Writing form Salt Lake City with a reflection on Day 5 of The General Convention

Yesterday marked the halfway point of the Convention and things are in full swing. Legislation is passing both houses, and the "big" issues are seeing the light of day. After a few quiet days of ramping up, all the machinery of our polity is in full swing. I was able to take a seat on the floor of the House of Deputies (HoD) on Sunday, getting to vote in several of the elections, including voting for Executive Council and Pension Fund Trustees. But those sorts of votes aren't the most important things the Convention is accomplishing.

Yesterday's votes in the House of Deputies have made a loud statement about Evangelism in the Episcopal Church. Two notable resolutions were to make monies available for planting churches in places where there is opportunity to grow the church, and also to make monies available for digital evangelism, recognizing that we have been a bit late to the party in terms of social media marketing and advertising. For example, nowadays most people discover churches from search engine questions, not from phone book listings or newspapers.

There have also been votes around issues of social justice and public

policy, as the Episcopal Church affirms its intent to work for an end to racism, calls for sensible gun laws to help reduce gun deaths, and in calling for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from public, and especially church properties. Some folks think this kind of thing is a waste of time for the Convention. In the case of racism, of course we would oppose it. In the case of gun laws and rebel flags, some wonder if what we say matters, and others think we shouldn't be concerned with such things. I tend to think that it is important for the Church to have a voice in these matters, as silence can be seen as consent. Based on overwhelming votes of the HoD, others agree.

As you may know by now, the biggest news came when the House of Bishops (HoB) debated and voted on two resolutions involving same sex marriage. (Remember, the House of Deputies must concur with the House of Bishops before these resolutions become actions of the General Convention. These resolutions will be addressed by the HoD on Wednesday.) The first was largely about liturgy and making liturgy available, continuing the work of the last Convention which made some materials available for use in dioceses where they were allowed by the bishop. This resolution calls for the updated rites to be available church-wide for "trial use" which is a process that can lead to inclusion in approved texts for use alongside the BCP or in a future revision of the BCP. At the earliest, these liturgies won't be official liturgies until 2018, should they be voted on again, without change, by the next General Convention. Their work also made sure to preserve the right of a bishop to choose not to use the rites, but also makes sure that such bishops will make sure their people have access to them via another route, given the church-wide intent of the trial use path.

The second resolution involved a rewording of church canons around marriage. Most notably, and creating the most controversy, the canonical change removes specific definition of marriage as that between a man and a woman. Other canonical changes seek to bring the theology in line with the 1979 BCP theology, and strengthen the Declaration of Intent that couples must sign before they are married. If you take away the bit about man and woman, I think most would laud the canonical changes, and the progress made towards a healthy theology of marriage they represent. With the bit about man and woman removed, many will disregard the larger conversation we have had about the meaning of marriage.

I sat in the gallery of the House of Bishops for the entirety of their debate and conversation on these two resolutions - all 5 hours of it, and let me say that I am proud of the way our Bishops comport themselves. I think that because the bishops know each other well from several meetings a year as a House, and other opportunities to gather, they have a good deal of love for one another. They certainly do not agree with one another on this or many other issues, but their debate was respectful and compassionate. It was clear that the majority in the HoB was making room for their brothers (they were all brothers in this case) who needed to speak against this change, and to use parliamentary procedures that included trying to propose a substitute motion, and a roll call vote where each bishop must share their vote when their name is called. The House of Bishops shares minority reports with one another, again, to make sure that all voices in this debate have been heard. Such things are very important at this level of debate and decision making.

It is safe to say that our Bishops acted prayerfully, thoughtfully, and deliberatively, whether or not we agree with their decision. They did not rush the process, and they did not take their deliberation lightly. They did not thumb their noses at the rest of the Christian Church who is not yet at the same place. Indeed, I think they know what their voting means for the church universal and that it is not an easy or majority place to stand within the Church. From testimony, the overwhelming spirit of the vote was in bringing down any remaining walls to the full inclusion of LGBT persons and their access to the sacraments of this church. We will wait to see what the House of Deputies does tomorrow.

Our Georgia deputation has already discussed that should the HoD concur with the HoB, we will have a statement for the Diocese of GA before we leave Salt Lake City. It is also likely that we will initiate a process of listening and conversation around what the recent Supreme Court ruling and the potential action of the General Convention mean in GA and in each of our parishes. I will be sure to keep you posted.

Please do not lose sight of everything that is taking place in Salt Lake City beyond one single issue or decision, as important as that one area may be. This Church is also getting energized for mission and evangelism, and making sure the Gospel of Christ goes out into all corners of the world. We have a newly elected Presiding Bishop who will be a great leader in these ministried. We are talking about ways to re-energize congregations and how to put our money where our prayers are. This is an exciting convention, and in all of our diversity and deliberation the Holy Spirit is very much in our midst. Your prayers to date, and your continuing prayers are welcome.

Tom+

Almighty and everlasting Father, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with his grace and presence, the bishops and other clergy and the laity assembled in your Name, that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.