General Convention Summary (Last Blog Post)

I’m closing my General Convention email and blog with this posting.

The Episcopal News Service has published a concise summary of the recent 77th General Convention.  That content is pasted below.

I'll start back with my Morning Reflection blogs on Wednesday.  If you are interested, check it out at http://lowellsblog.blogspot.com/  Here's what's on that blog each week:

     (1) On Sunday or Monday – Next week’s scripture readings with suggested questions for your reflection and with a link to a practice of Lectio Divina for praying with the scriptures.

     (2) Most weekdays (starting Wednesday, Aug.1) – a brief Morning Reflection that I write about the day’s readings for the Daily Office. 

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If you would like to continue to keep up with news and commentary about the Episcopal Church, here are some suggestions.

Episcopal Café  http://www.episcopalcafe.com/   

            Four blogs:  The Lead, Video, Daily Episcopalian, and Speaking to the Soul.

I think The Lead keeps an especially good finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion.  (disclosure: Speaking to the Soul picks up my Morning Reflection four days a week)

The Episcopal News Service does a great job of posting news about the church and picking up media articles from around the nation. 

You can subscribe for email updates:  http://www.cctomany.com/sub/ens

Connect on Twitter:  @episcopal_news

The Episcopal Church has an official Facebook Page and Twitter account:

Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/episcopalian

Twitter @iamepiscopalian

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Highlights and overview of the actions and activities of the 77^th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, July 5- 12, 2012, Indianapolis, IN

Overview

• We welcomed guests, visitors and ecumenical partners from throughout the Anglican Communion and the world.  The 10-day program in Indianapolis was attended by almost 850 deputies (lay and clergy) and 165 bishops, and viewed or read about online by more than 60,000 unique visitors, including videos played more than 44,000 times, via the Media Hub, Episcopal Church social media sites, Public Affairs page, and Episcopal News Service throughout the course of the convention.
• General Convention addressed more than 450 resolutions on topics ranging from church structure and governance, to liturgies, social issues and approval of the Church budget for the next triennium, cast against the Five Marks of Mission (listed at the end). New leadership for the House of Deputies also was elected.

• Stories and video about General Convention can be found at http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/gc2012/and http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/
• Highlights are summarized below and further information about specific resolutions can be foundhttp://www.generalconvention.org/
     

Church Structure

• Church structure: a special task force of up to 24 representatives from all parts of the church will meet in the next two years to review reforms to structure, governance and administration. (C095) Overall, nearly 100 resolutions were presented to the Committee on Structure and, although most were similar, the Committee on Structure considered the many options offered in making the final recommendation. At this time, no decisions on changes have been made. There will be a special gathering from every diocese to hear what recommendations the task force plans to make to the 78th General Convention. The final report is due by November 2014. 
• The numerous resolutions including asking the Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church to study the current budgeting process and matters of financial oversight (A122), and proposing an amendment to the constitution that would help dioceses that want to merge with another diocese or divide itself into two dioceses to do so without requiring sitting bishops in all dioceses involved (A102).  The House of Bishops approved a move away from, but did not authorize the sale of, the Episcopal Church Center headquarters (D016).

 Liturgy and Blessings

• Much discussion was held, and significant national discussion ensued, on our denominational response to same-sex blessings (A049). The approved liturgy is for provisional use, meaning that the diocesan bishop has to grant approval for use in his/her diocese even in those states where same-sex marriage is legal.  The resolution is effective the first Sunday in Advent 2012 (December 2).
• Baptism as the normative entrance into Holy Communion (C029).
• With the bishop’s permission, congregations may use the lectionary in the BCP rather than the Revised Common Lectionary (B009).

• Other resolutions included authorizing a task force to study marriage (A050) and  new rites and prayers for pastoral responses to people caring for animals, including the death of a pet (A054). 

Budget, Pension and Development

• General Convention approved the $111,516,032 budget for 2013-2015. The budget is based on the Five Marks of Mission (see attached).and calls for a 19 percent asking each year of the Triennia. 
  
  
• Bishops rejected several resolutions attempting to postpone implementation of the Episcopal Church Medical Trust. 
  
  
• Dioceses and parishes will have an additional three years to provide parity in health insurance cost-sharing between lay and clergy employees. That deadline is extended until Dec. 31, 2015. (B026) 
  
  
• Resolutions also passed to establish a Development Office to solicit major gifts and other resources (D025) and to create a pilot student loan fund for seminarians who agree to three years in under-served areas of the Episcopal Church (D049). 

Ecumenical Relations and Pastoral Topics

• Anglican Covenant: General Convention affirmed the commitment to building relationships across the Anglican Communion, especially through the Continuing Indaba program, but declined to take a position on the Anglican Covenant. 
  
  
• The 11-year relationship of full communion with the ELCA was commended and asks the Lutheran-Episcopal Coordinating Committee to address areas where Episcopal and Lutheran practices differ, especially who can preside at Holy Communion and the role of deacons (A036).  The status in the Episcopal Church of pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who had been ordained by other pastors and not by bishops also was clarified (A158).
  
  
• The Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations was directed to initiate dialogue between the Episcopal Church and the Mormon Church in anticipation of General Convention 2015 in Salt Lake City (D081).
• Resolution A030 establishes how clergy who want to leave the Episcopal Church for another part of the Anglican Communion can do so without renouncing their Holy Orders.  Separately, canons were amended to provide a mechanism for addressing disagreements in the pastoral relationship between a diocese and its bishop (B021).
  
  
• Several resolutions enact a series of revisions to Title IV, the clergy discipline canons, to fix some errors while maintaining the underlying principles of the canons (A033/C049).
  
  
• A resolution was passed to develop a network of retired Episcopal executives to assist dioceses and parishes, modeled on SCORE (D066).

Government Legislation 

• Israel-Palestine: General Convention supported a resolution on positive investment in the Palestinian territories. Bishops agreed to postpone indefinitely the conversation on corporate engagement. In addition, positive investment in the Palestinian Territories was affirmed and the church was called upon to support “the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian study on peace with justice in the Middle East (B019).”
• The Convention urged Congress to modernize the nation’s refugee resettlement program (B028). In addition, Congress was urged to halt to the Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s practice of detaining people suspected of being in the country illegally without filing any charges against them (D059).  Also, Congress was urged to pass the DREAM Act (D067).
• Congress also was called upon to repeal federal laws, such as the Defense of Marriage Act, that discriminate against same-gender couples who are legally married in the states where that is permitted (D018).  

• The U.S. government was asked to enact stricter controls on the use of carbon-based fuels (D055).
•  

Evangelism and Mission

• All Episcopalians are being called to be evangelists to help grow the church (D023) and a “social media challenge” calling upon every congregation to use social media in its current and future forms (D069).

• An “HIV Welcoming Parish Initiative” effort was created to help congregations to become more engaged with people living with HIV/AIDS (A167). 
      
• A resolution confirmed solidarity with the poor and indigenous people who bear great burdens because of climate change, with special mention to the Inupiaqs of Kivalina, Alaska (B023). For more information on the Inupiaqs and Kivalina, visit http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/wayfarer/
  
  
• A churchwide response to bullying was passed (D022).
• Support for the transgender community by adding gender expression and identity to two canons that prevent discrimination: the ordination discernment process is open; and guarantees equal place in the life, worship and governance of the church.

Additional details available at Episcopal News Service: http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/

Elections

• The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings of Ohio was elected President of the House of Deputies. Byron Rushing of Massachusetts was elected Vice President of the House of Deputies. 

• Executive Council elections: The House of Deputies elected seven lay and two clergy members: Lay members elected for six-year terms are: Joseph S. Ferrell of North Carolina, Anita P. George of Mississippi, Fredrica Harris Thompsett of Massachusetts, Karen Ann Longenecker of the Rio Grande, Nancy Wonderlich Koonce of Idaho, and John Johnson of Washington (DC). Lay person Elizabeth L. Anderson of Connecticut was elected for three years. Clergy members elected for six-year terms were the Rev. Susan B. Snook of Arizona and the Rev. James B. Simons of Pittsburgh.

• Eight bishops received approvals to their consent process: Atlanta, New Hampshire, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, Texas (Suffragan), Virginia (Suffragan), Western Louisiana, and Western Massachusetts. Related, General Convention approved a change in rules so elections held close to General Convention no longer need to go to General Convention for the consent process.

Anglican Five Marks of Mission

• To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
• To teach, baptize and nurture new believers 
• To respond to human need by loving service 
• To seek to transform unjust structures of society 
• To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

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It was an honor to serve as a deputy from Arkansas to the 77th General Convention.

 I've rarely felt prouder of the Episcopal Church or gladder to be part of this wonderful denomination.  I find myself encouraged and optimistic about the health and vitality of our church.  I think we are in an ideal position to respond to the needs of our time with the gospel of Jesus Christ and to connect people to the grace and reality of God.

Lowell

 

General Convention, 2012 - The Last Day

Thursday, July 12, the Last Day

General Convention notes

8:00 a.m. -- Legislative Session

We started with a fine prayer written by Steven Charleston:

Do not doubt the faith that brought you this far, do not doubt the hope that you still carry. I know that your journey has been a long one, with enough disappointments along the way to discourage a saint, but you trusted yourself to make this climb, you believed in who God made you, and you took the chance. Don't quit now. Don't turn away. The outcome may not go according to plan, but it will be a blessing. You did not come this long distance to miss the moment when you know the destination was worth the trip. Sometimes to have faith, you just keep moving.

We made several procedural changes to speed legislation.  We'll try to pass all of the "discharge" motions as a group.  We'll try to let non-controversial resolutions go through without speeches of advocacy.

On the fun side:  I started the day in third place in Bonnie Ball - bonnie-ball.org - but I imagine competition will be fast and furious today.

Some notes about things going on outside the hall.  A waiter at a restaurant near the Convention Center asked who we are?  The Episcopal Church General Convention, was the answer.  Well, the waiter said, I wish you could stay forever.  You are the nicest bunch of Christians we've had here.  Usually these church groups just make me mad when they are here.

Yesterday was "dress like Secretary Gregory Straub Day."  Gregory is known for his bow ties and his colorful sports coats.  Ted Holder lent one of his to me (and tied it for me).  There were macrame bow ties, balloon bow ties, and one youth representative just wrote "Bowtie" on a piece of paper that he pinned to his collar.

Our first order of work will be to deal with resolutions that originate in the House of Deputies.  If passed, they will go to the House of Bishops for their consideration.

 We passed several resolutions dealing with internal things --  the discipline and structure of the church.  Then we passed things having to do with external things.  We passed a resolution encouraging refugee resettlement.  We passed a resolution opposing the Immigration Enforcement's Secure Communities Program and racial profiling.  A deputy asked what is racial profiling, calling it a fiction.  A dark-haired Anglo deputy from Arizona offered a litany of experiences she has had -- being pulled over four times for equipment malfunctions her auto mechanic cannot find, having to show her passport to prove her citizenship or risk jailing until she could.  We passed a resolution calling for a shift of rhetoric from war language to criminal language as we oppose terrorism worldwide.  We passed a resolution of solidarity with communities who bear the greatest burdens of global climate change: indigenous peoples, subsistence communities, and the poor; asking for movement away from fossil fuels toward more sustainable alternatives.  We passed job creation legislation.  We made a moral commitment to health care for all.  

11:00 a.m. We had our closing Eucharist.  Presiding Bishop Jefforts Schori preached.  The lection included a passage about refraining from arguing and urging agreement within the church.  Nice quote from the P.B. - "We won't all agree before the second coming.  But there is but one and only rule:  Love one another."  She cited St. Augustine's famous dictum, "Love God, and do what you please."  Deep down, the Body of Christ has memory of trustworthiness.  Maybe we can really learn how to love everybody in the church.  "Take a flying leap into the future and toward the other," she said.

After Lunch, a deputy from Dallas read a statement from a group of bishops and deputies who object strongly to the Conventions actions to create blessings for same-sex relationships.  After the statement he invited deputies who agree with the statement to stand.  A number of deputies did so.  Most of the South Carolina deputation has left.

We passed a number of things in a block of work, especially things to be discharged or referred to an interim body.  We passed resolutions for small congregations, for older persons, an anti-bullying resolution, a measure commending labor organizing and resources such as those provided by the Interfaith Worker Justice, a resolution requesting bishops to distribute "A Prophetic Clergy Call to Action", a measure requesting every church to declare themselves as "Gun Free Zones", an endorsement of anti-racism training, a condemnation of threats against sexual minorities, a resolution opposing dangerous fracking. 

A resolution recommending we return to a 10-day convention passed.  I'm very glad.  The current 8-day convention is way too rushed and pressured, and it leaves little time for things like small-group Bible study, presentations, meditations, and things that help inspire energize and educate the church.

All of the measures I've mentioned above must go to the House of Bishops for their action.  We now take up items that we can act upon with finality because they come to us from the House of Bishops.

We agreed with the Bishops to move the Church Center away from its current (expensive) headquarters in New York City.  The Social and Urban Affairs committee passed resolutions to deter backlisting of workers, condemn the practice of wage theft, move toward full inclusion of persons with developmental disabilities, and create an alternative to the prison pipeline.

It seems that the House of Bishops have finished with everything.  We don't have anything else to send to them. 

I was able to get all of our committee's legislation through in my last presentation.  I think the Daily Prayer resource will be something the church will treasure for generations to come.  And while introducing our new set of prayers for animals, I got a lot of Bonnie-Ball points.  I think I've got a great chance for a solid second place finish.

Wait!!  I've just gotten word that my last at-bat was a grand slam -- I've passed Secretary Straub for first place in Bonnie-Ball.  He still gets last chance as we wind down.  I'm betting his final announcements will give him the victory.  But I'm proud of a solid second.  

I think we are very close to having all of the resolutions handled.  Amazing.  

The "open communion" resolution came back to us.  The bishops struck the sentence "We also acknowledge that in various local contexts there is the exercise of pastoral sensitivity with those who are not yet baptized."  That's disappointing.  We voted to concur nonetheless.   

We've made it to the courtesy motions.  I'm going to try to send this out anticipating near adjournment.

It's been a privilege to serve as a deputy to this convention.  It is an historic one in several ways.  It also re-confirms my affection and respect for this institution -- the General Convention -- and renews my love for this Episcopal Church.  I LOVE this Church. 

  

Lowell

Wednesday, July 11 -- General Convention Notes

Today's Notes from General Convention

Wednesday, July 11, 2012 -- General Convention Notes

7:30 a.m.  Our committee had hearings on four resolutions.  Most of the comments were directed toward the conversation about which Bible translations to add to the authorized versions for public worship in the Episcopal Church.  Earlier in the convention, when we introduced the resolution recommending several translations that had been vetted and studied by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music and another filed resolution, there was an amendment from the floor to add the English Standard Version (2007).  That amendment passed and the resolution passed.  But when a deputy read a passage from the ESV than many would regard as a poor translation slanted toward condemnation of gay Christians, it was moved and passed that the resolution be returned to the committee.

There was a lot of passionate testimony at the hearing -- both pro and con -- about the ESV.  It is a Bible with a strong evangelical flavor -- a bishop said it was the successor of the Geneva Bible, strongly reformed, somewhat Calvinist.  But much of the material that many find particularly offensive or of questionable scholarship is in the annotations and commentary rather than the translation itself, which is what we are considering.  One person said the translation was a project that James Dobson of "Focus on the Family" had a large hand in.  Many evangelical Episcopalians very strongly prefer the ESV.  We already have translations that use similar phrases and English words for some of the "clobber passages," as the verses are sometimes called that are used to defend interpretations that define gay intimacy as essentially sinful.  

Our committee chose to refer the resolution to the Standing Commission for Liturgy and Music, since this translation was not part of their earlier study, and to ask them to make a report back to the next General Convention.  Since the recommendation for the ESV came from the floor of this Convention, some felt they didn't have the time and resources to evaluate it.  We hope to adopt the Common English Bible (2001).  I imagine this will provoke a floor fight.

The committee went through the other remaining legislation, concurring with Bishops on their changes to "Daily Prayer for All Seasons."  We referred some resolutions promoting more work to create digital liturgical resources.  We referred all marriage issues to the new Task Force on the Theology of Marriage.  

9:30 Eucharist -- First:  a link to the text of the sermon from Monday by Dr. Mary Crist,  and the sermon yesterday by Albert Cutie.  

Today is the Feast of St. Benedict.  A favorite!  We are using rite one and the music is contemplative and beautiful, led by the Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls of Christ Church Cathedral here in Indianapolis.  A delightful sermon by someone I didn't know and whose name wasn't in the bulletin.  (I'll follow up about her later.)  She did some wonderful reflections on the three promises of the Rule -- stability, obedience and conversion of life -- richly interpreted from the original latin words.  Here's a link to the sermon.  But I want to quote from a great riff toward the end of her message, about the way we welcome in the Episcopal Church.

11:15 a.m. Legislative Session.  We are dealing with the Budget today.  The enabling resolution was presented.  We had a Committee of the Whole period where people could make statements about the budget.  The PB&F Committee offered response.  We had some time talking in small groups.  

After the lunch break we returned to the budget.  I'm delighted that John Tisdale is in the deputation and is carefully following the presentations and conversations.  If you've got a question about the budget, he's your guy.  I'm like Sargent Schultz on "Hogan's Heroes" -- I know nothing....   NOTHing...  NOTH.....ING.  (not too good with numbers)  The budget as presented by PB&F held off three amendments and was adopted overwhelmingly.  A HUGE job.

We voted for 18 spots (two per province) for the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop.  I was delighted to be elected as one of the representatives from Province VII.

We passed a resolution calling for humane treatment of those imprisoned in Cuba for religious reasons.  (must go to the Bishops)  We concurred with the bishops to endorse a robust resolution for working to confront poverty, supporting Asset Based Community Development and to work with faith-based groups such as PICO, IAF, Gamaliel Foundation, the DART Network, and the Inter-Valley Project.

We had a VERY lively discussion about a nuanced resolution dealing with the discussion about access to communion, or open communion --  

Here is the text:  "Resolved... that The Episcopal Church reaffirms that baptism is the ancient and normative entry point to receiving Holy Communion and that our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to go into the world and baptize all peoples.  We also acknowledge that in various local contexts there is the exercise of pastoral sensitivity with those who are not yet baptized."  It appears that there are many who are very uncomfortable with this, wishing to re-assert the canons that communion is for the baptized.  There was a call for a vote by orders.  The Arkansas deputation voted for the resolution.  The results:   

Lay:  85 Yes / 16 No / 9 Divided -- passes with 77%

Clergy:  70 Yes / 24 No / 16 Divided -- passes 64% 

Some clever somebodies have posted a fun web site called "Bonnie-Ball" at www.bonnie-ball.org .  Points are awarded according to various behaviors that have some impact on the way the House does its work under the leadership of our President Bonnie Anderson.  Secretary Straub has a commanding lead in points.  I wore our deputation's Hog Hat for my most recent presentation of a resolution -- that's worth 5 runs. 

We passed an important resolution about implementing the Lay Health plan.  It is phased in and has the support of the Episcopal Schools association.  We passed a resolution commending stricter controls for carbon emissions and to encourage our lobbying on behalf of that.  During a resolution endorsing a DREAM Act, a member of the Youth Representation told the story of her father, who was undocumented until an amnesty in the Reagan days allowed him to attain legal status.  He went to MIT where he met her mother.  It was a touching story.   

We voted for the office of Vice President of the House of Deputies.  A great slate.  Lots of good people to choose from.  Byron Rushing, a long-time deputy leader who serves as a legislator in Massachusetts was elected.  

We ended the day thanking the Youth Presence for being here.  Maria Taylor from St. Paul's has been part of the official presence, and I think she's had a great time.  The youth have added a lot to our convention. 

Lowell