Conversely, “neutral principles” has always been the dividing issue. Judge Goodstein reiterated to both parties that South Carolina is a “neutral” principle state and that she would only consider how this relates to property law. Think All Saints’ Pawleys Island. The legal decision made over at All Saints should have triggered in your mind that you never had a prayer and should have raised a red flag about litigation. Apparently not. Furthermore, your lawyers tried to pull some sneaky legal maneuvers that didn’t get past the good judge thus making your case even harder to defend. Biblically, by ignoring St. Paul’s specific warning about taking brothers to court, you shot yourselves in the legal thigh making any hope of future reconciliation impossible.

Bishop vonRosenberg: Even though we occasionally might have been aware of the historic significance of what was happening, most of the time was spent observing routine legal details. That was not the most engaging or productive use of time.

VOL: True and the winner was the law firm of David Booth Beers. We should also not forget one other high-priced witness, Prof. Robert Bruce Mullin of General Theological Seminary in New York. So far, TEC has paid more than One Million Dollars to develop and testify to his unique “interpretation” of the historical documents of the Church. Is one man’s testimony really worth $1 million? That’s more than what several rectors make in a lifetime including their pensions!

Bishop vonRosenberg: It may appear that the Dorchester County case represents an unfortunate detour on the diocesan pilgrimage of Faith. On the other hand, these weeks may simply be part of the journey that we must endure along the way, in order to reach another place. In any event – as we reflect on our biblical heritage – perhaps we may see that these current times represent a kind of wilderness wandering. The good news in this, of course, is that we know that such wanderings in the wilderness may lead eventually to the Promised Land. And that, my friends, defines the destination of our journey! In our current times, keeping in mind that eventual destination is crucial for the endurance so necessary for us now.

VOL: Your use of biblical imagery to explain what happened is disingenuous to say the least…of “wilderness” and “promised land”, “destinations” and “journey”, taken directly from the OT wanderings of God’s nomadic people the Jews is pure unalloyed bunkum. They actually suffered real hardships. You have neither suffered nor wandered in the wilderness, nor will you see the Promised Land -- unless of course you hope to win in the state Supreme Court and, if not there, the Supreme Court of the US. Another option of course is repentance but we won’t hold our breath. One thing is for sure, the “journey” will end there and there is every likelihood you will lose. If what I am reading is correct, the only “suffering” will be over the millions of dollars paid to David Booth Beers law’s firm. I doubt you have personally lost a dime. It’s a bit much to imagine the “wilderness” as a metaphor for the fine streets, hotels, and restaurants of Charleston SC, and the tourist attractions that dot the landscape along with the fine history of the Lowcountry. The “wilderness” could be a metaphor for your own mind.

According to a VOL source vonRosenberg failed his canonicals because of the appalling rubbish he wrote. However this decision was overruled and he got ordained anyway.

Bishop vonRosenberg: Therefore, keep the Faith! In spite of receiving ill will, nevertheless be conveyors of good will. In spite of indications and evidence of division, nevertheless hold onto Christ’s vision of unity. In spite of the world’s hatred, nevertheless claim love as our Lord’s command. On our journey of Faith, remember that the Promised Land of God is our destination, and that Land will certainly mark the conclusion of our pilgrimage!

VOL: Keep the faith! Really! I have news for you. It is precisely you and your fellow liberal bishops (and those in your diocese) NOT keeping the faith that caused this legal and property dust up in the first place. Had you “kept the faith”, none of this would have happened. Had Bishop Gene Robinson’s openly homogenital behavior and lifestyle not been the problem, none of this would have happened. You can throw Spong’s 12 Theses on the pyre of episcopal apostasy for good measure.

You have a lot of nerve telling Bishop Mark Lawrence and his followers “to keep the faith” when it is you and your ilk that have abandoned it! What world are you living in? Your vision of “unity” is a bucket of Indaba manure. There is no unity in TEC. It has fallen apart. The only truth here is the absolute and total hatred you and your fellow bishops have of orthodoxy. How else can you explain the near total vilification of those who disagree with you about sodomy? In one general convention after another, the orthodox drew lines in the sand only to watch as pansexual Episcopal tanks rolled over them, pushing the orthodox past the Maginot line of safety (in the name of inclusion and diversity of course). In the end those actions forced a new spiritual and ecclesiastical army to form in the person of a new general (archbishop) Robert Duncan and the eventual formation of the Anglican Church in North America!

We now have ACNA as a sure sign that unity is not only not possible, it will never be possible again if you and TEC continue on your Gadarene journey of unbiblical apostasies. It is you who have embraced “erroneous and strange doctrines” contrary to God's Word that you vowed to “drive away”. It is you and your fellow bishops who have embraced pansexuality thus causing a de facto schism in the Anglican Communion. It is you and your crowd that forced the ACNA into existence. Had you not abandoned the faith, none of this would be happening.

The only “conclusion” for SCOTUS will quite probably be to decide whether or not you get the $500 to $800 million dollars worth of properties. If you don’t, will you then say the “wilderness” was worth wandering in? Will you continue perpetuating the lies that TEC is a viable Christian denomination when most of the Global South won’t have a thing to do with you, while they do recognize Bishop Mark Lawrence?

What will the “wilderness” look like if you lose the next two appeals? Will you come out of it and say, “We lost? God bless you Mark, you won the property and theological war; and when I end up in Hell one day, will you give me water to quench my thirst?” Or perhaps you will join Rumi the Sufi on a plain beyond good and evil, Frank Griswold’s utopian vision of the Book of Revelation.

Your letter is too disingenuous by half. You may temporarily placate your followers with soft words, but we all know this will end badly. Even if you win, you will be left with dozens of expensive (to maintain) but empty churches. How can it be otherwise?

Perhaps it might be worth ruminating on: What should it profit a bishop if he gains all the properties but loses his own soul? That’s worth thinking about.

END