Monthly archives: June 2015
Among the pressing questions that confronted members of the Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church was a seemingly simple one: who makes decisions for the church when General Convention is not in session? Is it the Executive Council, the presiding bishop, or does it depend on the subject matter and the people involved? “Under…
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So at this General Convention, for the first time, I am a legislative aide. When I signed up, this sounded exciting. I had visions of emulating the characters from the West Wing—all fast talking and quicker walking, because my job was so very urgent. From my two orientation sessions yesterday, I realized that this job…
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The Honorable Byron Rushing talks about how resolutions at General Convention allow us to have discussions about what is important in our lives as Christians. This often means taking a look at ourselves, including the decision to include women in the House of Deputies and forming a coherent mission strategy when it came to people…
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SALT LAKE CITY — Years of study and debate over same-sex marriage have led the Episcopal Church to a familiar point. Its leaders must decide whether to act now, or to wait. Delegates to the church’s 78th General Convention, which officially begins Thursday, will vote on a task force’s proposal to revise the church’s canons…
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In the first of a series of viewpoint essays, Deputy Bonnie Perry of Chicago and Deputy Jennifer Adams of Western Michigan debate Resolution A002, which would make General Convention unicameral.
General Convention passes an amazing variety of resolutions, from social justice to liturgical resources to sweeping new initiatives. But for convention, like many institutions, where the rubber hits the road is the budget. The big question is not, how many great ideas can we pass, but where are we willing to put our money? Back…
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The world beyond church walls was the primary focus of today’s opening press conference with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, General Convention Executive Officer Michael Barlowe, and House of Deputies President Gay Clark Jennings. “We speak many languages,” said Jefferts Schori in her opening remarks. “We are increasingly focused outside of ourselves rather than on…
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SALT LAKE CITY – When you walk through the main entrance to the Salt Palace convention center you might be startled by a wooden bonking sound. Be sure to look up. Above your head are eleven wooden chimes (twelve should be there but one is missing). Windmills high in front of the building on West Temple Street…
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In this four minute video, the Honorable Byron Rushing talks about how the Episcopal Church awoke to social and political issues in the wake of the Civil War.
I have made the joke flippantly in the past, but it really is true—the gathering of Episcopalians from around the world for General Convention is much like the assembling of the Avengers. We sit surreptitiously in airports, glancing at each other out of the corner of our eyes—is that one of us? Could that be…
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The husband of a friend of mine was listening to us discuss the day at dinner. “Well, that’s Day 1 of Convention down,” he said, reassuringly. “No,” I pointed out. “That’s day 0. Tomorrow is Day 1.” “Good Lord!” he exclaimed, turning to his husband. “We’ve been here this long, AND THIS HASN’T EVEN STARTED…
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