South Carolina Embraces Hate, 182-117
Others have reported on the actions taken by the nominally “Episcopal” Diocese of South Carolina in their super-secret convention meeting this weekend. ENS ran a story here. In four resolutions, the Calvinists-in-Drag “Episcopalians” in South Carolina voted to have their cake and eat it, too, in measures designed to separate themselves from the cooties in the Episcopal Church.
No great surprise there. Mark Lawrence lied his way into the episcopate. [Yes, I have the PDF to prove he is a liar. I would not use that term lightly.] Unfortunately, a majority of bishops and Standing Committees were hoodwinked to believe his lies, so this “purer than thou” Pharisee is now leading the supposedly “Episcopal” Diocese of South Carolina.
Now Lawrence and his lackeys in South Carolina have passed resolutions declaring their purity. They are using the same duplicitous tactics that Lawrence used to slither in to the House of Bishops and stay just barely within the Episcopal Church. They won’t participate in TEC groups, won’t give money, won’t do anything to be Episcopalians … but will just barely stay within TEC until they can figure out a way to slither away with their property.
South Carolina adopted four resolutions to keep themselves pure from the Episcopal Church. But they couldn’t stomach the fifth resolution. That one had the gall to say "that this Diocese will not condone prejudice or deny the dignity of any person, including but not limited to, those who believe themselves to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Nevertheless, we will speak the truth in love as Holy Scripture commends for the amendment of life required of disciples of Christ.” They defeated it 182 to 117.
Pause and reflect on that for a moment. South Carolina voted overwhelmingly to separate itself from The Episcopal Church. It voted in equally overwhelming numbers against recognizing that lesbian/gay people are fully human. 182 to 117. The resolution they rejected was purportedly moderate but insulting to LGBTs. But the bigots in South Carolina couldn’t even manage to adopt that reserved, bigoted resolution. They defeated it, 182 to 117.
Mind you, there was much to despise in that resolution, including the incredibly condescending phrase about “those who believe themselves to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.” (Shall we refer to others as people who simply “believe” themselves to be heterosexual!?!) But they couldn’t even adopt that weak, insulting resolution. 182 to 117.
Even that watered-down, condescending resolution failed to pass. South Carolina delegates gagged at believing that LGBTs might be fully human. South Carolina voted 182-117 against realizing the humanity of gay/lesbian Christians.
182 to 117.
Fellow queers, the Diocese of South Carolina assents overwhelmingly to the 1801 Articles of Religion. But today, 182 against 117 say we are not children of God.
I was born and raised in the South. I love many aspects of my southern heritage. But this crap out of South Carolina is just hatred – hatred without even a veneer of tolerance. Their vote makes it clear to me that these are the people who still have issues with the “niggers” and “queers.”
182 to 117.
Bishop Mark Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina has voted on our humanity. They voted against it. 182 to 117.
Way to go, South Carolina! I am truly grateful that you told us who you hate. Thanks for this honesty. By a vote of 182 to 117, you declare you don’t consider LGBTs human.
Thanks for the clear message.
No great surprise there. Mark Lawrence lied his way into the episcopate. [Yes, I have the PDF to prove he is a liar. I would not use that term lightly.] Unfortunately, a majority of bishops and Standing Committees were hoodwinked to believe his lies, so this “purer than thou” Pharisee is now leading the supposedly “Episcopal” Diocese of South Carolina.
Now Lawrence and his lackeys in South Carolina have passed resolutions declaring their purity. They are using the same duplicitous tactics that Lawrence used to slither in to the House of Bishops and stay just barely within the Episcopal Church. They won’t participate in TEC groups, won’t give money, won’t do anything to be Episcopalians … but will just barely stay within TEC until they can figure out a way to slither away with their property.
South Carolina adopted four resolutions to keep themselves pure from the Episcopal Church. But they couldn’t stomach the fifth resolution. That one had the gall to say "that this Diocese will not condone prejudice or deny the dignity of any person, including but not limited to, those who believe themselves to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Nevertheless, we will speak the truth in love as Holy Scripture commends for the amendment of life required of disciples of Christ.” They defeated it 182 to 117.
Pause and reflect on that for a moment. South Carolina voted overwhelmingly to separate itself from The Episcopal Church. It voted in equally overwhelming numbers against recognizing that lesbian/gay people are fully human. 182 to 117. The resolution they rejected was purportedly moderate but insulting to LGBTs. But the bigots in South Carolina couldn’t even manage to adopt that reserved, bigoted resolution. They defeated it, 182 to 117.
Mind you, there was much to despise in that resolution, including the incredibly condescending phrase about “those who believe themselves to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.” (Shall we refer to others as people who simply “believe” themselves to be heterosexual!?!) But they couldn’t even adopt that weak, insulting resolution. 182 to 117.
Even that watered-down, condescending resolution failed to pass. South Carolina delegates gagged at believing that LGBTs might be fully human. South Carolina voted 182-117 against realizing the humanity of gay/lesbian Christians.
182 to 117.
Fellow queers, the Diocese of South Carolina assents overwhelmingly to the 1801 Articles of Religion. But today, 182 against 117 say we are not children of God.
I was born and raised in the South. I love many aspects of my southern heritage. But this crap out of South Carolina is just hatred – hatred without even a veneer of tolerance. Their vote makes it clear to me that these are the people who still have issues with the “niggers” and “queers.”
182 to 117.
Bishop Mark Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina has voted on our humanity. They voted against it. 182 to 117.
Way to go, South Carolina! I am truly grateful that you told us who you hate. Thanks for this honesty. By a vote of 182 to 117, you declare you don’t consider LGBTs human.
Thanks for the clear message.
posted by Lisa Fox at 10/26/2009 09:58:00 PM
14 Comments:
Yes, Mark Lawrence lied. Apparently, however, if you are a "reasserter," you are allowed to do so with impunity, as long as you are lying to "heretics" and "apostates."
If I try REALLY HARD, I can find two good things in this:
1. Never again will Standing Committees accept the mealy-mouthed prevarications of people whose resumes give ample evidence of their TRUE intentions. (Diocese of Upper South Carolina, take note....)
2. The vote was NOT 299-0. There ARE decent people in the Diocese of South Carolina.
But that's about it...
Pax,
Doxy
Great post! As a former, albeit brief, member of the Diocese of Upper South Caroina, whose hypocritical bishop is about to retire, I watch SC episcopalians with great interest and am only surprised that the votes weren't more one-sided, as wormwood's doxy said. I like Harry T. Cook's words written in response to the Rome invitation: "if the Vatican wants the ecclesiastical crybabies of Anglicanism who have turned dissent and schism into a high art form, it is welcome to them." I kinda wish EDSC had just gone ahead and left the building.
Love your comments!
Father David, that's a great quote. I think I'll move it up to the front page.
Brad Evans, I'm not going to allow your snarky comments here. I am weary of you lot. Go find somewhere else to spread your trash. ... Yeah, there is a limit to my "inclusiveness." Get your own blog.
BTW, Father Gillespie: Is the "hypocrisy" of the current bishop of USC the worst-guarded secret in the entire Episcopal Church?
Well, simony (the paying for ecclesiastical office) has long been considered a serious sin. I guess it's time to add lying to the list. Both buying and lying are sinful ways to gain ecclesiastical preference.
Have the decent church people in SC organized a Via Media group yet? How can we support them?
I don't know if there is a South Carolina Via Media, but something like it may be found here: South Carolina Episcopalians.
Also if anyone locally can offer support to St. Mark's Chapel it would be a blessing.
What Paul said!
And for that I am glad to say that the Diocese of Vermont's Standing Committee voted 'no' against consent to the election of Mark Lawrence. It's not a 'we told you so,' because it is so sad but it is a recognition that things did not ring true.
Episcopal Forum of South Carolina was a founding member of Via Media, USA and remains active in the Via Media alliance. They can certainly use support.
Joan R. Gundersen
Pittsburgh
The real insult is not how they voted it is that they voted. These fools think they are authorized to decide.
Any resemblance between Mr. Lawrence and a Christian bishop is vestment deep, if that in my view. Some of his vestment decisions make a person shake their heads too.
FWIW
jimB
Caminante, I did my best to inform and beseech our Standing Committee members. Unfortunately, most of them are "above" reading the blogs. *sigh* So I think most voted in ignorance. ... Good on you and Vermont!
Brother John-Julian, I've put up a new post, providing a link to the real Episcopalians in South Carolina.
I'm with you, Jim. That SC can vote on whether LGBTs are human in this year of our Lord 2009 is rather breathtaking. .... On the other hand, sadly, it's really not so different than the votes the Anglican bishops took at Lambeth took in 2008. Sheesh! The sad difference is that the bishops at Lambeth didn't have a problem voting for the humanity of LGBTs, whereas South Carolina isn't yet sure.
I am a southerner by birth and heritage, and I used to love the time I spent with the gentle folk of South Carolina. But this latest action from Mark Lawrence's diocese confirms all the ugliest stereotypes of ignorant rednecks. I am ashamed of them.
It's all of a piece with the anti-GLBT rhetoric flowing on ME Question 1 and WA Referendum 71 (and CA Prop 8). They want us INVISIBLE, ABSENT, GONE. A few months ago someone wrote Andrew SUllivan's blog and wished that all GLBT "perverts" would be locked up in camps somewhere. They see nothing wrong with Uganda and would kill us if they could. They hate us. it's all hate. doesn't matter what they claim. It's absolute hatred.
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