Bishop Lawrence: 'Faithful Preaching' Key to Church Growth

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/3/26/bishop-lawrence-faithful-preaching-key-to-church-growth

[The Living Church] 27 Mar 2008--Shortly before he was consecrated Bishop of South Carolina on Jan. 26, the Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence predicted that the Diocese of South Carolina would “light a torch” for internal reform of The Episcopal Church during remarks at diocesan convention.

A few days before the House of Bishops’ spring retreat March 7-12 in Texas, Bishop Lawrence spoke with a reporter about reform and maintaining the enviable growth record begun under the 16-year tenure of his predecessor, the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr. Bishop Salmon accompanied Bishop Lawrence to the first House of Bishops’ meeting since his consecration.
Between 1996 and 2006, average Sunday attendance in the Diocese of South Carolina increased by 22 percent and the number of baptized members increased by 20 percent. The diocese also reported gains in attendance and members during the past five years. Only the Diocese of Tennessee grew faster during that time.

While admittedly still new to the diocese, Bishop Lawrence credited the enviable growth record to a tradition of raising up leaders from within. Bishop Lawrence compared the classical pastoral ministry training model of clergy education emphasized in South Carolina favorably to the “therapeutic/social activist ministry model” that he believe predominates elsewhere.

“One of the things that has gone wrong with The Episcopal Church during the past 40 years is its cultural amnesia,” Bishop Lawrence said. “Does the church of the past have anything to tell us about our situation today?” Sin and its ripple effects are no different today than they were in Jesus’ time, he concluded.Shortly before he was consecrated Bishop of South Carolina on Jan. 26, the Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence predicted that the Diocese of South Carolina would “light a torch” for internal reform of The Episcopal Church during remarks at diocesan convention.

A few days before the House of Bishops’ spring retreat March 7-12 in Texas, Bishop Lawrence spoke with a reporter about reform and maintaining the enviable growth record begun under the 16-year tenure of his predecessor, the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr. Bishop Salmon accompanied Bishop Lawrence to the first House of Bishops’ meeting since his consecration.
Between 1996 and 2006, average Sunday attendance in the Diocese of South Carolina increased by 22 percent and the number of baptized members increased by 20 percent. The diocese also reported gains in attendance and members during the past five years. Only the Diocese of Tennessee grew faster during that time.

While admittedly still new to the diocese, Bishop Lawrence credited the enviable growth record to a tradition of raising up leaders from within. Bishop Lawrence compared the classical pastoral ministry training model of clergy education emphasized in South Carolina favorably to the “therapeutic/social activist ministry model” that he believe predominates elsewhere.
“One of the things that has gone wrong with The Episcopal Church during the past 40 years is its cultural amnesia,” Bishop Lawrence said. “Does the church of the past have anything to tell us about our situation today?” Sin and its ripple effects are no different today than they were in Jesus’ time, he concluded.