The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion continue to be in the news and in the blogsphere. Last week, Mark Lawrence did not receive the number of consents required from Diocesan Standing Committees for his consecration as Bishop of South Carolina (“the lower diocese”) to go forward. He needed 57, apparently he fell short by one. This week, the bishops are meeting at Camp Allen in Texas, where they will be discussing their response to the Primates’ communique. Our bishop has made a preliminary statement about that meeting which can be seen here. Meanwhile, there was an article in today’s New York Times about the financial importance of the Episcopal Church to the Anglican Communion. We bankroll approximately 30% of the Anglican Communion’s budget, and of course contribute mightily to relief and development efforts all over the world, including in many places where bishops and primates claim not to be in communion with us. Only one of those provinces refuses to take money from Episcopal Relief and Development. The article is here but you need to register to read it. The authors of the article make clear that in spite of the conflicts within the Anglican Communion, there has been no effort on the part of the Episcopal Church to hold back funding either for Anglican Communion offices or from the very important relief and development work that is taking place.

So the work of the church goes on. There have been scattered reports of African dioceses severing ties with individual dioceses in the American Church, sometimes with devastating results for the programs that have been receiving financial and other support. But it seems to be the case that whatever the politics, the money keeps flowing. The theological consistency and political wisdom of this may yet come under scrutiny.

Last night at St. James, we had a presentation from an employee of “Homes of Hope,” an organization in Greenville that rehabs mobile homes and houses, and builds houses for low-income people. The work is done by men who are slowly putting their lives back together. Most of them are recovering addicts or alcoholics who are receiving vocational training as well as a support system as they turn their lives around. It’s an amazing story and program and I hope that St. James can find a way to participate. For more information, you may speak with our parishioner Gale Garner, who is employed there or access their website here.