ENS on Lawrence+

Episcopal News Service has now issued a statement on the failure of Father Mark Lawrence to achieve the necessary consents to be consecrated a bishop in the church. Click here to read the full statement.

The statement gives some additional details:

Canonically adequate ballots were received by South Carolina from 50 diocesan standing committees. Several other standing committees were reported to have consented, but no signatures were attached to their ballots, or the ballot itself was missing from South Carolina's records, Jefferts Schori reported. Any committee that did not respond is considered to have voted no.

"In the past, when consents to episcopal elections have been so closely contested, the diocese has been diligent in seeking to have canonically adequate ballots submitted, asking Standing Committees to resubmit their ballots when necessary," she added. "It is certainly my hope that in future any diocese seeking consent to an election will use all possible effort to ensure that ballots are received in an appropriate form and in a timely manner."

The ENS story also provides significant background on events that have occurred during the consent process.