From The Living Church-Citing Title III, Canon 12, Section 7 of the Constitutions and Canons of The Episcopal Church, and following thorough discussion with the Council of Advice, with their advice and consent, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has accepted the renunciation of the ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church of Mark Lawrence as made in his public address on November 17 and she has released him from his orders in this Church.
The Presiding Bishop made the announcement December 5. The Presiding Bishop informed Lawrence by phone, email and mail on December 5. Following that, the House of Bishops was notified.
According to the documents, Lawrence “is therefore removed from the Ordained Ministry of this Church and released from the obligations of all Ministerial offices, and is deprived of the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God’s Word and Sacraments conferred on him in Ordinations. This action is taken for causes that do not affect his moral character.”
The renunciation is effective immediately on December 5.
More here-
http://livingchurch.org/pb-removes-lawrence
1 comment:
I think it's unfair to say that Bishop Lawrence was "removed" by the presiding bishop ... Bishop Lawrence made a rather lengthy speech Nov. 17 saying that he was "out of the Episcopal Church," in effect, making a public resignation: http://www.diosc.com/sys/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=468:bishop-lawrences-address-to-the-special-convention&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=75
In fact, Presiding Bishop Schori called it a "renunciation" --- to give up or voluntarily abandon, which seems to me exactly what Bishop Lawrence did.
After all, were his remarks not to be taken literally? Did he have his fingers crossed? ;)
Bishop Lawrence seems to be trying to have it both ways --- in November, he's saying he's no longer bound by the canons of the ECUSA, but then two weeks later, he's complaining that he's being thrown out of the church without due process under canon law. (http://www.diosc.com/sys/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=476:bishop-lawrence-writes-regarding-renunciation&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=75)
Well, gee ... if I quit my job --- and tell my boss she's a big jerk --- it's not really right to later claim that I was fired, is it?
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