Today’s Post & Courier

This Letter to The Editor appeared in this morning’s paper:

“Not” is such a simple word, a declarative form of “no”, often unnoticed unless it is not used.

Such was the case in the article that appeared in this morning’s Post & Courier article regarding St. Andrew’s departure from The Episcopal Church.  The article attributed to me a statement which I did not say.  Specifically, the reporter paraphrased a comment I made during the interview, saying that I thought the Bishop of South Carolina was interested in pursuing legal action against St. Andrew’s.  What I said, thankfully corrected in the online version of the article, was that “I did not think the bishop was interested in pursuing legal action.”  Unfortunately, most readers of the Post & Courier would not know of this correction [the Post & Courier has since printed a correction].

The clergy and lay leadership of St. Andrew’s Church have worked hard to maintain a good relationship with Bishop Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina throughout our discernment process.  It would sadden me for our community to believe that there exists between us a tension and animosity that does not in fact exist.  We have only affection for the members of the Diocese of South Carolina and gratitude for our life in the Diocese.  As was evident in Bishop Lawrence’s gracious statement regarding our departure, there remains a mutual desire and commitment to cooperate in gospel mission and ministry that honors Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.

Sincerely,
The Rev’d Steve Wood
Whilden Street
Mt. Pleasant, SC