Delegates for The Diocese of South Carolina, a conservative Anglican group that separated from The Episcopal Church in 2012, chose on Saturday to join the Anglican Church in North America. The unanimous vote was cast at the Diocese's convention held at St. Paul’s Church in Summerville.
Led by Bishop Mark Lawrence, the Diocese has 22,000 members from 52 congregations across the eastern part of the state. It will remain its own entity, adding to ACNA's current constituency of 112,000 members from 966 churches.
"I believe God has called us to this and I believe we will find a deeper richness in our vocation; fuller fellowship in the Spirit; a more zealous thrust in mission," said Lawrence in a statement. "But most of all, I believe a door will be opened, the fresh winds of the Spirit will blow, and a caged eagle will soar."
ACNA was established in 2009 to serve orthodox Anglicans, including those in disagreement with The Episcopal Church, which has liberalized its policies regarding LGBT clergy and members and sparked controversy over theology and governance. It's a voluntary association of dioceses with a lean provincial structure focused on providing support to congregations. Its archbishop is the Most Rev. Dr. Foley Beach.
ACNA saw its first South Carolina diocese formed in 2010 with help from the Rev. Steve Wood, rector of St. Andrew’s Church in Mount Pleasant, who became bishop of ACNA’s Diocese of the Carolinas in 2012.
The Diocese of South Carolina currently is entangled in two lawsuits, one state and one federal, involving The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, the group of parishes that chose to remain with The Episcopal Church in 2012 and which contests the Diocese's claim to its name, seal and property. (The Rev. Canon Jim Lewis explains the Diocese's reasons for the split here.)
“The ACNA is full of ministry friends and colleagues we have known and worked with for many years,” said Lewis. “It is a joy to now be under one roof with them. We’ll be blessed to have the benefit of the work they’re doing in important areas like church planting. And we look forward to sharing our assets as well — things like our strong youth and grandparenting ministries and our beachfront camp and conference center, St. Christopher’s.”
As a member of ACNA, the Diocese becomes that church’s largest such group, and part of an organization that includes evangelicals and charismatics, Anglo-Catholics and others. In South Carolina, the Reformed Episcopal Church, which split from The Episcopal Church in 1873, also is a member.
For more information about the convention, go to www.diosc.com/sys/diocesanconvention.