A PASTORAL LETTER FROM THE BISHOP

Sisters and Brothers, dearly Beloved:

In January, 1995, you welcomed me into your hearts and the hearths of your home, Upper South Carolina—“now our home”, as I said in my first address to you. It was a challenging time—just as the present time is challenging—a time of “tiptoe anticipation” for me—and I believe for most of us, if not all of us—then, and now.

This season of Advent is a season which is meant to build “tiptoe anticipation” in which the people of God prepare to celebrate the first and live in heightened expectation of the final coming of Jesus Christ, our Blessed Savior. During these four weeks we are asked to do two things: First, to place ourselves within the spiritual mindset of those who lived prior to the Christian era, awaiting the first advent of the Messiah—a new thing. The second is to be mindful of the way we should live every day as Christians in “new and unending life in him”. Both mindsets involve a new thing.

It is time for a new thing for us as the people of God in Upper South Carolina—a new thing for you and for me.

Accordingly, on Saturday, December 13, meeting with our Diocesan Council, I called for the election of a successor, and, with the appropriate canonical consents, I will resign as Bishop of Upper South Carolina effective on the date of the consecration of the eighth Bishop of the Diocese, or on December 31, 2009, whichever occurs first.

Why call for an election now?

I began my ministry at St. Benedict’s Parish in Plantation, Florida, in 1977. I would have been happy serving with the communicants there for the rest of my life. But after thirteen years I realized that, by God’s grace, I had done with them what I knew how to do. They needed someone to take them to the next level of discipleship. At the Cathedral of St. Paul the Apostle, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin—although I left there upon having received your call—I knew that I had done with them what I knew how to do. They needed someone to take them to the next level of discipleship.

That is the present reality in our diocese. I am concluding, together with you, what I know how to do. When, following our diocesan convention last October, I met with the newly formed Diocesan Executive Council, and recognized their enthusiasm, their commitment, the efficiency of our present Commission structure, and progress we have all made by God’s grace and your ministry—I recognized that it was time for us to take the next step. Upper South Carolina needs a bishop who can cooperate with you, and provide appropriate episcopal leadership, in moving into the next level of Christian discipleship.

It is also true that my ministry as a member and then President of the Title IV Review Committee of The Episcopal Church absorbed some physical, emotional and spiritual energy, and dulled somewhat the edge of my creativity. It has not, however, reduced my love of the Lord and the Lord’s Church, nor the sheer joy I have as a deacon, priest and bishop. The election process will take approximately 10 to 18 months, depending upon a number of factors. Our Diocesan Council, in its role as the Standing Committee and guided by the canons of the Church, will have the responsibility of establishing a Calling Committee and providing the guidelines for the calling process.

Be mindful, however, that I am not leaving tomorrow, so don’t start saying “goodbye” to me quite yet. We still have much work to do, if, indeed, our focus is to remain on Christ’s mission and if we are to have that seamless transition from one bishop to the next that we have discussed for the past year and more.
(1) Most of our congregations are involved in the Healthy Church Initiative process, but some have yet to begin.
(2 Significant progress has been made in the development of Christian Formation programs, but we have not provided our communities with such programs “at every site where we have an altar and a pulpit”—which is one of our goals.
(3) Many have responded enthusiastically to the challenge to change our world in keeping with God’s call to meet the needs of any who are oppressed in any of oppression’s dark manifestations; and even in this time of economic recession our stewardship can and should be improved to meet Christian standards.
(4) And while numbers are not the only gauge for measuring spiritual health, it’s apparent that our passion for souls is not adequately driving an assertive evangelism.

“One Body” with “One Mission”, which mission is “Changing Lives” in the Name and as the Body of Jesus Christ remains my commitment. During the months ahead, I covet your continued and ever increasing prayers and our mutual involvement in that commitment.

With gratitude to our Triune God and to you for our ministry together, which is indeed a blessing to me, and with God’s grace sustains and strengthens me, I remain

Faithfully yours in our Lord,

(s)Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr.
Upper South Carolina VII