The 210th convention of the Diocese of South Carolina(The Rev.) Kendall HarmonDiocese of South Carolina met at St. Philip's Church and Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C., Feb. 11-12. The convention began with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist according to the Rite of 1662.

In his sermon for the occasion, which came against the backdrop of the recent consecrations of Bishops John Rodgers and Chuck Murphy in Singapore [TLC, Feb. 13, 20], the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Bishop of South Carolina, observed that the church is God's planting, yet judgment would come. "Both grow together," he emphasized, pleading for both patience and the vision of the church itself not to be lost.

"How we interact with one another" in these challenging times "is as important" as what we speak about, Bishop Salmon said, asking for lowliness, meekness, and forbearance in our conduct with each other.

In his address to the convention later that afternoon, Bishop Salmon discussed how he himself would seek to work with Bishop Murphy. Bishop Salmon sought what he termed a "Gamaliel-like strategy" in which he would wait on God to see what develops. During a period of waiting on any word from Canterbury, the Anglican primates or others as to this unusual event, Bishop Salmon agreed that Bishop Murphy would serve as rector emeritus of All Saints' Church, Pawleys Island, a position without canonical authority, with the Rev. Thad Barnum being the interim rector there. Bishop Murphy could function sacramentally as a priest in the diocese, but not as a bishop.

"There is a crisis of authority in the church" which has led to these events, according to Bishop Salmon. "Our long history of unilateral action on the part of the bishops in the American church has produced the authority crisis. One of the definitions of dysfunction is the absence of any boundaries. Another name for it is anarchy. The consecrations in Singapore continue this story, but it is the first such action on the orthodox side. I can readily see why years of frustration, growing from dialogue, often used as a cover for change, would result in consecrations to get people beyond what they perceive as canonical oppression."

In other events, the diocese voted in favor of transferring the confederate flag from its present location above the state capitol, and to oppose South Carolina's attempt to sponsor a state lottery.

As Bishop Salmon celebrated what God had done in the 10 years since he began his ministry in the diocese he noted his 10-10-10 plan for giving that has resulted in congregational income moving from slightly more than $9 million in 1990 to more than $21 million in 2000.

In addition, the convention approved a $2 million budget for 2000.