Diocese of South Carolina

 “Rooted in Scripture and formed by the Anglican tradition, we are seeking to build a vital community of faith through planting, revitalizing, and developing local churches.” Hear Bishop Edgar cast a vision for the Diocese in his message given March 15 at St. Philip's Church in Charleston, at the annual convention of the ADOSC

The Rev. Mary Ellen Doran, Rector of Trinity Church, Pinopolis gave the sermon at the annual Renewal of Vows Service for the ADOSC. It was held at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston

Bishop Chip Edgar called the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina to exercise hospitality in his address to the 2024 Convention. The event, which drew more than 300 clergy, delegates and guests to the Cross Schools in Bluffton, was held March 8-9. “If we are true to our nature as the people God has called to himself, keeping our blessings to ourselves is not an option,” he said. He urged those present to be ready to welcome the stranger.  “People by the thousands continue to move to South Carolina… Many are unchurched, and study after study suggests that unchurched folks are more likely to visit a church plant than an established church,” he said. “But many are churched, too, and churched folks are more likely to look for churches. To be hospitable, we have to both strengthen our existing churches and plant new ones.”

The War is Over: It's Time to Plant, Revitalize, Rebuild Edgar Sets Diocesan Priorities in First Convention Address as Bishop In his first convention address as Bishop of The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, Bishop Chip Edgar set priorities he hoped the Diocese would live into over the course of his Episcopacy. In the address, given March 10, 2023, in the Chapel at the Cross Schools, Bluffton, he highlighted church planting, church revitalization, the continuing education of our clergy, the updating of our constitution and canons and restoring our losses – noting, especially, the development of a new camp and conference center, Camp Jubilee. He also offered a word of caution.

On May 18, 2021, at the annual Clergy Renewal of Vows service, held at the Cathedral of St. Luke & St. Paul, Bishop Mark Lawrence urged the clergy to rekindle the gift that had been given them by the laying on of hands at each of their ordinations. He urged them to raise up congregations who would "gossip the gospel."

“It is time for the church to wake up, rise up, and grow up in His Word,” said Joanne Ellison, at the Anglican Gathering of Women, 2021. “We need to face the music. The church is weary. I see churches are filled with people who are worn out from trying to bring the gospel to a hostile world. We are exhausted in our jobs and relationships. Our hearts, once pumping strong, have flat lined.” There are two talks.

Talk 4: The Lesson of the Tomb; Hear the Rev. Rob Study speak at the 2020 Christian Men's Conference. Used with permission by Christian Men's Conference LLC.

Talk 3: The Lesson of the River; Hear the Rev. Rob Study speak at the 2020 Christian Men's Conference. Used with permission by Christian Men's Conference LLC.

Talk 2: The Lesson of the Struggle; Hear the Rev. Rob Study speak at the 2020 Christian Men's Conference. Used with permission by Christian Men's Conference LLC.

Talk 1: The Lesson of the Garden; Hear the Rev. Rob Study speak at the 2020 Christian Men's Conference. Used with permission by Christian Men's Conference LLC.

"Let's go on a missions trip," says Canon J. John, a noted author, speaker, and media personality in the U.K. "Walk next door. It's cheaper." In this talk, given January 21, 2019 at St. Philip's Church, Charleston, and sponsored by the Anglican Leadership Institute, Canon John urges Christians to practice evangelism through praying, caring and sharing.

We've become suspicious of strangers, but God "invites them all to the party! He welcomes them!" says Bishop Lawrence in this the first of two talks at the gathering of Anglican Women held May 4, 2019, at St. Paul's in Summerville, SC. He encourages listeners to look to Jesus both for an example of hospitality and for the power to be hospitable.

In this talk, which was given after Dave's earlier mini-conference (see the earlier podcast), he talks about how neighboring actually looks in the day-to-day adventure. It's not always easy, but it IS worth it.

"Make the first step and he's already there to meet you." In this sermon, preached at the Parish Church of St. Helena's on March 31, 2019, Bishop Mark Lawrence describes the overwhelming love God has for us, in the telling of the first half of the parable known as "the prodigal son." Luke 15:11-24.

In this episode Dave Runyon, co-author of The Art of Neighboring, explains how the movement started, describes his own experiences and challenges listeners to put Jesus' command to "love your neighbor" into practice.

In his address to the 228th annual Diocesan Convention, Bishop Mark Lawrence urges listeners to see the harvest of unseen neighbors in unseen neighborhoods. While our population explodes, he asks if we've been limited by our (invisible fence) expectations. "Can we not begin praying earnestly for the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest?" This episode also includes a plea for intercessors.