Today, Wednesday, January 12, 2022, the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America consented to the election of the Very Rev. Chip Edgar as bishop for the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina.
“When the Archbishop told me the College had consented to my election, I thought of the words of King David, ‘Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?’” said Edgar. “I am humbled by the trust that has been invested in me. By God’s grace, I will serve His church to the best of my ability to prove worthy of this call.”
Bishop Mark Lawrence, retiring diocesan bishop of the Diocese, said, “This is most heartening to me on multiple accounts. I’m giving thanks to God for Bishop Edgar’s election and for what it heralds for the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina.”
Edgar was elected on October 16, 2021, during a special Electing Convention of the Diocese held at Christ Church in Mt. Pleasant. Dean Edgar had been the Planting Pastor, Rector and Dean of The Cathedral Church of the Apostles (Diocese of the Carolinas) in Columbia, SC, where he has served since 2004. During that time, he oversaw the growth of the church from a core group of 25 to an average Sunday attendance of nearly 400.
Prior to serving in Columbia, he served as the Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn, IL from 1997 – 2004; as the Canon Pastor at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando, FL from 1994 – 1997 and as the Curate at St. Paul’s Church, Chattanooga, TN from 1993 – 1994. Dean Edgar and his wife, Beth, have been married for 32 years. They have five grown children and a new granddaughter.
Bishop Elect Edgar will be consecrated March 12, 2022 at the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston, South Carolina.
In addition to Bishop Elect Edgar’s consent, the College of Bishops consented to the election of the Venerable Dan Gifford for the Anglican Network in Canada.
The College of Bishops met for this time of discernment in the consecrated space of Prince of Peace Church in Melbourne, Florida.
Archbishop Beach said, “It is with great joy that the College of Bishops has consented to Bishops-elect Chip and Dan. We look forward, as co-laborers in Christ, to proclaim the great news of His kingdom with them in North America.”
Read the press release from the Anglican Church in North America.
