Final Reflections and Departure

This will be my last post from the 77th General Convention. Yesterday the buzz around tne House of Deputies was that the deputation from South Carolina had left the convention feeling that they could not in good conscience stay after the liturgies to bless same genger unions was passed. Two deputies from SC remain I think. This is sad because I think there was a generous spirit at this Convention. The Episcopal Church truly allows for all sides( I think). So what do I take away from this Convention? This is my 3rd and I am more tired this time than in 2003 and 2006. The schedule is not in my perspective a good use of time and does not model a balanced life. I get that committees need to meet but what would happen if the number of resolutions were reduced and that more time was spent on sharing about mission and ministry in our contexts? I know...it will never happen. I do hope that the structure conversation continues but what about from a fresh perspective employing the Benedictine Promise of Obedience, Stability and Conversion so that folks are called upon to listen to one another and God. No agendas and no Roberts Rule of Order, just listen and pray. When speaking on a particular issue speak from the heart and experience before automatically dismissing a resolution. If you don't agree share from the heart why and not from what others think. By all means inform your argument from your relationship with God but be open to other points of view which occurs when speaking from the heart( at least it can). So that is the conclusion of my comments and I look forward to getting home on Friday afternoon.

Restructuring and Blessings

Good Morning from General Convention. There are two days of legislation remaining until the conclusion of the 77th General Convention. Yesterday afternoon deputies approved to continue to continue conversation about the Anglican Covenant rather than reject it outright which some wanted to occur. The budget for the next three years was presented and will be voted on today, a momentous vote that was unanimous about the process to restructure and approval of the use of rites for same sex blessings. Though this convention has been so compressed a good deal of work has been done well. There have been moments but General Convention highlights our humanity and our struggles with one anoher. God is in the middle of it all though at times..one wonders. We are all a tad tired and looking forward to getting home. Likely one more post on Thursday.

Israel and Palestine

Yesterday afternoon the House of Deputis took uo two resolutions about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Both passed the house but they were flawed in many ways. For one thing they did not recommend the Church to study and reflect on the Kairos document or the curriculum, Steadfast Hope. We passed on both which was not what many had hoped for. I had a hard time with the folks who voiced oppostion to these resources saying that they were not balanced and we must hear the Israeli side. Really? Let me state that I support the state of Israel and have traveled to the Holy Land both in Israel and Palestine nine times over the course of the last thirty years. I love the country and the people and it is where I felt called to ordaind ministry while at college. However what is happening at the moment is horrendous and tragic. I get that many of us are not there and I wish to support the Bishop of Jerusalem and the Diocese and by no means wish to compromise the good work that is happening there. But to say we need balance because Israel is threatened with extermination, what about the people in Hebron and Ramallah and other towns and villages in the West Bank who face daily checkpoints and discrimation? The resolutions passed are a first step but we still don't have the courage to stand with the oppressed which is what we are called to do.

Get Up and Get Moving Into the Word

The Presiding Bishop in her sermon on Sunday Morning encouraged those in attendance to get up and get moving into the world. It was a good sermon and then we went back to work and I realize how hard that is going to be for us. Two examples from yesterday's legislative session. We have not debated many of the "hot button" topics that will come before the house in some form. Many of the discussion to date have dealt with "motherhood and apple pie" issues. This I think is part of the problem we face. To many resolutions that do not need to come before the house. Two in particular: One dealing with naming September Lay Ministry Month and the other enocuraging every parish to practice holy habits during Eastertide. Well as I sat listening to good faithful people debate the merits of these issues,I thought, "Ought we not to practice these things every day?" Each day we are to encourage one another in ministry and spiritual practices ought not to be limited to one season of the year. We have four more days of legislatve session with many important issues to come,it will be a long for days if we get bogged down with these kinds of resolutions. Get Up and Get Moving.

We Have To Be Crazy

At the Daily Eucharist on Saturday,, Michael Curry, the Bishop of North Carolina, preached and we had Church! Yesterday was the Feast of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Bishop Curry encouraged us to go out into the world and be Crazy! Crazy to love our enemies, Crazy to work for Justice, Crazy to Love. It was a powerful meesage and in addition there was a steal drum band playing hym favorites. All in all a wonderful morning. The legislative day was not so exciting. As an alternate I have the chance to stretch my legs and walk around the convention Center and not listen to some of the tedium that occurs on the floor of the House of Deputies. It is hard sometimes to discern the will of God and the Spirit of Jesus in resolutions about structure and governance. And yet we are an incarnational Church and God is in the midst of the change and the messiness of life and of General Convention. Go forth and be Crazy for God!

Structural Change

Good Morning from the begining of the 3rd business day of the 77th General Convention. Deputies and Bishops are hard at work getting legislation to the floors of both houses. This will continue through the weekend and business will speed up as we move to Thursday and Convention's conclusion. As I mentioned in my last post there is a great deal of dicussion and debate about how the Church will look and conduct business in the future. Will we truly live into becoming a Missional Church for the world or will we continue to struggle with yaars of isolation and continued decline. Other issues that we will be dealing with the next couple of days include a resolution about the Palestinian and Israelie conflict and how to advocate for peace and justice. There was a great deal of debate about in the next three years selling the Church office in New Yok City and moving to a new location(To be determined at a later time). Many issues coming before the house of deputies at the moment have had little debate but that is going to change soon. Contuinues to be not here.

Keep Watch Dear Lord

The night has come upon us and the first day of legislation is past. Deputies are tired and it is only the first day. Today was full of orgizing the House of Deputies in the morning, followed by the opening Eucharis, legislation meetings and an afternoon business session. Nothing major yet has come before the Deputies and Bishops. I was struck this evening how so many of the resolutions that I listened to today impact the lives of people who are on the margins: people of color, the poor, LGBT, HIV/AIDS. The Church has to find her voice and continue to listen and be with people where they live. It is such important and powerful work. I attended some of the discussion this evening around structure. This is going to be a long and at times agonizing process. Everything will likely be on the table and there will be pain. It has to be and it wil not all shake out in the next week. How do we become a missional Church and at the same time continue what we love. How do we worship and go forth into the World proclaiming the Good News of Jesus. There is so much to do and yet we must not get so caught up in changing the institution to the detriment of the people we love and care for.

And So It Begins

July 4th was orientation and hearing from the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies. They each shared their vision for the Church and their hopes for this convention. Afterwards I attended the legislative session for Social and Urban Affairs. The spirit at the moment of these committees is very generous and faithful to the work that is before them. Social and Urban affairs took up resolutions about encouraging each Church Committee to always reflect about how what they do impacss the poor. Also they heard testimony about how to reform the prison system. I also briefly sat in on discussions at the Prayer Book and Liturgy Committee and the Committee on Structure. The Delaware deputies are working hard and long hours and we thank you for your prayers and good will over these next eight days.

July 2nd and 3rd: Arrival and Settling in

There is not much to report as many of arrived yesterday afternoon and evening. It is hot in Indianapolis as it is in Delaware. This is my 3rd convention, having served as a deputy in Central New York in 2003 and 2006. Along with the business that will begin on Thursday, General Convention is also about connectig with people and listening and sharing stories of our lives and of the Church. These next ten days are a huge undertaking and I pray that we leave here energized and renewed(though a tad tired as well) to accomplish good things for the Church in Delaware.