I am away, up to Kanuga Camp and Conference center in the mountains of North Carolina for the Province IV Synod. What is the Province IV Synod, you naturally ask? For those who may not know, the Episcopal Church is divided into nine geographical provinces, with Georgia falling into the fourth province. We are known as the “Sewanee Province” because our membership is the same as the owning diocese of Sewanee: The University of the South (Yea, Sewanee’s Right!). The Synod is a place for the bishops and Deputies of each diocese to gather and do some work together – work that varies from province to province. This meeting, in particular, is a preparation for the upcoming General Convention later this month. I am attending General Convention as an alternate deputy from this diocese, and so I am attending the Synod.

On our agenda for this two-day meeting are some exciting topics, like the next triennium’s budget! Really, though, we do get to have some good conversation about issues that will be addressed at the Convention. We will be discussing the work of the Task Force for Re-imagining The Episcopal Church, the work of the Marriage Task Force, and we will hear from our Presiding Bishop and the also the President of the House of Deputies, among others. Two of the candidates for Presiding Bishop are here, and we will also get to nominate some of our out representatives that are elected by each province. Sound like fun yet?

I have always been an unabashed church nerd (see photo of me with the Presiding Bishop above for proof) in this respect. As messy as the sausage-making is in our tradition, with its bicameral system and the detailed application of Robert’s Rules of Order, I like meetings like these. The main reason I like them is because we get to see other Episcopalians and remember how big and how broad this church of ours is. We see people disagreeing with each other, usually respectfully, and then joyfully worshipping alongside one another. That worship is the second reason I love church conventions. The “type” of person who usually runs for a chance to represent their diocese at some larger level is typically a person with an abiding and deep love for this church and its traditions.

A case in point: At the opening Eucharist 

yesterday, at which the Presiding Bishop preached, we did not have bulletins, nor did anyone sitting near me crack open a prayer book (except to read the psalm). The whole church was riding their theological bike without using their hands, so to speak, and that is powerful. The responses are not half-hearted. “We know this. We got this.” That’s a part of the feeling in that kind of worship, but it is also authentic and deeply spiritual to see several hundred people so in tune with the liturgy. Speaking of being in tune, singing is usually robust at convention worship, and last night was no different. Church nerds love singing hymns so much, in fact, that when the pianist ended the closing hymn, God of Grace and God of Glory (593) after the second verse, the congregation let out a collective disappointed whine/sigh/boo noise, goading him into cranking it back up for the last two verses, sung even more robustly, after which there was great applause. That’s church, y’all.

One of the elements of church gatherings these days is the tension between taking ourselves and our denomination seriously, but not too seriously. Not in terms of how we behave or how we act, but in terms of limiting the ways in which our religiosity gets in the way of our faith. Sometimes our “churchyness” takes away from what we’re really here to do in following the example of Christ. What happens at church conventions matters, but it’s not the only thing that matters. How we live and move and have our being collectively is important, but only to the point at which it distracts us or diminishes our work in service of the gospel. This will be one of the themes at General Convention again this year as we look at how the church can be more effective and better stewards of resource and message.

With that reality in mind, I ask for your prayers for this Synod, and for our General Convention, which is now less than three weeks away. If you don’t typically pray for the Church outside of the Prayers of the People on Sunday, now would be a good time to start. When I get back to the Island I am going to look at the calendar and schedule a listening time to both share what is coming up at General Convention and to see what those of you in our parish might want to say about it. If you’re interested, keep your eyes and ears open for that opportunity.

Instead of the usual sorts of prayers I use to conclude ramblings, this week I’m going to use a slightly different kind of prayer. We pray in our singing on a regular basis, even if it doesn’t have the typical opening and closing we’re used to when praying. But, hymns are prayers nonetheless. That closing hymn the Provincial congregation groaned to sing is a beautiful and timely prayer, so I offer it now, for those who would pray it with me.

Tom+

God of grace and God of glory,

on thy people pour thy power;

crown thine ancient Church’s story;

bring her bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

for the facing of this hour,

for the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil round us

scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!

From the fears that long have bound us

free our hearts to faith and praise:

grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

for the living of these days,

for the living of these days.

Cure thy children’s warring madness,

bend our pride to thy control;

shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal,

lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.

Save us from weak resignation

to the evils we deplore;

let the gift of thy salvation

be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

serving thee whom we adore,

serving thee whom we adore.