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THESE POSTS ARE IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER WITH THE MOST RECENT FIRST.
To add your voice to the conversation, please post a comment on our General Convention Blog.
Go to www.generalconvention.blogspot.com
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Correction and Apology
In my email and blog from General Convention on Sunday, June 18 I reported something that was untrue and I want to make
an apology and a correction. I passed along an unsubstantiated rumor that the Bishops of Dallas and Fort Worth had told their
diocesan ECW's not to participate in the Triennial and that was why there was no representative from those dioceses present
to present a check at the Triennial UTO Ingathering service. That was incorrect.
The Diocese of Fort Worth had representatives to the Triennial who had to leave before the UTO service on Saturday. The
Diocese of Dallas does not have a functioning ECW or UTO chair right now and did not have representatives attending the Triennial,
but Dallas has contributed over $25,000 to the UTO. The vacancies in the Dallas ECW and UTO are not because of any directive
from their Bishop. I apologize to both Bishops and to both dioceses. Bishop Jim Stanton is a long-time friend whom I love
and admire very much. It would have been easy to check out that rumor with him or his staff or deputation (several friends
there too). I feel very bad about the misinformation.
Let me make a plug for the United Thank Offering, a major outreach ministry of the Women of the Church. The tradition
is that you keep a "blue box" in a convenient location, and every time something happens that you are thankful for,
you offer an outward and visible sign of your thanksgiving by placing a coin or bill in the box. Many parishes have a UTO
fall ingathering on the Sunday closest to All Saints' Day and a spring ingathering on the Sunday after Ascension. You can
give your UTO money to your parish or diocese at any time and they will send it in, usually through the diocese. Nearly $3
million was granted last year through the UTO.
Lowell
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One last PS from General Convention.
I'd like to give you links to the sermon by Jenny Te Paa to the UTO Eucharist. I thought it was exceptional.
Warning: she is a theologian; seminary dean from New Zealand; it is a fairly dense piece of preaching.
To read or download her sermon, go to: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/75383_76154_ENG_HTM.htm
The other sermon I'd like to promote is Presiding Bishop Elect Katharine Jeffort Schori's sermon at the final Eucharist.
To read or download her sermon, go to: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/75383_76300_ENG_HTM.htm
Beginning tomorrow, I'll resume sending my Morning Reflections based on the readings from the day's Daily Office.
It will be sent to the same email address that I've used for the General Convention reports.
You are welcome to continue on the list, but if you only wanted the General Convention updates and do not want to receive
Morning Reflections, it's easy to unsubscribe.
Send an email to lowell-request@arkansasusa.com
In the body of the email type (in all caps): LEAVE
You'll automatically be unsubscribed from the email list.
Lowell
P.S. Here are a few responses to the B033 resolution calling for restraint in episcopal elections. I was particularly
interested in Gene Robinson's thoughts:
Bishop Dorsey Henderson of Upper South Carolina, co-chair of the Special Committee on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican
Communion, described the resolution as "an appropriate and blessed way forward, strengthening the Episcopal Church, strengthening
the Anglican Communion, without closing any doors unnecessarily."
Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, a member of the committee, said it is "the best that we can do," conveying
hope that the Anglican Communion realizes the process has been the result of a compromise.
"It's a relief to me because my hope is that we can stay in communion and continue the conversation and affirm the
Windsor process," she said. "Having this vote in both houses says to the Anglican Communion that we are very serious
about our relationship."
Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire expressed some disappointment with the resolution because it does not affirm the
role of gay and lesbian people in the church, but seemed encouraged by the seriousness with which the Episcopal Church has
grappled with the issues in public.
"The church has a picture of the wide diversity in this church and people have been remarkably honest and loving
in all of this," he said in an interview after the vote. "I have been approached by all kinds of people who have
felt called to vote for this resolution in order for us to continue the conversation with the Anglican Communion."
Robinson encouraged support for Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori "in every way possible...to give
her everything that she can have in her pocket to go to the primates meeting, to go to the rest of the Communion," he
said. "In some sense, having given the Anglican Communion what it asked for regarding gay and lesbian members of this
church, we'll be looking to them to see if they were serious about wanting to be in conversation about this, or whether they
wanted this to end the conversation."
Describing the process as a journey, Robinson acknowledged that there will be bumps in the road.
"This is not what we hoped for, but it's what we have, so I'm much more interested in talking about tomorrow than
I am about today or yesterday," he said.
Bishop Mano Rumalshah of Peshawar in Pakistan, one of more than 60 international visitors at General Convention, said
the resolution represents the best response given the circumstances.
"It could have been much more but at least it keeps the door open and allows the dialogue to continue and let's rejoice
in that," he said. "Let's not give up. Let's not draw the lines too hard. Let's continue to have hope in humanity
and each other and in God's spirit that, yes, things can go on."
PPS: Thanks to everyone who read all these reports and thanks for all of your prayers.
Lowell
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Wednesday afternoon -- the passage toward adjournment
The afternoon session is a calmer house, looking to take care of as many resolutions as possible. Many of these are significant.
We passed a resolution about Iraq, one crafted with the support of the Bishop for the Armed Services, asking our government
to "develop for implementation a plan for the stabilization of Iraq, to be followed by the prompt withdrawal of U.S.
Armed Forces."
We have a series of resolutions acknowledging the sin of slavery, our church's complicity and economic benefits gained
because of slavery, an apology, and an agreement to a journey of reconciliation. We are called to think about what we should
do and report back to the 76th Convention. Part of the moving testimony included a quote from a prayer by a 19th century
Bishop of Virginia who led a prayer among a group of slaves commending them for accepting their role of service and sacrifice
as God's will for them in this life. I asked the deputy for the book so I can look it up. The quote was from Harold Lewis'
book "Yet With A Steady Beat" p. 43.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has sent a response to our passage of B-033
"There is much to appreciate in the hard and devoted work done by General Convention and before that by the Special
Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in the crafting the resolutions. This and the actions taken
today show how strong is their concern to seek reconciliation and conversation with the rest of the Communion.
"It is not yet clear how far the resolutions passed this week and today represent the adoption by the Episcopal Church
of all the proposals set out in the Windsor Report. The wider Communion will therefore need to reflect carefully on the significance
of what has been decided before we respond more fully."
We've continued to pass more legislation in concurrence with the House of Bishops. Including the Liturgies for Transitions
that our Prayer Book Committee worked on so hard. We've referred a bunch of stuff to the Executive Committee for their action.
We've added some Lesser Feasts for trial use. We passed money and program for rebuilding in Louisiana. We passed a study
about seminarian debt. We passed another piece of our response to the Windsor Report, affirming a listening process.
I know some parishioners will be pleased to know we passed a resolution about creation and evolution:
"That the 75th General Convention affirm that God is Creator, in accordance with the witness of Scripture and the
ancient Creeds of the Church, and be it further,
Resolved, that the theory of evolution provides a fruitful and unifying scientific explanation for the emergence of life
on earth, that many theological interpretations of origins can readily embrace an evolutionary outlook, and that an acceptance
of evolution is entirely compatible with an authentic and living Christian faith; and be it further,
Resolved, that Episcopalians strongly encourage state legislatures and state and local boards of education to establish
standards for science education based on the best available scientific knowledge as accepted by a consensus of the scientific
community; and be it further
Resolved, That Episcopal dioceses and congregations seek the assistance of scientists and science educators in understanding
what constitutes reliable scientific knowledge."
We passed recommendations for Nonviolence Training and for Reconciliation Training. Kathy will be pleased with a resolution
supporting efforts to achieve accessible, affordable, high quality, universal health care and commending organizations such
as our own Community Clinic at St. Francis House.
We authorized Interim Eucharistic Sharing with the United Methodist Church, recognizing that the UMC is "a member
of the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church in which the Gospel is rightly preached and taught" and encouraging our
mutual prayer, common study, joint programed and mission. We welcome members of the UMC to receive Communion in Episcopal
Churches. It also set up policies for the sharing of worship and Interim Sharing of the Eucharist as well as future dialogue.
I am told that this policy has already passed in the Methodist Church.
We ran out of time before being able to deal with some resolutions concerning Israel and Palestine.
We closed with George Werner leading us in the Prayer of St. Francis, his voice breaking as he finishes his service in
this office for the church he loves so much.
We are adjourned!
Thanks be to God!
Lowell
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Wednesday, June 21 -- the last day of General Convention
Presiding Bishop Griswold celebrated and PB-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori preached for our final Eucharist this morning.
Our own Cindy Fribourgh was the Deacon for the service.
Bishop Schori's sermon was as good as any sermon we've heard during this Convention. I'll send either the text or the
web link once it is posted on the Episcopal Church site.
She spoke of her awaking early Sunday morning before sunrise, the morning after her election. It is an overcast day,
with rain in the forecast. As light was beginning, she went out to run. She told of meeting or passing by various people
-- hotel workers, newspaper deliverer, street person, two business people going to work, another runner, etc. And a rabbit.
She greeted each of these in some way. In each of these meetings, she said, there was some degree of wariness, however.
She invited us to dream of a world in which all human and other creatures meet in such a way that their meetings are not tinged
with fear.
Jesus said, "my Kingdom is not of this world." Jesus' kingdom is a kingdom in which there is no fear. Fear
has no impact in the presence of the cross. Jesus calls us friends, not agents of friends.
We will not be fearless until we find ourselves rooted in the soil of internal peace, planted in the infinite love of
God. Fear really is our idolatries of self-interest. We say, "that's mine; you can't take it, because I can't live
without it." If you threaten my self-interest, I will respond with fear. Unless we can respond like Jesus, who brings
us peace through the blood of the cross.
The Godly messengers always say to us, "Fear not." When we know ourselves to be God's Beloved, we are then
able to recognize another as Beloved as well, and we can reach beyond our defenses toward the other. We can lay down our
sword and shield, and seek the image of God especially in those we find hardest to love. We need to lay down our need for
power and control and see Jesus in the weakest and poorest.
I'll send a link or text of the complete sermon.
__________
We entered the legislative hall for a Joint Session of both the House of Deputies and House of Bishops.
As the Presiding Bishop said, "Would the deputies and bishops please take their places," there was a five-second
sound of rolling thunder from the storm that is passing by outside.
Bishop Griswold said that when he was elected as Presiding Bishop eight and one-half years ago, he called the church to
the costly discipline of conversion. He said then that the words conversation and conversion come from the same root. Conversion
is a new way of seeing one another, seeing Christ in one another. It is less a change of mind and more a change of heart.
Our Convention has passed two resolutions indicating our desire to commit to the Anglican Communion and to be in the conversation
about a possible Anglican Covenant, but we communicate to our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion that they have
been taken seriously, our further conversation is threatened and our bonds of affection will be further strained. For our
voices to be heard, we must communicate clearly that we have not ignored those who sincerely cannot understand our actions.
"Conversation works," said Bishop Griswold. He spoke of his experience at the Primate's meetings, which have
often been difficult. Sometimes he's had to receive quite a bit before he was able to give. Humility and restraint are necessary
precursors to conversation. Sometimes it appears that we are taking a step backward, but that step may be necessary before
we may go backward.
We have very different views in this church. Many believe that an expression of restraint constitutes a betrayal of our
gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, and have opposed the earlier resolutions. Others are looking for justification for
their intention to walk away, and have also opposed the proposed expressions of restraint. We have had an odd joining of
opposite ends to resist our making a statement of restraint. Bishop Griswold urged the great middle to express itself so
that we don't avoid taking steps that preclude conversation. Bishop Griswold looked toward Bishop Schori and said, "Give
the 26th Presiding Bishop a chance to be at the table."
What we yearn for has not yet been enacted. The Presiding Bishop asked both houses to consider the following resolution,
B-033 (starting in the House of Bishops):
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that the 75th General Convention receive and embrace the Windsor Report's
invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further
Resolved, that this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint
by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the
wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.
The Bishops left to begin their consideration of this resolution.
_________
Our House began to work through a prioritized series of resolutions. Most of the first ones have to do with our structure
and organization, how we do our business.
We're working pretty efficiently through our business.
One of the good pieces of work is the creation of a new Standing Commission on Lifelong Christian Education and Formation
to develop and recommend comprehensive and coordinated policies for children, youth, adults, and seniors for lifelong Christian
formation.
At 11:50 a bunch of bishops started walking into the visitor's section. They've obviously finished their work on B-033.
The rain has increased and provides an intense, roaring background for our conversation. It is getting more difficult to
hear.
Rumor has it that there was a failed attempt in the House of Bishop to amend B-033.
After noonday prayers, we are moving to suspend our rules in order to allow B-033 to be returned to the house. The rain
outside has silenced.
A series of deputies from conservative dioceses are trying under the Robert's Rules to prevent our consideration of the
resolution on the grounds that we have already voted not to reconsider a similar resolution. To my mind, this is an attempt
to sabotage the Episcopal Church by preventing us from making a statement to the Anglican Communion. If we don't pass anything,
they can then justify their attempts to deconstruct the Episcopal Church.
We passed the special order to allow the House to consider B-033.
Presiding Bishop Elect Schori has asked permission to speak to the house. We have granted that permission.
We are debating. Louie Crew, the founder of Integrity, has said that this resolution would "cut the tongue out of
the Holy Spirit." As we talk, it is becoming clear that there are liberal/progressive members who do not like this resolution
but will vote for it for the sake of our engagement of conversation with the Anglican Communion. One who called himself part
of the "mushy middle" said that he is troubled by the pull from the edges.
She spoke of living in a church with two minds. She offered an image of conjoined twins -- parts of two bodies united
in one being. When physicians/ethicists worry about separating those twins, they worry that it is wrong to separate those
twins unless they are both able to live. Our church is not really one and is not really two. This resolution is far from
adequate, she said. The language is extremely challenging, but it's probably as good as we can do today. She said she is
fully supportive of the place of gay and lesbians in our community. This is not slamming the door. But this is probably
the best we can manage at this point in our history.
South Carolina, Quincy, Fort Worth, and Central Florida have asked for a vote by orders.
Sally Johnson, chair of Constitutions and Canons, a grounded progressive said, "This resolution tears me apart.
It goes against everything in my very being. And as a gift to the Presiding Bishop Elect, I think we should give it to her."
Another progressive said that this is a resolution that gives in to the spirits of fear and timidity. A conservative said
that we need to sacrifice our personal needs for the sake of the whole church and approve the resolution. Another conservative
objects because this resolution is less than what we can do; send it back to the Bishops. A deputy from Virginia said we
have embraced a listening process, and this resolution will help keep us at the table, in part, so that the voices of gay
and lesbian Christians can be heard. A conservative said that this resolution is tossing a half a carrot to the rest of the
communion, defeat it. Another conservative spoke of his shame yesterday when we refused to be humble enough to speak to our
brothers and sisters Anglican Communion; we need to adopt this to say that we are listening.
The first amendment has been proposed to add the words "until the General Convention 2009" in order to give
a time limit to this commitment of restraint in episcopal elections.
Frank Wade, the chair of the Special Committee, said that the acts of one General Convention cannot bind another General
Convention. We could add these words to every resolution the house passes. This amendment doesn't add anything and complicates
much. A liberal deputy expressed his frustration that those who have been so critical of the actions of our Convention have
not been willing to be in conversation with us.
The amendment was defeated on a voice vote. The chaplain came forward to lead us in prayer before the vote on the main
resolution.
For me (and for most of us) this is a difficult and conflictive vote. For the sake of remaining in conversation with
the full Anglican Communion, we are denying some of the gifts that are ours and the potential for leadership from some of
our gay and lesbian leaders. If we pass this, we do so on the backs of some of my friends; some of the priests who I hold
in highest regard and hope one day may be bishops among us. I voted "yes" along with the rest of the Arkansas deputation,
but I felt my throat choke as I cast my vote.
The Electronic results of our vote by orders is:
Needed to pass:
Lay: 72, yes; //21,no // 11 divided -- Yes 72 // 32 No & Divided 77%
Clerical: 75, yes; // 24,no // 10 divided -- Yes 75 // 32 No & Divided 76%
The resolution carried.
Lowell
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Tuesday Afternoon
We've tried unsuccessfully a couple of times to reintroduce A161 (the Election of Bishops) to give the house a chance
to consider (for the first time) the wording as it was originally offered from the Special Commission. Rumor around here
has it that we'll get a chance to add it as an amendment to another resolution from the Special Committee.
We've made some progress on a resolutions calendar that is far behind. Dispatch of Business will have to work up a list
of resolutions that will take priority since we are unlikely to be able to act on all of the matters that have been filed.
After lengthy discussion the deputies concurred with the bishops to confirm Barry Beisner who was elected Bishop by the
Diocese of Northern California. Beisner has been divorced twice and married three times. Although that was not an issue
in his diocesan election, it has been heatedly debated at General Convention. His election was confirmed, but not without
considerable dissent.
We passed the Budget.
We concurred with the House of Bishops on a first reading of the Constitutional change that would give all bishops voice
in the House of Bishops but give vote only to bishops having jurisdiction and bishops holding an office created by General
Convention. It also defines a quorum as a majority of all Bishops entitled to vote. There have been times when the House
of Bishops has had trouble getting a majority vote because of the large number of retired bishops who are absent but who are
counted for a quorum.
We adjourned at 6:00 p.m. and returned for an evening session at 7:30.
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Tuesday Evening
The chair announced that the Presiding Bishop has called for a joint session of both houses tomorrow morning. The assumption
is that Bishop Griswold wants the houses to work together on our response to the Windsor Report. The Special Committee is
working with the Presiding Bishop and other leaders to perfect some alternative language for us to consider tomorrow. I assume
we would have to suspend the rules in order to do that. Some powerful negotiating is going on.
Our first consideration tonight is A159 -- Anglican Communion: Commitment to Interdependence in the Anglican Communion
This resolution reaffirms "the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of church that constitute
the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible..." Our house had already passed
this resolution on June 14. It was amended by the House of Bishops in a way the bishops felt protected our autonomy. The
Committee believed that the Bishop's insertion sent conflicting messages. A conference committee re-wrote A159, and we now
are considering that substitute resolution. The intent of the resolution is to say we have a basic commitment to the Anglican
Communion. The voice vote to affirm our commitment to the Anglican Communion sounded unanimous. Amazing!
The next resolution is the more controversial "Anglican Covenant Development Process" resolution. It is imagined
that a Covenant process would take nine years in taking form. There are at least three possible forms of Covenant that have
been imagined -- theological, canonical, or relational. This resolution only asks us to support the idea, follow it, and
report back. It is not a commitment to a form of covenant or to accept whatever may be proposed. There is some suspicion
that this is a "blank check" resolution. Will we be included the process of the creation of a Covenant? There
is nervousness that we will be committing ourselves to something about which we will have little influence. The resolution
is carefully crafted so as not to commit us to a Covenant but rather to get us in the conversation about whatever Covenant
might be developed within the Anglican Communion. The house voted overwhelmingly in favor of the un-amended resolution.
There is some momentum building.
We've just extended the time of adjournment. It is ten minutes until 9:00 p.m. We want to take on the major work of
amending the Canon III ordination canons. This is big work to try to make the processes for ordination for deacons and priests
more similar, and to delineate the formation processes more clearly. This is a 38 page resolution. It's been a hot topic
of conversation and study. There are new policies for receiving and forming clergy being received from another denomination.
The excellent work of the committee was rewarded. At 9:20 p.m. we passed the Canonical changes without amendment. We're
cooking!
We'll start a little earlier tomorrow.
Lowell
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Tuesday, June 20
Morning Eucharist. House of Deputies President George Werner preached today, using verses from Psalm 85 -- "Mercy
and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Alan Jones' new book has an alternative
translation -- "Mercy and truth have collided together; righteousness and peace have crashed into each other."
The truth of heaven and the truth we experience on earth are different. Yet we imagine and work for a community where there
is a balance of mercy, truth, justice, righteousness and peace. (Righteousness and justice are from the same root, he said.)
George says that he has found truth in all of the groups he has visited during the 500+ trips he has taken during his
presidency. He has found the truth in all, but the whole truth in none of them.
Each day at the Eucharist, we have had table conversation following the readings and sermon. Today is our last day for
these table groups. My table (141) has developed a wonderful community during our time together. We are a priest from Rhode
Island (and his wife, occasionally), a lay woman from Western North Carolina, a priest from the Virgin Islands, a lay man
from Alabama, a gentleman who works in the diocesan office in Los Angeles (I don't know if he is a priest or a lay person).
Two of us are persons of color, one is gay. Occasionally we had others visit our table. Yesterday, we were invited to tell
stories about when we have experienced the presence of Jesus in community. One woman told a story of a flood that nearly
killed her entire family. She lost everything. And the church was there for her. Our friend from Los Angeles told about
his grief when his partner died of AIDS (I think it was about 15 years ago). The church was with them both. A woman told
of the death of one of her 4-year-old twins many years ago. The church was with her. Recently, the surviving twin and his
wife just gave birth to twins. It has been a moving and wonderful privilege to get to share these times of worship and conversation
at our tables.
My friend the deputy from the Virgin Islands told a story this morning about the 1976 Convention. He said he came to
that meeting with his mind made up to vote "no" on women's ordination. He said, "I listened and I prayed.
When it came time to vote, I voted 'yes,' and I had great peace about that."
____________
When we returned to the legislative session, we came back to consider Resolution 161. Since this is the most critical
piece we may debate, let me re-write the resolution for you.
A161 -- Election of Bishops
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, that the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church regrets the extent
to which we have, by action and inaction, contributed to strains on communion and caused deep offense to many faithful Anglican
Christians as we consented to the consecration of a bishop living openly in a same-gender union. Accordingly, we are obliged
to urge nominating committees, electing conventions, Standing Committees, and bishops with jurisdiction to refrain from the
nomination, election, consent to, and consecration of bishops whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church
and will lead to further strains on communion, and be it further
Resolved that this General Convention not proceed to to develop or authorize Rites for the Blessing of same-sex unions
at this time, thereby concurring with the Windsor Report in its exhortation to bishops of the Anglican Communion to honor
the Primates' Pastoral Letter of May 2003; and be it further
Resolved that this General Convention affirm the need to maintain a breadth of responses to situations of pastoral care
for gay and lesbian Christians in this Church.
Resolved that this General Convention apologize to those gay and lesbian Episcopalians and their supporters hurt by these
decisions.
A substitute motion resolving to "effect a moratorium on the election and consent to the consecration of any candidate
to the episcopate who is living in a same gender union..." and "effect a moratorium on the authorizing of all public
rites for blessing same-sex unions" was ruled out of order. The criteria for the election of bishops is established
in our Constitution, which cannot be amended by a simple resolution from one General Convention. The first resolve would
require a change of the Constitution. Also, the Prayer Book rubrics give to the Bishops the authority for authorizing rites
of worship not provided for in the Prayer Book so the second resolve would require a change of Prayer Book rubrics which is
also a two-convention process. The substitute motion was ruled out of order.
We took a vote by orders on the A161 text. This is the text as amended by the General Convention Special Committee #25.
I was not pleased with the amendments that the Committee made to the original resolution A161 which came from the Special
Commission. (note the difference; it matters -- Commission [met prior to Convention and wrote the Special Report) and the
Committee [which has worked the resolutions for the Convention]) The Arkansas deputation voted for the committee's resolution
A161. (I was the only "no" vote.)
The result of the vote by orders was:
Lay: 38-yes // 53-no // 18-divided // (sum of no & divided -71) -- failed in the lay order
Clergy 44-yes // 53-no // 14-divided // (sum of no & divided -67) -- failed in the clerical order
There are still a few ways we can revisit the issues. Some of the language of A161 can be added to a later piece of legislation.
My guess is that we will find a way to introduce the original language from the Commission. We'll see.
Lowell
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General Convention, Monday, June 19 --
Whew. It's been a full day.
This is a long email (I couldn't get to a pause long enough to get an earlier email sent). The "hottest" stuff
is toward the end.
Picking up on something from yesterday. The Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican communion spoke
to Convention yesterday. He spoke of the four strands of the Windsor process: (1) the Panel of Reference, to offer slow,
careful consideration of the relationships in communion; (2) the Small Group which is assessing the Episcopal Church response;
(3) the Listening Process which began last January, to monitor and share information about local listening processes; (4)
the Anglican Covenant, there is interest in the possibility of an Anglican Covenant (although there is little interest in
the text about the covenant in the Windsor Report). He imagines a 6 to 9 year consultative process to create such a Covenant.
__________
Also yesterday, the House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops recommending some fundamental principles on
immigration, following the recommendations of the report "The Alien Among You" as the policy of the Episcopal Church:
1. Undocumented aliens should have reasonable opportunity to pursue permanent residence.
2 Legal workers should be allowed to enter the United States to respond to recognized labor force needs.
3. Close family members should be allowed to reunite without undue delay with individuals lawfully present in the United
State.
4. Fundamental U.S. principles of legal due process should be granted all persons.
5. Enforcement of national borders and immigration policies should be proportional and humane.
And we further resolved that the Episcopal Church deplores any action by the Government of the US which unduly emphasizes
enforcement, including militarization of the border between the US and Mexico, as the primary response to immigrants entering
the US to work. There were two other resolves connected with this resolution.
The issue and policies became more personal with the story told by Dianne Aid. Her home parish was very excited a little
over a year ago when they were able to hire a Hispanic/Latino Missioner and Youth Director. Juan is Mexican born and has
lived in the U.S. for 20 years (originally coming as an undocumented 14 year old). He was adopted by an Episcopal priest
and his wife, an ESL teacher. He graduated from a U.S. college, English became his dominant language and U.S. culture his
dominant culture. In the late 90's, Juan gained legal status through a religious worker visa. Due to a paperwork glitch
and a lost in the mail application for an extension, Juan's visa lapsed. Their parish re-petitioned -- Juan left in December
for his visa interview. Six months and $8,000 in attorney fees later, he is stuck in Mexico while U.S. immigration sits on
his request for a waiver. Juan is one individual of millions separated from family, his job and community by our broken immigration
system.
__________
Picking up with today (Monday), our Prayer Book and Liturgy Committee believes we finished all of our work during this
morning's session. We approved a resolution that would urge development of a pastoral plan for future revisions of the Book
of Common Prayer; we simplified a resolution acknowledging the authority of the Triune God as exercised through scripture;
we passed a resolution authorizing beginning a discussion about the relationship between baptism and Eucharist, recognizing
the canons that prohibit communion to the un-baptized and the wide practice of ignoring of that canon in congregations and
dioceses who promote an open communion; we passed a request to create prayers for the death of a companion animal. All of
these resolutions will now go to the House of Bishops for action before coming to the House of Deputies.
__________
When we reconvened, the Diocese of Fort Worth made a formal appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion
requesting alternative oversight following the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop. Bishop Iker of
Fort Worth has left the convention.
I've had a chance to talk to several friends who are bishops, and each of them said they were surprised by her election.
There was no "campaigning" or "politicking" they said, but a slow rising tide of quiet consensus kept
growing. Each of them said that it felt like the Spirit was truly at work. I sensed among them a feeling of awe and gratefulness
about how their voting process evolved. One bishop said it was as if this was the first time (in a long time) that they simply
voted their hearts rather than strategizing and thinking politically.
__________
This afternoon began with the presentation from Program, Budget and Finance. Pan Adams is the chair of PB&F and lead
that presentation. If I'm reading the budgetary stuff correctly, we have a budget of over $152 million. To balance the budget,
the church management will have to effect staff cost reductions of $825,000 through attrition and retirement. If every diocese
gave their asking, we'd have over $8 million more. Quite a number of dioceses contribute little or nothing to the Episcopal
Church budget, including Dallas, 0%; Quincy, 0%; West Texas, 1.2%; Central Florida, 1.9%; Tennessee, 1.9%; Navajoland Mission,
2.1%; Fort Worth, 3.2%; and the following dioceses did not provide their diocesan reports and no pledge was listed: Western
Kansas, South Carolina, Springfield.
Our largest increase in spending during the next triennium will be with Millennium Development Goal related projects of
several kinds.
__________
Late this afternoon we began to take up two of the resolutions from the Special Committee #26 (I think I referred to it
incorrectly as #25 in earlier emails) on the Episcopal Church's response to the Windsor Report. There is more energy around
these resolutions than anything else that we've considered.
The first resolution A160 is titled "Expression of Regret." Here is the resolution that passed with 68% of
the vote:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, that the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, mindful of "the
repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation enjoined on us by Christ" (Windsor Report, paragraph 134), express its regret
for straining the bonds of affection in the events surrounding the General Convention of 2003 and the consequences which followed;
offer its sincerest apology to those within our Anglican Communion who are offended by our failure to accord sufficient importance
to the impact of our actions on our church and other parts of the Communion; and ask forgiveness as we seek to live into deeper
levels of communion with one another.
After lengthy discussion, the final wording above included substituting the word "straining" for the committee's
proposed phrase "breaching the proper constraints of."
We were unable to finish debate and take up possible amendments to the next resolution from the Special Committee, the
Election of Bishops, A161.
I am unhappy with the first resolve in this resolution, and especially the changes that the committee made to the original
wording from the Special Commission.
Here's the text as it is now proposed:
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, that the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church regrets the extent
to which we have, by action and inaction, contributed to strains on communion and caused deep offense to many faithful Anglican
Christians as we consented to the consecration of a bishop living openly in a same-gender union. Accordingly, we are obliged
to urge nominating committees, electing conventions, Standing Committees, and bishops with jurisdiction to refrain from the
nomination, election, consent to, and consecration of bishops whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church
and will lead to further strains on communion, and be it further
Resolved that this General Convention not proceed to to develop or authorize Rites for the Blessing of same-sex unions
at this time, thereby concurring with the Windsor Report in its exhortation to bishops of the Anglican Communion to honor
the Primates' Pastoral Letter of May 2003; and be it further
Resolved that this General Convention affirm the need to maintain a breadth of responses to situations of pastoral care
for gay and lesbian Christians in this Church.
Resolved that this General Convention apologize to those gay and lesbian Episcopalians and their supporters hurt by these
decisions.
We extended the afternoon session to almost 7:30 to finish the opening debate on this resolution. We'll begin with it
tomorrow, hearing proposed amendments.
Two changes from the original wording proposed by the Commission have damaged this resolution in my mind. In the first
resolve, the previous version read "we urge nominating committees, electing conventions, Standing Committees, and bishops
with jurisdiction to exercise very considerable caution in the nomination, etc..." I might have lived with that. But
the new "refrain from" language bothers me. I keep thinking of Martin Luther King's letter from the Birmingham
Jail written to those moderate, compromising clergy who were saying "now is not the time, please stop agitating, we're
not ready yet." Let the Holy Spirit constrain us, if we must be constrained -- as seems to have happened in the recent
election in California -- but I do not like constraining the Holy Spirit through this kind of external legislative process.
Our debate was hampered by a malfunctioning automated system for tracking the order of speakers. That was frustrating
to all. We'll pick back up with A161 "Election of Bishops" tomorrow when we reconvene at 10:45 following the Eucharist.
Since our committee finished its work, I can sleep late tomorrow! Thanks be to God.
Lowell
________________________________________________________________________
Sunday later
The election of a woman as the Presiding Bishop has prompted both celebration and wonder. Beside the usual questions
-- how will this play in...? One thing I noticed. There were no sad faces among the youth. The kids here were all very
excited. How cool! We've got a woman PB, they were saying. This will play well among young people, they are saying, especially
for those who think of the church as woefully square and old-mannish.
We passed major legislation in support of MDG (Millennium Development Goals) late in the day.
_________________________________________________________________________
Sunday afternoon
As we reconvened we received the results of the earlier vote by order. The resolution for Delegated Pastoral Oversight
passed overwhelmingly.
The worship resources Enhancing Our Worship was encouraged for us, including on Sundays.
A wonderful new service for Renewal of Ministry with the Welcoming of a New Rector passed. It's a great improvement to
the Prayer Book Celebration for New Ministry.
We also added some fine resources and additional rites following death.
We passed a resolution of pastoral concern for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.
We passed a resolution encourage the appointment and nomination of young persons ages 16-30 to serve in leadership.
The announcement of the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori, Bishop of Nevada who was elected by the House of Bishops
on the 5th ballot. The House of Deputies is required to consent.
Bishop Jefferts Schori was on the Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, on the board
of the CDSP Seminary. She's been a college professor. Our vote whether to consent or not to consent was a vote by orders.
The vote was: Lay Order -- yes, 93 / no, 8 / divided, 7; Clerical Order -- 94/10/4
Lowell
____________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, June 18, Day 6
At 11:08 we went into silence before beginning consideration of the first resolution to make it to the floor from the
Special Committee #25 charged with consideration of the resolutions prompted by our opportunity to respond to the Windsor
Report. A163 is a resolution providing for Delegated Pastoral Oversight to allow congregations "who do not feel able
to receive appropriate pastoral care from their own bishops" to delegate another bishop to provide oversight; it reconfirms
"maintenance of historic diocesan boundaries, the authority of the diocesan bishop, and respect for the historic relationships
of the separate and autonomous Provinces of the Anglican Communion." The argument in the house centered on the phrase
"when requested in good faith" as a characteristic for a request for delegated oversight. The phrase was retained.
Portions or all of the deputations from South Carolina, Fort Worth, Quincy and Central Florida called for a vote by orders.
Going back to Friday, something I didn't report earlier. The secretary general of the Anglican Communion commended the
Episcopal Church for the way we have responded to the recommendations of the Windsor Report. "General Convention is
a very careful body. I commend the Episcopal Church for the way it has taken seriously the requests of the Windsor Report,
and you see this seriousness in the way that business is being conducted on this particular issue at Convention. ...We need
to remember the Listening Process is a mutual process."
Another event that has set up some buzz around the convention is the screening of a rough cut of a movie, "Traces
of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North." This documentary tells the story of the DeWolfs, the largest slave-trading
family in U.S. history. The DeWolfs are also a prominent part of the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island. James DeWolf Perry
was the 18th Presiding Bishop. The film is produced and directed by a DeWolf descendant, Katrina Browne. She and nine other
family members retraced the route of the "Triangle Trade" in slaves, rum, sugar, and other goods as the family addressed
complex issues of atonement and reconciliation. It is hoped that the completed documentary will be shown on PSB eventually.
One of the things that troubles me is the selective way that some dioceses choose to participate in the General Convention
and the Triennial Meeting of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW). Yesterday when the dioceses of the church presented their
United Thank Offering gifts at the big service (some said more than 5,000 attended), it was pretty awkward when our Province
presented our UTO checks. Arkansas went first, then Dallas and Fort Worth were announced, and no one went forward. According
to our ECW Triennial participants, the bishops of both of those dioceses have told their women not to participate in the ECW.
It does seem encouraging that several diocesan bishops are present for this meeting who do not regularly participate in
other House of Bishops meetings. It is discouraging, however, that once again at this General Convention, whenever there
is a Convention Eucharist scheduled, there is another Eucharist occurring simultaneously nearby for those members of Convention
(deputies, bishops and others) who do not feel that they can share communion with the rest of the Convention. I believe that
has been happening ever since the ordination of women, though I could be mistaken. That saddens me, but it is a long-standing
reality of our church.
There is something else that doesn't sadden me but makes me mad. A number of dioceses have chosen not to contribute financially
toward their apportionment for the work of the Episcopal Church, They do not contribute, or do so minimally, to the general
budget of the Episcopal Church. (Some individuals in many of those diocese do send offerings to the budget as a sign of their
disagreement with their diocesan policy.) I got real irritated yesterday when an outspoken deputy from one of those dioceses
that does not contribute to the church's budget went to the floor to support a funding proposal. This was a proposal that
had not been through our budgeting process and seemed to me to be a financially irresponsible overspending. It really bugged
me when a deputy from diocese that has no money in the budget is arguing that we should be spending more for something he
supports. I'd like these dioceses to put their money up if that's where their mouths are going to be. Thus endeth the rant.
The House of Bishops is sequestered at Trinity Church nearby for the election of the new Presiding Bishop, who if confirmed
would become the 26th PB. They are in our prayers.
Yesterday the convention had events to honor, and roast, the outgoing Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold and the outgoing
President of the House of Deputies, George Werner. Our new president of the House will be Bonnie Anderson. Yesterday we
elected a new Vice-President, Brion Prior of Spokane. He was chaplain of the previous Convention, serves on the national
Executive Council, and is noted for his work with youth.
We have adjourned early, not having heard from the House of Bishops about their election. (They were supposed to call
after their third ballot.)
1:15 p.m. Sunday
___________________________________
Lowell
________________________________________________________________
Saturday Morning; Day 5; June 17
The Confession of Martha --
One of the well known feasts of our calendar is the Confession of St. Peter, remembering when Jesus asks the disciples,
"Who do you say that I am?" and Peter responds, "You are the Christ..." The annual Octave of Prayer for
Christian Unity occurs between the feasts of the Confession of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul. There is a lesser
observed confession in the Gospel which we noted by resolution yesterday, the Confession of Martha. In John 10, after Lazarus
has died, Jesus returns, albeit delayed, to Bethany, to a scene of great grief. Martha greets him, "Lord if you had
been here..." Jesus said to her, "'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they
die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord,
I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.'"
I don't have the resolution in front of me, but my recollection is that we approved referring the feast of the Confession
of Martha to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music with the hope that it will be included in the upcoming revision
of our Lesser Feasts and Fasts (LFF). Another note about LFF. One of the important considerations that is part of the evaluation
of any proposed addition to the LFF calendar is any local tradition of observance of a notable person or event. There is
interest in the possibility of adding the late Justice Thurgood Marshall to the calendar. He was an active Episcopalian,
the chief attorney who argued the famous Brown vs. Board of Education decision, and was the first African American Justice
on the Supreme Court (I think my history is correct). We typically do not add someone to the calendar until that person has
been dead for 50 years (there are exceptions). It would strengthen Justice Marshall's cause if, for instance, the parishes
he served celebrated a feast in his honor, or, for instance, there were an observance of the Brown vs. Board decision in Arkansas
churches. Just a thought.
Committees met again this morning at 7:30. We made some significant progress in Prayer Book and Liturgy. We finally
perfected the Liturgies for Rites of Passage. This is material intended for the Book of Occasional Services. It includes
Prayers for the Transitions of Childhood, Prayers and Rites for the Transitions of Young Adulthood, Prayers and a Rite for
the Transitions of Midlife, Prayers and Rites for the Transitions of Elders, Prayers for National Service (primarily military),
Prayers and a Rite for Remembering the Dead. Included in our work was an entire re-write of several prayers, including a
rite of betrothal, and the creation of the series of prayers for national service. In the "Blue Book" this material
is over 80 pages.
Just before we voted, I offered one more prayer (tongue-in-cheek) to be added in the section of prayers for Transitions
of Young Adulthood, just following the prayer After Moving From the Family Home. My addition was a prayer For the Return
Home of an Adult Child:
O God!
Bubba is back.
Increase the space between us.
May the work of his hands bring him satisfaction..., with insurance,
as we give you thanks again for regular lawn care. Amen.
The prayer was energetically received.
The committee also passed a significant resolution affirming that baptism is full initiation. Our resolutions, once they
have been acted upon by our committee, then go to the House of Bishops. From there they may be amended or approved or rejected.
They then return to the committee (if amended) or to the House of Deputies if approved.
Following the committee meetings we had the annual United Thank Offering Eucharist including the UTO ingathering. It
looked like a congregation of 4,000 filled the worship space. The sermon was given by Jenny Te Paa of New Zealand, Dean of
their seminary and a member of the Windsor Commission, as I understand. Her sermon was a seminal bit of preaching. I can't
do it justice with some sound byte quotes. I'm sure it will be posted on line. I'll send a link or the text when that happens.
It was a significant sermon, beautifully presented.
I am taking the afternoon off. Kathy is here and we're visiting with a seminary classmate who lives nearby.
Lowell
_______________________________________________________________
Friday Morning
At 7:30 a.m. committees got to work. We now have passed the 50-resolutions mark referred to the Prayer Book & Liturgy
Committee. We've still got tons of work to do. But Pan's job at PB&F is harder. She needs $5 million more to meet all
of the program requests presented to the appropriations committee of the church. We had hearings on two new resolutions presented
to us. One resolution directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to prepare rites for the loss of a domestic animal.
I'm for it. The other is a resolution acknowledging "that the Bible has always been at the centre of Anglican belief
and life" and declaring that "Scripture is the Church's supreme authority." (language from paragraph 53 of
Windsor Report) We had a lively and nuanced series of Q & A with the sponsor of the bill, one of my favorite deputies
Kendall Harmon. Kendall was on our committee last year and is one of the most articulate conservative theologians in the
church. He resisted amendments such as adding "Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture is the Church's supreme authority"
and other such suggestions. It was also suggested that the resolution might add language from the next paragraph 54 of Windsor.
The question Kendall's resolution raises concerns the relationship of the authority of scripture to the authority of God.
It'll be a fine debate.
Our preacher for today's Eucharist was Martha Horne the Dean of the Virginia Seminary. She did a lovely job dancing with
the oddly coupled themes of the feast of Joseph Butler and a Day of Celebration of Women's ministry. She created a complementary
tent enclosing law and love, reason and inspiration, male and female. Our music was led by a tight rock/jazz combo who offered
creative settings for plainsong, hymns and Eucharistic settings. It really worked! Put some ideas in my mind for some creative
worship.
At our table, one of our members talked about a parish group for elders at her church called "Wisdom Gifts."
The participants tell their stories, and in doing so they are better able to see how these are gifts from our "wisdom
people."
When the legislative session resumed, yesterday's vote by orders was reported. A proposal to cease the practice that
requires anyone elected bishop within 3 months of General Convention to be confirmed by General Convention was defeated by
one vote in each order, which means we will continue that tradition of voting confirmations.
A word about a vote by orders. The General Convention is a structurally conservative institution. Whenever anything
controversial (and some substantive things that may not be controversial) are to be decided, we will vote by orders. Here's
how it works. Each diocese has one vote in the clerical and one vote in the lay order. Adoption requires a majority of dioceses
voting in the affirmative in both orders. We poll the four members of each order to determine the diocesan vote. A 3-1 or
4-0 vote is "yes." A 1-3 or 0-4 vote is "no." A 2-2 is a divided vote and is counted as a "no."
Therefore, it takes considerably more than a majority to pass any vote by orders.
Friday afternoon
This afternoon (Friday) we had another vote by orders on the question of whether the church will adopt the Episcopal Revised
Common Lectionary as the lectionary of the church, with the current Book of Common Prayer Lectionary available as an alternative
until 2010. The RCL passed overwhelmingly on a vote by order (Lay - 77 yes / 32 no & divided; Clerical - 77 / 33. The
RCL is our official lectionary effective on the First Sunday of Advent, 2007.
Earlier today I took the morning off the floor and was able to go through the Convention Exhibit hall. Every three years
I order new clergy shirts and black suits during convention, taking advantage of Whipple's 15% off convention discount. In
the exhibits area I saw Madge Brown of Little Rock who is the primary exhibitor at the Community of Hope booth. I went by
the American Anglican Musician's booth where they were playing a DVD of the Arkansas Choir Camp at Subiaco that Charlie Rigsby
of St. Paul's directs. On the video I saw Linda Kelly directing a choir, and I recognized lots of the children singing. Great
fun.
Two other things in the air. We will be considering establishing interim Eucharistic sharing with the United Methodist
Church. Interim sharing means that we stand together with ordained members of both churches at the table in order to learn
more about each other. We spent many years of interim sharing with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America before moving
toward mutual recognition and intercommunion. Also in the air, confirmation of the election of the Rev. Barry Beisner as
bishop coadjutor of Northern California is being questioned because he has been divorced twice and married three times. That
fact was not an issue during the election, but has been raised since by people outside the diocese.
We threw/invested (you interpret) a bunch of money in church plants. There was some division in the deputation whether
that was a good idea. We'll let everybody defend themselves when when they get home. Sandy Powers was elected to the ECW
National Board as the Province 7 representative. Mandy Alford is the "honored woman" from the Diocese of Arkansas.
Seminarian Terri Daily is 40 today. Linda Nelson cam by the Arkansas room for a visit. Kathy's plane is delayed, and I'm
not happy about that.
Lowell
___________________________________________________________________
It is actually Friday morning. I ate a light meal and went to bed early last night. Feel much more rested.
I missed the forum on reconciliation last night, so I've included the Episcopal News Service report about it below.
By the way, to SUBSCRIBE to Episcopal News Service, send a blank email message, from the address which you wish subscribed,
to join-enslist@epicom.org and include "subscribe" in the subject line.
Episcopal News Service
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Danforth challenges Church to a "higher calling" of reconciliation
"Toward a Reconciled World" is theme of Presiding Bishop's Forum
By Matthew Davies
[ENS] The Rev. John Danforth, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, challenged the Episcopal Church to a "higher
calling" of reconciliation during Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold's forum: "Toward a Reconciled World."
The forum drew an audience of more than 500 people to the Greater Columbus Convention Center at 8 p.m. on June 15.
Setting the context for the evening, which formed part of the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Griswold
explained that God's concern is the world and not the Church.
An Episcopal priest and former U.S. senator from Missouri, Danforth said that the center of American politics has eroded
and "the common ground has been cut out because the most active and articulate people representing the political parties
are on the fringes."
A first-timer to General Convention, Danforth offered an "outsider's perspective," observing that virtually
all the public attention directed at General Convention had been on the issue of sexual orientation.
"I don't want to downplay the issues ... but I want to raise the basic question of whether that issue is the centerpiece
of the Episcopal Church," he said. "I believe that we have a higher calling, a more central message ... ours is
a special calling to the ministry of reconciliation."
Danforth said that the Episcopal Church has always represented the middle way, "where all sorts of people can come
together around the altar ... and have all sorts of different views.
"If God calls us to a ministry of reconciliation, how you conduct yourselves at this General Convention is very important
because it would be very hard for our church to offer ourselves as the broken answer to the world.
"A broken church is a sad church. If we can't exchange the peace with one another it's hard to explain to people
how we purport to be agents of peace.
"I plead with you to figure out a way to hold this together and put whatever you can into context of a higher calling."
Griswold honored Danforth with the Presiding Bishop's Award for Faith and Public Service.
Dr. Jenny Plane Te Paa, dean of the Anglican Theological College in Auckland, New Zealand, urged the Episcopal Church
to create a safe and inclusive space in which it might "consciously endeavor to engage public discourse," noting
that "God's reconciling work still happens best between human beings who are fully present, full visible and fully vulnerable
in the encounter."
Malaika Kamunanwire, director of communications for Episcopal Relief and Development, spoke about the church's response
to "healing the brokenness that comes from disaster, disease, chronic hunger and poverty."
Alex Baumgarten, international policy analyst for the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, spoke about advocacy
as a tool of reconciliation.
"The world possesses the knowledge, the resources and the strategies to end global poverty altogether. All it lacks
is the political will," Baumgarten said, referring to the Millennium Development Goals that "recognize all of humanity's
problems." He also acknowledged the ONE Campaign, with which the Episcopal Church has partnered to establish ONE Episcopalian.
"Finding the heart of God" was the theme of an address by Bishop Thomas Shaw of Massachusetts, during which
he described the witness of the Anglican Communion and "the reality that no one is alone. No one is isolated in God's
gift of the worldwide Church."
He reminded the forum of the millions of Anglicans throughout the world, "who every day are making the heart of God
a reality for serving and inspiring one another."
Music was provided by Isaac Everett, Stephen Hoevertz and Miles Kennedy.
-- Matthew Davies is international correspondent for the Episcopal News Service.
Lowell
_________________________________________________________________
Thursday, June 15; Day 3; Morning through 4:30 p.m.
While over 1,000 people packed the hall to participate in last night's hearing about the Special Commission's report in
response to the Windsor document, Pan Adams was chairing the Program, Budget & Finance (PB&F) spending hearings.
Almost 150 people attended; 51 spoke addressing 28 different ministries over a 2 1/2 hour session. Tonight, PB&F will
have a funding hearing to listen to how the church might fund its mission.
Our Prayer Book and Liturgy Committee hosted a hearing on resolutions that intend to reaffirm the words of the Prayer
Book that Baptism is full initiation in the church. The intention is to bring together over the next three years a diverse
forum of scholars and others to clarify the canons and constitutions and to promote a coherent model for lifelong formation,
education and training for growth in faith.
The issue is that Baptism is the initiatory rite of the Church and Confirmation is a pastoral rite. A pastoral rite is
not a credential rite, i.e. it is argued that it is inappropriate that one would be confirmed in order to do something that
you couldn't do if you were not confirmed (like serve on the Vestry, be a Lay Eucharistic Minister, etc.)
Speaking in support of the resolution were three giants of liturgical scholarship, Louis Weil, Lionel Mitchell and John
Westerhoff.
Dr. Weil said that we are still living into the theology of the Baptismal rite and Baptismal covenant which was fundamental
to the creation of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Confirmation classes are too limited in scope to meet the lifelong need
for formation. Formation needs a greater context. Too many people jump through the hoop to "get confirmed" and
then graduate from continuing education and formation.
Hearing Dr. Mitchell trace the history of the development of the church's initiation rites was like listening to Thomas
Jefferson talk about the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. He is concerned first that we confirm the integrity
of the sacrament of baptism -- it is sufficient, says Mitchell.
Dr. Westerhoff says that Confirmation has been carrying too heavy a burden. A ritual should be focused -- to do one thing
and to have related catechesis about that one thing. Confirmation has been used as the rite that is used (1) for a person
to become an Episcopalian, (2) as a rite of passage into adult responsibility for a youth's faith, and (3) the completion
of initiation. That's too much.
Then he gave us a quick teaching about catechesis (what we used to call "teaching" / the word means "christening").
Catechesis needs to be 3 things -- intentional, life-long, and related to rites of the church. There are three kinds of catechesis.
(1) Formation (or Nuture) -- a natural process; we all learn one way or another. Formation is our participation and practice
in our particular way of life. We we be formed in faith? How faithful will our formation be? (2) Education is critical
reflection / self-critical reflection. Education demands change, and can be transforming. (3) Instruction or training,
which gives us skills. Training is how we acquire knowledge (or credentials for tasks). We need all three in our life-long
teaching and learning in the church.
___________________
At our morning Eucharist, Presiding Bishop Griswold preached on the feast of Evelyn Underwood. When he was 15, a priest
lent him her book "The Life of Christ" which opened Frank's eyes to the interior life that energizes and sustains
our life in the world. Underwood's study "Practical Mysticism" argued that all Christians are called to intimacy
with Christ, not because it is what we want, but intimacy is what Christ wants. It is a misconception to equate mysticism
only with visions or dramatic emotions. Everyone can be a mystic. Mysticism is our call to a relationship of reunion with
Christ and with other Christians in the Holy Spirit, fostered in prayer. Our reading from Wisdom spoke of Wisdom not as a
body of information, but a person, an embodied relationship pressing into "holy souls" which "makes them friends
of God." Paul says that Christ is the Wisdom of God. John invites us into relationship with Christ -- abide wit me
and I in you. In that same passage Jesus calls us friends. The Spirit draws us together as friends and as friends of God.
How does that prepare us to be eager to serve the world in his name.
>From noonday prayers meditation: "If you really want to know a people, you need to know for what they hope."
____________________
We've resumed legislative activity. So far pretty routine stuff. The most heat generated today is about a resolution
calling for the development of materials "to assist the church to address anti-Jewish prejudice expressed in and stirred
by portions of Christian scriptures and liturgical texts..." A substitute amendment was offered to omit the reference
to scripture so as not to infer that there is any anti-Semitism in scripture. It was pointed out that we have a history of
interpreting some scriptural passages in an anti-Semitic manner. We concurred with the House of Bishops' resolution that
included the consideration of interpretations of scripture in those materials by a 68% to 32% margin.
Lunch break. First good sit-down meal I've had since I've been here.
We passed the first of the resolutions from the Special Committee #25 concerning our response to the Windsor Report.
This resolution reaffirms that the Episcopal Church is a "constituent member of the Anglican Communion... making a commitment
to the vision of interdependent life in Christ, characterized by forbearance, trust, and respect and commends the ideal expressed
in Sections A and B of the Windsor Report as a means of deepening our understanding of that commitment."
Some statistics on the number of resolutions at this convention compared with 2003. We had 336 resolutions in 2003, 332
in 2006.
I'm going to take advantage of a break to send this email.
Lowell
__________________________________________________________________
Thursday, June 15 -- The Feast of Evelyn Underhill (early morning)
It strikes me as I get ready to start work this morning that I left out one piece of background info concerning the Episcopal
Church's response to the Windsor Report, and that is to mention what we have already done to that end. (for some, this is
old news)
I'm not certain of the date, but about two years ago the House of Bishops declared a moratorium on the consecration of
bishops in the Episcopal Church up until this General Convention and declared a moratorium on the approval of public rites
blessing of commitments of same-gender couples. The church also responded to the Windsor request to explain why we made the
decisions we did in 2003 with the report "To Set Our Hope On Christ," a document that describes the Episcopal Church's
30 year conversation about the placed of gay and lesbian Christians in the church and establishes a Biblical, theological,
scientific and pastoral rationale for the decisions of the previous General Convention. (That publication is available through
St. Paul's bookstore. This was one of the documents we used during our parish conversation process last year.) The Episcopal
Church also voluntarily withdrew its representatives from the interim meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council and sent
its deputation a listeners rather than voting participants.
The report of the Special Commission that we had hearings about last night is the latest offering. It is the container
for the beginning of the 2006 General Convention's deliberations about how to respond to Windsor. By the way, that report
from the Special Commission is titled "One Baptism, One Hope In God's Call." One other technicality. The Special
Committee #25 of the General Convention which is charged with handling the resolutions concerning Windsor and the Anglican
Communion is different from the Special Commission. The Special Commission was an interim body which crafted the report;
the Special Committee is the General Convention body which is charged with the Convention's work on the report. There are
several members of the interim Commission who serve on the General Convention Committee.
At this point, the Committee's work is to discuss what they heard from last night's public hearing, revise and amend the
resolutions crafted by the Commission, and present to the General Convention the resolutions that we will debate. The three
C's -- Commission, Committee, Convention. It takes a little concentration to keep that clear. (I tried to do so in my report
from last night, but it was late.)
I'm getting ready to leave for our Prayer Book and Liturgy Committee's 7:30 a.m. meeting when (if I've got the time and
date right this time) Marion Hatchett, Louis Weil, Lionel Mitchell and Carolyn Westerhoff will appear to testify about a resolution
that would make Baptism full initiation into the church. The effect of this legislation would be to remove Confirmation as
a requirement for holding office or for exercising any other ministry in the Church. I'm pretty excited about hearing these
scholars. These are people whose books I've read for more than 25 years.
Lowell
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The Big Hearing; Wednesday Evening, June 14
Tonight was the big hearing for the Special Committee that is charged with crafting resolutions of response to the Windsor
Report. The crowd was too large for the largest ballroom at the Hyatt Convention Hotel. Each diocese got five tickets for
a reserved section. Most of the seats were "general admission." Many people could not get in.
My overall impression was to note that we may have a compromise that can stand up in the form of the report of the special
commission. There was vigorous opposition from both sides of the debate. "Conservatives" complained that the language
was unclear and should embody an unequivocal repentance and compliance with a conservative interpretation of the Windsor Report.
"Liberals" complained that the recommendations are part of a conversation that has excluded the voices of gay and
lesbian Anglicans and do not represent the testimony of the Holy Spirit. There were people from both "sides" who
commended the report as a comprehensive compromise.
The report of the Commission was the result of much work and prayer by a diverse group that worked together to craft resolutions
to consider in our response to Windsor. The report came out with unanimous support from that commission.
The resolutions that we were taking comment on tonight include these features:
We declare our intention to live into the highest degree of communion possible with the Anglican Communion and commit
to interdependence.
We express "our own deep regret for the pain that others have experienced with respect to our actions at the
General Convention of 2003 and we offer our sincerest apology and repentance for having breached the bonds of affection in
the Anglican Communion by any failure to consult adequately with our Anglican partners before taking these actions."
"...the Episcopal Church regrets the extent to which we have ...contributed to strains on communion and caused
deep offense to many faithful Anglican Christians as we consented to the consecration of a bishop living openly in a same-gender
union. Accordingly we urge nominating committees, electing conventions, Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction
to exercise very considerable caution in the nomination, election, consent to, and consecration of bishops whose manner of
life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."
We "affirm the need to maintain a breadth of private responses to situations of individual pastoral care for
gay and lesbian Christians."
We "concur with the ...exhortation to bishops" not to "authorize public Rites of Blessing for same-sex
unions, until some broader consensus in the Anglican Communion emerges."
Bishops who have authorized public diocesan rites are invited "to express regret that the proper constraints
of the bonds of affection were breached by such authorization.
(We didn't discuss the plan for delegated Episcopal pastoral oversight for congregations who are at odds with their own
bishop. Nor the support of the Millennium Development Goals as part of our joint mission in the Anglican Communion. Nor
did we directly address the commitment to an ongoing listening process or the possibility of the development of an Anglican
Covenant. Nor a recommitment to several "full and equal claim" resolutions from previous General Conventions.
Nor a resolution stating that "homosexual persons are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens."
Those hearings were at another time. I'll try to get some reports.)
The chair Frank Wade opened the evening saying that our main activity would be listening. Our norms: respectful listening,
undivided attention, no demonstrations of support or opposition, and the creation of a hospitable space. He quoted an old
saying: "If two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary.
_____________________________________________
Some comments from those who testified:
In 2003 the General Convention created a classical Anglican solution, incorporating compassion and compromise. It was
a both/and policy rather than a parliamentary either/or. Take care not to abandon that.
Windsor said in clear language "stop." Our language saying "exercise considerable caution" is unclear.
Quoting Frank Wade -- We do need each other, and the Anglican Communion needs us to do more than simply say the same thing
the Windsor Report is saying in a compliant single voice. Gay voices have been systematically excluded from every Anglican
Communion forum for thirty years. When the primate of South Africa invited gay Anglicans to speak to Lambeth, they were not
allowed. We need two voices to have conversation, not just compliance.
This set of resolutions is not perfect, but is comprehensive. It has unanimous support from a very diverse group. (comment
from an openly gay deputy)
Saying that we regret our failure to consult the Anglican Communion is not the same as saying we regret our decision.
We should say we regret our decisions in 2003.
We should have three more years of a moratorium on the consecration of new bishops. That will show how serious we are.
The motive of those who voted to consecrate Gene Robinson and to permit same-gender blessings was the movement of the
Holy Spirit. To say that we regret such decisions would be to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, the only unforgivable sin.
One who had visited in Africa told of how hurt our brothers and sisters there were. But they appreciated our presence
and our expressions of regret.
We should not repent of opposing oppression any more than Galileo should repent that the earth revolves around the sun
or of the church's support of integration or women's equality.
Bob Duncan, the Bishop who heads the Network, said that we have come to an impossible place. There can be no resolution.
Unless we comply fully with Windsor there must be a division. He and others will walk away. It is "comply or good bye."
Gene Robinson said the question is, do we recognize the light of Christ and the face of the creator in gay and lesbian
Christians or do we not see in them, like we have come to see in black and women Christians, the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
A person with connections with the Anglican Consultative Council said that her contact believes that the Special Commission
report fulfills the expectations of the Windsor Report and that it is an impressive balance of concerns which will be received
positively overseas.
It is a good balance. It shies away from naming a moratorium on incorporation of gay people until a consensus occurs
in the Anglican Communion, which means "never." And it shies away from saying that the Episcopal Church will simply
go our own way. That path is the path of conversation.
In 2003 we acted as we sometimes criticize our government of doing, we acted unilaterally. It is hubris to declare that
our understanding of the Gospel is superior to others.
The Windsor Report was prepared without the input of a single gay or lesbian voice. We were silenced.
For a true conversation to take place, Rabbi Ed Friedman said that you need three things: 1. Two people must face one
another. 2. They must have some distance between them so that they can be heard. 3. Static must be minimized. There is
nuance in both the Windsor Report and the Special Commission's report, and this responsible nuance creates space which allows
conversation.
____________________
The forum was handled in an atmosphere of respectful listening with the true sense that good committed Episcopalians come
to very different conclusions about these important matters. There were no personal attacks nor was there anything that I
heard that seemed inappropriate or unseemly. It was strong, passionate debate of the highest order.
Funny. We fell into chaos trying to operate voting instruments that were not much more complicated than a TV remote this
afternoon. Then we stood up to the highest standards of truth-telling and respectful, passionate debate this evening.
Lowell
_____________________________________________________________
Wednesday afternoon, June 14
Ooops. I don't care for facts very much. (Myers-Briggs ENFP) I told our deputation about the hearing our committee
was having with the fab four liturgists testifying. This was the John, Paul, George and Ringo of liturgy -- Weil, Hatchett,
Mitchell and Westerhoff at 2:00. So Bishop Maze and about half our our deputation showed up in a nearly empty room. Wrong
day. Wrong time. They'll be here tomorrow morning at 7:30. Did I say how far you have to walk to get to the Convention
meeting locations? Or how slow the elevators are? Dennis Campbell said it took 10 minutes to get to the Hotel (they are
a mile away); it took him 12 minutes to get to the Arkansas deputation room via elevator.
Our committee did some outstanding work to re-write the proposed betrothal/engagement ritual and replace a single proposed
prayer with a whole group of prayers for persons serving in the military and a couple of prayers for those who are conscientious
objectors.
We're voting for 12 persons to be elected to the Church Pension Fund. We have new electronic remote voting units. So
far the error rate is nearly 20%. We're longing for good ole paper hanging chads. Great confusion. 800 strong willed persons
trying to work something a little less complicated than your TV/DVD/CD/VCR remote.
We finally finished the vote after about 45 minutes of semi-chaos. After all of that, 96 of the 829 ballots were disqualified,
so by our rules, we'll have a paper vote tomorrow. (Jesus didn't pick his 12 this way. Or... maybe that explains Judas?)
The leader of the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund gave us a moving presentation of the needs and possibilities for
responding to the challenges of poverty, disaster and illness in the world. I'm hoping I can get a copy of his speech and
some of the statistics. Compelling stuff.
In our most substantive action thus far, Pan Adams, the chair of the Program, Budget & Finance Commission presented
the mission priorities for the church in the upcoming triennium. PB&F ranked the priorities in the following order:
1. JUSTICE AND PEACE: Promoting justice and peace for all of God's creation and continuing and accelerating the leadership
role and programs of the Episcopal Church, which support the eight Millennium Development Goals in the dioceses of the Episcopal
Church and in the world.
2. YOUNG ADULTS, YOUTH AND CHILDREN: Reaching out to young adults, youth and children through intentional inclusion
and full incorporation in the thinking, work, worship and structure of the Church.
3. RECONCILIATION AND EVANGELISM: Reconciling and engaging those who do not know Christ by participating in God's mission
of reconciling all things to Christ and proclaiming the Gospel to those who are not yet members of the church.
4. CONGREGATIONAL TRANSFORMATION: Revitalizing and transforming congregations through commitment to leadership development,
spiritual growth, lifelong learning, dynamic and inclusive worship, greater diversity, and mission.
5. PARTNERSHIPS: Reaffirming the importance of our partnerships with provinces of the Anglican Communion and beyond
and our relationships with ecumenical interfaith partners.
Lowell
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Tuesday evening & Wednesday Morning
The House adjourned at 6:15 p.m.; some committees, including mine, began meeting at 7:00 p.m. Dinner was bourbon and
cheetoes in the diocesan hospitality room (didn't get to go to U2 Eucharist)
The Prayer Book & Liturgy Committee debated the use of the Revised Common Lectionary becoming the Lectionary of the
Episcopal Church by Advent, 2010. There is strong support for the use of the RCL because of its ecumenical nature, because
most liturgical study resources are keyed to the RCL, because it includes more readings that focus on the stories of women
in the Bible, because the Epistle readings are more coherent and divided in a more understandable manner, and because there
is less material that can be interpreted as anti-Semitic. Our committee will move its adoption. (Our parish has been using
RCL for some time; I personally prefer it.)
We also did almost two hours of creative work to edit and perfect a whole series of liturgical resources and prayers for
pastoral purposes during life transitions. We also formed three sub-committees to work on areas that needed a little more
attention. I am knocked out by the talent and breadth of knowledge and experience of the people on this committee. Good
work. We finished about 9 p.m. The subcommittees will meet between then and 7:30 in the morning.
Earlier in the day, the Archbishop of Canterbury conveyed a message of greeting, assuring us of the prayers of the Church
of England and the Anglican Communion. He thanked us for the work our Commissions and Committees have done in responding
to the Windsor Process and encouraged us to work to find some "common convictions about what it is to live and into make
decisions as the Body of Christ."
Public hearings about the Title IV disciplinary canon revisions are generating a great deal of hesitancy and argument.
There is a great deal of energy in support of the Millennium Development Goals.
_____________
Day 2, Wednesday, June 14 -- AM
7:30 a.m. legislative committees resume. Our committee took up the additions to Lesser Feasts and Fasts. I was particularly
taken with origin of the nomination of Bertha & Ethelbert to the calendar. It is the result of a pilgrimage made by a
group of young people to Canterbury Cathedral from their church in Frankfurt, Germany. The youth were so taken with the story
of the French woman Bertha who established a chapel in Canterbury and then helped lead her husband Ethelbert to baptism, that
the kids came home to write and perform a "rap" version of that story for their diocese. It is their diocese that
has moved the adoption of the feast.
Except for the feasts that were approved at the previous Convention (Florence Li Tim-Oi, Janani Luwum, Philander Chase,
William Temple, and Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis), all of the nominated feasts will be referred to the Standing Commission on
Liturgy and Music. That Commission is half-way through a full-scale revision of Lesser Feasts and Fasts. We approved the
principles for the revision process.
________
The morning Eucharist was celebrated partially in Spanish and partially in English, with music by a wind quartet (and
organ) and once again a compelling series of projected images of art. Our feast is Basil of Caesearea. The preacher, the
Rev. Miguelina Espinal picked up the themes from the reading from 1 Corinthians 2 -- "I did not come with eloquence or
superior wisdom... I came to you in weakness and fear... My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,
but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power." Rev. Espinal said that "our capacity to reason is weak and leads
us to uncertainty." She said, "According to Jesus, this joy and wisdom which comes from the Holy Spirit is given
to those who have simple and humble hearts. Jesus tells us that those with a humble heart recognize that they need God.
The Gospel of Luke tells |
