Perhaps they are not entirely in error when accusing those who oppose their agenda of being "haters". I hate what has happened to the Episcopal Church. I hate the policy of "litigate till they capitulate" resulting in a ruinous cost far more than financial. I hate the condemnation for those who disagree with the revisionist agenda forced upon them. I loathe that the God of their Gospel is always doing a "new thing" mostly bizarre and sexual being presented as always affirming but without hope of transformation. I hate that their Gospel is communicated in a manner to sound sincere but when examined is a worn out thing that the world readily sees through and ignores. I hate that orthodox and conservative Episcopalians are forced to choose between leaving their church or surrendering their beliefs. I hate that in the name of tolerance and inclusion Biblical Christians are treated with intolerance and excluded. If this is what it means to be a "hater" then I must proudly count myself as one.

I recently watched a PBS special featuring the presiding bishop with the Bishop of Louisiana on their initiative to fight racism. Given my experience I believed this to be one issue in which I could readily support. My first parish was recognized for intentionally bridging the racial divide that had existed for centuries on Johns Island, South Carolina.

On October 18, 1986 as the combined choirs from the African-American Community sang during communion for the dedication of The Church of Our Saviour, Gray Temple retired Bishop of South Carolina sat in the sanctuary with tears streaming down his face. Taking me in his arms this Godly man who in the 1960's had suffered mightily for his support of racial integration said to me, "Today history has been made on this island. I never thought I would live to see it."

On another night Elijah "Buddy" Freeman, a respected leader in the African American community and dying from a body ravaged by cancer during a service honoring The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King suddenly leapt up and began dancing in the spirit. With every step he regained his size and strength as the congregation cheered while busting into applause. As a young man God had given Buddy a vision that he would live to see in his words "white and black folks worshipping together on this island." He told me he danced to honor God because that evening in St John's AME Church there were as many white folks as black attending a service to honor the life of Dr. King and God had allowed him to see it before he died.

During his interview with PBS the Bishop of Louisiana suggested that his clergy needed to walk their parishes in order to know what exists around them. How ironic he would choose this image when just a few blocks away Melissa Harris-Perry teaches political science at Tulane University. Dr. Harris-Perry, a well known academic and broadcaster, recently used her television show to ridicule the family of Mitt Romney for adopting an African-American child and including his picture, along with the rest of the family, in their Christmas Card. She felt comfortable doing this because they are white and conservative, yet this unabashed racism seemed to have passed unnoticed from Episcopal Church leadership.

The news from South Carolina bodes no better for the Episcopal Church. On March 15th during its 223rd Diocesan Convention the diocese voted unanimously to accept oversight by the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans taking the important step toward affiliation and confirming its legitimate status with the majority of the Anglican Communion. On March 18th the South Carolina Court of Appeals once again ruled against the Episcopal Church in favor of Mark Lawrence and South Carolina. If the upcoming court case scheduled for this summer proves as favorable as recent rulings the Episcopal Church should be prepared for even more decline as its ability to control is further eroded.

The presiding bishop has been sending indicators that she may consider standing for another term. At this stage it may be her way of asserting herself by having a little fun at the expense of her critics or she may testing the waters for support. As much as I would consider this poetic justice for the neo-liberals who assured me it will not happen I hope they are correct for her sake as well as for the church. Her re-election will continue the inevitable decline accelerating as the money dries up forcing her colleagues in the House of Bishops to save themselves and hopefully their dioceses.

When this occurs all that will be left is the support of a few outraged ideologues blaming it all on the "haters" and holding on to the "Earnestness of being Important."

Ladson F. Mills III is a priest with over thirty years pastoral experience. He is retired and lives with his wife in South Carolina. He currently serves as Scholar in Residence at the Church of Our Saviour, Johns Island. He is a regular contributor to Virtueonline