July 27, 2006

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to announce to you that the Standing Committee has concluded its work. The required background checks have been accomplished. The psychological exams required by canon law have been satisfactorily completed, and we are now free publicly to announce the names of those we shall nominate for the position of Bishop of South Carolina.

They are:

The Rev Canon Ellis Brust of Atlanta

The Very Rev. Mark Lawrence of Bakersfield, CA

The Rev. Steve Wood, Rector of St. Andrew’s, Mt. Pleasant

I am grateful to Fr. Greg Kronz and the Search Committee for their months of hard work.

I am also grateful to the many others who allowed their names to be considered. We have many faithful priests in South Carolina, and we are all blessed by their many gifts of leadership.

Please study carefully the material enclosed with this letter.

Please pray diligently for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Delegates to the Special Convention and all canonically resident clergy eligible to vote will gather at St. Philip’s Church, Charleston for the “walk about” on September 9. Registration will begin at 8:00. The actual program will begin at 10:00 sharp. Each nominee will make a brief opening statement, followed by responses to prepared questions from the Standing Committee. There will also be ample opportunity for members of the clergy and lay delegates to ask questions of any of the nominees. There is limited space available at the “walk about” for other members of the diocese who are not delegates.

The election will take place at St. Philip’s Church the following Saturday, September 16, beginning with the Holy Eucharist at 9:30

Registration materials for both of these events have been sent previously to every congregation. If you for some reason have not received your registration materials, please contact Randy McPhail in the Diocesan office (843-722-4075).

Grace and peace,

Fr. Dow Sanderson, President

The nominees' biographies and survey responses can be read here:

The Rev Canon Ellis Brust

The Very Rev. Mark Lawrence

The Rev. Steve Wood