CHARLESTON, SC (AgapePress) - The South Carolina Diocese recently became the black sheep of the Episcopal Church of the United States by passing a resolution that affirms traditional Christian beliefs. On March 2, 2002, the South Carolina Diocesan convention passed a resolution that stands against the most recent trends of the Episcopal Church and the General Convention.

The members of the South Carolina Diocese, one of two dioceses in the state, firmly believe that unity must be grounded in truth. Therefore, they approved the following three-part resolution authored by Fr. Dow Sanderson and supported by The Revs. Patrick Allen, Tom Murray, Daniel Clark, Frank Limehouse, Charlie Walton, and Jeffrey Miller:

“We will not use liturgies that depart from the Historic Faith”
According to Sanderson, there have been movements within the Episcopal Church to use gender-neutral titles in substitution for the persons of the Holy Trinity. Members of the Diocese address this as a “critical issue.” The resolution states: “It is not as much how we worship but who we worship that is at stake.”

“We will not accept General Convention Resolutions condoning an unbiblical morality”
Last year, Sanderson, a priest at the Church of the Holy Communion, tabled a resolution that dealt primarily with sexuality in the church. “I wanted to deal with a more holistic view of morality,” he said. The S.C. Diocese as a whole believes that it is the responsibility of the church to find truth in the Word of God, so they uphold that “Monogamous Christian marriage is the only and appropriate context for sexual relations.” Furthermore, they reject all promiscuity, the divorce culture and any “behaviors, which depart from Biblical norm,” according to the recently passed resolution.

“We will not accept coercive canons, which contradict the mind of the Anglican Communion”
According to the website of the Episcopal Church, in 1997, the General Convention ignored a 1976 resolution allowing the ordination of women. By an overwhelming majority, the Convention issued a mandate requiring that each diocese ordain women. In fact, Sanderson says that the National Church is now sending “implementation teams” to dioceses to make sure this directive is followed.

Sanderson and other members of the South Carolina Diocese believe that the National Episcopal Church has drifted from Biblical truth and adopted liberal views on controversial issues. For example, when a man or woman is ordained as a priest, he or she must solemnly declare that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are "the Word of God and contain all things necessary to salvation." But according to Sanderson, it has become the practice of many to “cross their fingers when taking this oath.” Therefore, he says, it isn't surprising that the Church has allowed liberal ideas to become part of its doctrine.

While the South Carolina Diocese refuses to align itself with the recent trends of the National Church, they won’t consider leaving the National Church either, Sanderson says. “Unity within the Body of Christ is of utmost importance,” he said. Furthermore, he believes that it is the responsibility of the Diocese to “stand in solidarity with those victimized by liberal leaders ... and with those who have been persecuted by this spiritual battle.” If the South Carolina Diocese were to cut itself off from the National Church, Sanderson says it would reflect the prevailing divorce culture in our country.

“We should not get into the habit of ‘quitting’ every time something gets tough,” he said. “It is hard work to speak the truth in love. But this is what we’re commanded to do.”

The South Carolina Diocese, however, has begun to withdraw a percentage of funds from the National Church, says Sanderson. The Diocese only allots 10% of tithes and offerings to the National Church, compared to the 30% that was previously given. In fact, Sanderson adds, some churches in the state have decided as congregations to withhold all funds from the National Church. Instead, they give the money to mission-related organizations.

The American Anglican Council, a moderate group of Anglicans, immediately stepped up to affirm the South Carolina resolution as “powerful and grace-filled.” In addition, they encouraged all Episcopal Dioceses to “seriously consider passing similar resolutions.”

Sam Dargen, a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Florence, South Carolina, also applauds the South Carolina Diocese for taking a stand, and he's pleased with the decision to remain a part of the National Church. Dargen attended the 212th convention of the Diocese as an elected delegate. “In making this decision, we did not want to threaten to leave the church and by staying in," he said, "we can help make a change.”

Dargen, like other Episcopalians in the state, isn’t comfortable with the trends of the National Church. “To turn this thing around, it will have to be miraculous," he said. "But, if we don’t try, we can’t complain."

At this time, the National Church hasn't made a statement in response to the resolution of the South Carolina Diocese.

Some wonder what the resolution's impact will be and how it will affect the National Church. Editor of the Anglican Digest, Rev. Kendall Harmon, says that the decision is in the hands of the church. “The 21st century church has to decide whether the Bible trumps culture or whether culture trumps the Bible," he said. "We are desperately concerned that the message [of truth] not be compromised -- that’s what the resolutions were about.”

While remaining a part of the National Church, the South Carolina Diocese will continue to stand against what they believe is heresy, Sanderson says, hoping that God’s truth and their stand will change hearts.