Episcopals in South Carolina are at a crossroads over homosexuality—and the end result might be the diocese seceding from the national church. 
In a recent Reuters story, Rev. Jeffrey Miller of St. Helena Church in Beaufort, SC, said, “The question is not whether we can stay. It is whether they will let us stay and follow what we believe.”
The national church’s position on LGBT issues has evolved significantly since 1991, when the General Convention astated that “physical sexual expression” is only appropriate within a monogamous union of husband and wife. By 2000, the church affirmed “the variety of human relationships in and outside of marriage.” The 2009 Convention approved the ordination of partnered gays and lesbians and gave bishops the choice whether or not to bless same-sex unions.
But South Carolina Bishop Mark J. Lawrence, who has led the state diocese’s move to distance itself from the national church, accused it of preaching a “false gospel of indiscriminate inclusivity… that has suffocated the mission of the Church.” Earlier this month Lawrence was charged with “abandonment”of church doctrine for not reprimanding individual churches that have or are considering secession to the Anglican church. His allies in worry he could soon be deposed as bishop. (Perish the thought!)
Why is it we hear so much about what homophobic clergy are against and little about what they’re for?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
WillBFair
If they do secede, I hope the national church is able to seize their property.
Kurt
Its all over for the Episcopal Church. They soon won’t exist as a significant denomination.
Andrew
Thanks for the boost of confidence, Kurt! Let me assure you that the overwhelming majority of Episcopalians support the Church’s stance on GLBT issues. We’re one of the most progressive, mainstream Protestant denominations in the United States. All our welcome!
markymaus
Dear Queerty.com Editors: We are Episcopalians, not “Episcopals.” Please make a note and please buy and use an AP Style Guide.
Secondly, no one has been charged with anything. The only thing that has been done is that a complaint has been lodged with our national Church offices that something is “amiss” in that specific diocese.
Finally, despite the comment (either sincere or flippant) that the Episcopal Church is not “a significant denomination,” it is alive and well and will only survive if people finally realize that those who want to exlude the LGBT faithful and “leave the Church and take the furniture” are an extreme minority.
Michael
Wow in South Carolina a religious bigot much less a normal bigot? *fake gasps* Perish the thought. I’ve lived in SC my entire life since I was a baby this has never and never will surprise me.I am however absolutely shocked about this part though: The national church’s position on LGBT issues has evolved significantly since 1991, when the General Convention astated that “physical sexual expression” is only appropriate within a monogamous union of husband and wife. By 2000, the church affirmed “the variety of human relationships in and outside of marriage.” The 2009 Convention approved the ordination of partnered gays and lesbians and gave bishops the choice whether or not to bless same-sex unions.
Hmm this gives me hope that there are indeed decent people here.More then I even realized existed here.I just assumed for years that SC was a backwoods homophobic racist ignorant state to live in.Sadly for the most part it is all of the above but I have heard that Atlanta is pretty gay friendly as well as some of Greenville.
DBB
@Andrew: Amen.
Tom in Lazybrook
@Kurt: I support ECUSA. And as a person with significant contacts in South Carolina, there will be many parishes in South Carolina that will remain with ECUSA instead of joining the communion with the odious Abp Akinola, David Virtue, Robert Mugabe, Martyn Minns, and Rwanda.
Joe in Savannah
This isn’t suprising. I was born and raised in Beaufort. Its a very small town…most everybody is either religous, in the military, or worse…both. My junior year, when I was elected homecoming king, one of the football players assaulted me. The school refused to do anything. The school board refused to do anything. When I came out, I was literally on the front page of the newspaper.
Kurt
I wish the Episcopal Church well, but one can’t pretend it is not on a membership decline from a height of 3.8 million to barely hanging on to 2 million today. I walked by their national HQ on Second Avenue the other day, and they are now looking to rent out a good portion of their building. More Episcopal parishes are closing than being founded. The Episcopal Church is a beautiful, welcoming ship. It just happens to be sinking. I’m sorry for that reality, but its still reality.
Dave Lara
antidisestablishmentarianism
GayGOP
@Kurt:
I think the issue is that the ECUSA has not been successful in evangelization. Like most mainline Protestant faiths, we Episcopalians have not sought out new followers. If we did that, then the ranks of the ECUSA would, I expect, grow, and quickly.
Kurt
@GayGOP: Well, you better get to work. The way things are heading otherwise, the Episcopal Church will soon be a minor denomination. If you could d just keep what you have now, it would be a start and might stablize things. But honestly, I don’t see much of a future for ECUSA.
Caleb
I’m from Charleston and the Church here is very liberal, as is most of Charleston.