surprised” by the departure of “one of our strongest congregations.” He continued, “The departure of The Episcopal Church from the way of Christ and the biblically rooted teachings of the Church has become too discordant for them [St. Andrews] to tolerate any longer.” He added that he hopes to find “ways to continue our mutual ministry.”

The congregation employed an outside accounting firm to oversee their balloting process. St. Andrew’s new bishop will be the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey.