At a festive service at the Cathedral of Saint Luke and Saint Paul in Charleston on Saturday, January 26th, 2008, Mark Joseph Lawrence was consecrated the 14th Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. “We thank you and Allison for your strength and perseverance,” said Alden Hathaway, retired Bishop of Pittsburgh and preacher for the service, “you inspire us and give us hope.” Joined by their five children and six grand children, the Lawrences were greeted with a thunderous and lengthy standing ovation by the diocese who had elected Mark twice over the last two years.

Asked what most struck him by the service, the Rev. Dow Sanderson, rector of Church of the Holy Communion in Charleston, said: “I was most encouraged by the joyful optimism of the people who were there, the belief that there is a glorious gospel to proclaim and that we have a faithful bishop who is going to stand fast in spite of the circumstances in order to enable us to proclaim it word and deed.”