The following is excerpted from the August 8, 2008 Diocesan E-Newsletter.
A Note from the Bishop
We arrived back in Charleston early Tuesday evening of this week, and I returned to the office and a full schedule on Wednesday morning. This Saturday I’ll be in Orangeburg for John Bowden’s ordination to the Priesthood, and on Sunday I’ll be at St. Matthias, Summerton, in the morning and Holy Apostles’, Barnwell, for an evening service. Then on Monday, August 11, Allison and I will fly to California for eleven days of vacation. It is one of the few places I know where you can spend a few days visiting the desert, ocean and mountains within a week and a half. Along with seeing my mother, who still lives in California, there are a few trails I’ve yet to hike, that keep calling my name. Nevertheless, I want to get a few things on your calendars before I leave.
Clergy Day, September 11
First, I’ve scheduled a Post-Lambeth Clergy Day for Thursday, September 11 at St. Paul’s Summerville. We will begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude after lunch. I will give an overview of the Lambeth Conference, as well as my perceptions of the GAFCON event in Jerusalem in which I was also a participant. This will be open to all the clergy in the diocese. Since it will be my first Clergy Day with you as your bishop there may be many matters that we shall also discuss in our time together. I envision our time beginning with a conversation about Lambeth and GAFCON and then progressing to other matters that influence our life as a diocese. Please RSVP by either e-mailing Randy McPhail or calling her at 843-722-4075.
Clergy Prayer Summit, October 26-28
Secondly, I’ve reserved a date at St. Christopher’s for a Clergy Prayer Summit. This is not, of course, a Clergy Conference, though I will be scheduling one for 2009, rather I see it as a time for active clergy in the diocese to gather and seek God’s blessing on our parishes and ministries. The dates for the Prayer Summit are Sunday, October 26 through Tuesday, October 28. We will begin with a 6:30 p.m. dinner on Sunday evening and conclude with dinner on Tuesday. (If some, coming from farther distances, want to stay Tuesday night there will most likely be space available for that.) How I envision this time is as a balance of teaching on prayer followed by extended times for corporate, small group and personal prayer. Since this will be primarily focused on prayer for our vision, leadership, parish growth and ministry it will be limited first to active priests—that is rectors, vicars and associates in full-time parish ministry. Unfortunately, St. Christopher’s can only accommodate 75 people, thus we will need to make reservations on a first come, first served basis. The cost of the event will be $135. I see this as an appropriate expense for the parish to cover for the clergy. If, however, the funds are not available I am more than willing to help underwrite such an expense. I am hoping we can mobilize some of the various intercessory groups in the diocese to commit to praying for this Clergy Prayer Summit that we might have times of profound spiritual breakthroughs for our parishes and ministries. There will be more information on this in the future, but I wanted to get this on your calendars before other things begin to crowd in. Register for the Prayer Summit.
The Deacons' Gathering, September 12-13
Thirdly, the deacons should already be aware of an overnight at St. Christopher’s scheduled for Friday evening, September 12 through lunch on the 13. That will be a time for us to have mutually strengthening conversations, teaching and sharing. Please RSVP by either e-mailing Randy McPhail or calling her at 843-722-4075.
Lift Every Voice - Time with African-American Clergy and Leaders, September 6
Finally, the Black clergy in the diocese and I have scheduled a seminar for our African-American congregations on Saturday, September 6 at the Cathedral Parish Hall. The seminar entitled “Lift Every Voice: Recognizing the Reality” is planned for vestry persons and lay leaders in our African-American congregations. We plan to address the challenge of nurturing a culture that enables growth and models a ministry that will assist congregational development in our black parishes and missions. The seminar will be held from 11:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. and will include a light lunch. Thus we’ll need a count from each parish or mission as to how many will be attending. These congregations should be receiving a mailing as well as an email this coming week describing in more detail this important event. Please RSVP by either e-mailing Randy McPhail or calling her at 843-722-4075.
After so many travels this summer, and the protracted time at Lambeth, I have very much appreciated being able to re-engage in diocesan life during these last few days. It helps me keep in mind the crucial work of Christ’s kingdom which, as oddly as it may sound, could too easily get lost among all the various issues and controversies that we, by necessity, were immersed in at the Lambeth Conference. To return home to the Diocese of South Carolina was exactly what I needed before heading out for some vacation time. Please know you and your ministries are rarely very far from my thoughts and prayers.
Faithfully yours,
Mark Lawrence
Bishop of the Diocese
of South Carolina
