01/07: Preview of General Convention
This is the first of my Blog offerings. I’m writing this prior to my departure to General Convention, and I intend this an introduction.
Every three years, The Episcopal Church (TEC) gathers for a week and a half for its General Convention (GC). GC is the primary way that TEC seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the common life of our Church. This year’s GC will meet in Anaheim, California, from July 8-17.
Participants – Our church government is divided into two Houses, much the same as the Federal government (Senate and House of Representatives). In the case of TEC, we have a House of Bishops and a House of Deputies. All Bishops are members of the House of Bishops. Our own Bishop Garrison is a member of the House of Bishop, and of course will be attending GC. There also is a House of Deputies, which includes four lay Deputies and four clerical Deputies from each of the 110 Dioceses in TEC. So if every Diocese sent eight Deputies, the House of Deputies would number 880. Dioceses also may send Alternates (sometimes called “Provisional Deputies”) who become Deputies if a particular Deputy is not service. I’m one of the clerical Deputies, and I’m also co-chair of the Deputation. I was a Deputy in 1991, 1994, 200, 2003, and 2006, and was First Alternate in 1997. As you can tell, I’m somewhat of a “Convention Junkie.” I happen to enjoy the General Convention, I do a lot of preparation, and I believe that God has given me gifts in helping make decisions on behalf of TEC.
Legislation – The legislative sessions begin on Wednesday, July 8, and conclude on Friday, July 17. Typically, about 500 resolutions are offered for consideration. That’s a lot of work, and it makes for a fairly frantic schedule at times. It also means that Deputies and Bishops have a lot of work to do ahead of time. The “Blue Book,” which includes the reports from various Commissions, Committees, Agencies, and Boards, numbers about 1000 pages includes ____ resolutions. Resolutions also may be submitted by Bishops, Deputies, and Dioceses.
Legislative Committees – If you’re familiar with our Congress, you’ll know that legislation comes from committee. The same is true for the GC. There are Committees (for example) for: Stewardship, Evangelism, Worship and Music, Christian Education, Ministry, Constitution and Canons, Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, etc. I’m serving on the legislative committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Legislative committees begin work on Tuesday morning, July 7, so I’ll be arriving in Anaheim on Monday, July 6. (I’m taking a few days of vacation prior to GC so that I can stop in Las Vegas to visit my sister, so I’m actually departing Buffalo on July 2.)
Big Issues – At recent meetings of GC, there have been a number of divisive issues, particularly relating to sexuality. The primary issue this year relating to sexuality will be (I believe) dealing with Resolution B-033 from 2006. That resolution was an agreement that Bishops and Standing Committees would not “consent 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.” Issues of sexuality, of course, are generally the only ones that make the secular press. I expect that the primary focus will be on Stewardship and Evangelism. There also is a major revision of Title IV (the disciplinary canons), a resolution to have TEC write all the health insurance for employees for TEC, and a resolution for TEC to come into full communion with the Moravian Church.
Worship – Daily worship is an important part of GC, and most folks look forward very much to the opportunity to thank God for all the many blessings we have received, to seek guidance for our future, and to repent when we see that we have fallen short. This also is an opportunity to experience ways of worshipping God which may be different from what we experience at home.
Exhibits – One of my favorite parts of GC is the exhibits – usually about 150 of them. They represent the wideness of the interests of TEC. There also are exhibits which peddle books, vestments, jewelry, and so on. It’s quite a display!
Keeping Updated – Watching CNN or Fox News is not the best way to stay updated on GC news. Instead, check out www.episcopalchurch.org/elife. You may either peruse the articles there, or you may subscribe to their email news (at the bottom of the homepage, click the section under “online”). I’ll be back at St. Martin’s on Sunday, July 19. So I’ll be able to respond to questions about what happened at GC 2009. Please keep GC (and me) in your prayers.
Fr.Earle
Every three years, The Episcopal Church (TEC) gathers for a week and a half for its General Convention (GC). GC is the primary way that TEC seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the common life of our Church. This year’s GC will meet in Anaheim, California, from July 8-17.
Participants – Our church government is divided into two Houses, much the same as the Federal government (Senate and House of Representatives). In the case of TEC, we have a House of Bishops and a House of Deputies. All Bishops are members of the House of Bishops. Our own Bishop Garrison is a member of the House of Bishop, and of course will be attending GC. There also is a House of Deputies, which includes four lay Deputies and four clerical Deputies from each of the 110 Dioceses in TEC. So if every Diocese sent eight Deputies, the House of Deputies would number 880. Dioceses also may send Alternates (sometimes called “Provisional Deputies”) who become Deputies if a particular Deputy is not service. I’m one of the clerical Deputies, and I’m also co-chair of the Deputation. I was a Deputy in 1991, 1994, 200, 2003, and 2006, and was First Alternate in 1997. As you can tell, I’m somewhat of a “Convention Junkie.” I happen to enjoy the General Convention, I do a lot of preparation, and I believe that God has given me gifts in helping make decisions on behalf of TEC.
Legislation – The legislative sessions begin on Wednesday, July 8, and conclude on Friday, July 17. Typically, about 500 resolutions are offered for consideration. That’s a lot of work, and it makes for a fairly frantic schedule at times. It also means that Deputies and Bishops have a lot of work to do ahead of time. The “Blue Book,” which includes the reports from various Commissions, Committees, Agencies, and Boards, numbers about 1000 pages includes ____ resolutions. Resolutions also may be submitted by Bishops, Deputies, and Dioceses.
Legislative Committees – If you’re familiar with our Congress, you’ll know that legislation comes from committee. The same is true for the GC. There are Committees (for example) for: Stewardship, Evangelism, Worship and Music, Christian Education, Ministry, Constitution and Canons, Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, etc. I’m serving on the legislative committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Legislative committees begin work on Tuesday morning, July 7, so I’ll be arriving in Anaheim on Monday, July 6. (I’m taking a few days of vacation prior to GC so that I can stop in Las Vegas to visit my sister, so I’m actually departing Buffalo on July 2.)
Big Issues – At recent meetings of GC, there have been a number of divisive issues, particularly relating to sexuality. The primary issue this year relating to sexuality will be (I believe) dealing with Resolution B-033 from 2006. That resolution was an agreement that Bishops and Standing Committees would not “consent 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.” Issues of sexuality, of course, are generally the only ones that make the secular press. I expect that the primary focus will be on Stewardship and Evangelism. There also is a major revision of Title IV (the disciplinary canons), a resolution to have TEC write all the health insurance for employees for TEC, and a resolution for TEC to come into full communion with the Moravian Church.
Worship – Daily worship is an important part of GC, and most folks look forward very much to the opportunity to thank God for all the many blessings we have received, to seek guidance for our future, and to repent when we see that we have fallen short. This also is an opportunity to experience ways of worshipping God which may be different from what we experience at home.
Exhibits – One of my favorite parts of GC is the exhibits – usually about 150 of them. They represent the wideness of the interests of TEC. There also are exhibits which peddle books, vestments, jewelry, and so on. It’s quite a display!
Keeping Updated – Watching CNN or Fox News is not the best way to stay updated on GC news. Instead, check out www.episcopalchurch.org/elife. You may either peruse the articles there, or you may subscribe to their email news (at the bottom of the homepage, click the section under “online”). I’ll be back at St. Martin’s on Sunday, July 19. So I’ll be able to respond to questions about what happened at GC 2009. Please keep GC (and me) in your prayers.
Fr.Earle
