DAY 3: Thursday, July 9, 2009

Editor's note: During the General Convention, members of the Central Pennsylvania deputation are providing daily updates to the Diocese. The Rev. Christine Purcell is serving as “recorder and reporter” for these updates.

From Deputation Chair Kate Harrigan:
Early in Convention, much of the work is being done in committee. Resolutions are being heard, deliberated and fine-tuned for later presentation on the floors of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. Your deputies are serving on or following committees devoted to ministry, liturgy, ecumenism, education, small congregations, national and international concerns, and communication, as well as a number of others.

Public Narrative Project: In the second "Mission Conversation" with our table groups, we shared the stories of our lives that led to our call to mission and ministry. We were also coached in how to listen and give feedback to one another.

The Morning Eucharist: The Archbishop of Canterbury preached, and Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles presided. Bishop Bruno explained that whenever young people are present, he chooses a child or young person to stand with him at the altar while he celebrates the Eucharist. Today was no exception, as he celebrated with a young boy standing beside him. Worship over the last two days has included both English and Spanish in the liturgy, in song, in word, and in prayer.

“Committee of the Whole” Discussion of GC2006 B033: During the afternoon legislative session, the House of Deputies used this mechanism to discuss, without debate, this resolution passed at the end of the last General Convention. It called for a moratorium on electing to the episcopate those whose manner of life would be challenge to others in the Anglican communion and a cessation of incursions by bishops from other churches in the communion into dioceses in the Episcopal Church (TEC). Each deputy sat with a person we did not know, to ask and answer three questions: (1) what is our own story with respect to B033 and its implications; (2) what is our story as a church with respect to the issue; and (3) what is God calling us to do now. This process of respectful speaking and listening will continue in the next legislative session.

There is little free time for deputies, bishops, volunteers and others as people rush from committee meeting to worship to legislative meeting. But there is much energy and a true spirit for the life of the church and for God's work, as thousands of people seek to be faithful to God's call to serve the world.

From David Lovelace:

The past two days have been filled with hearings on resolutions for the Ministry Legislative Committee. We have heard and discussed resolutions relating to education of laity, the discernment process for ordination, the dissolution of a pastoral relationship and funding for theological education. Despite the long days, progress is being made to support the many ministries related to the ministry of all the baptized. I am impressed with the desire of all to encourage and support persons as they seek to answer God's call to service. I look forward to the debate and outcome as these thirty plus resolutions come to the floor of the House of Deputies.

From Harry Snell:

The Committee on consecration of bishops consented to the election of The Rev. Luis Fernando Ruiz , Bishop of Ecuador Central.

From Christine Purcell

“There’s nothing new under the sun”, the poet writes in Ecclesiastes. The Standing Commission on Communication is wrestling with many complex issues in the area of communication that are familiar to many of us: internal communication, a management issue vs. external communication and public relations; print vs. electronic media; the implications of demographic differences, to name just a few. And then there are the people issues: lack of coordination leads to the failure of trust. “It’s not what you did, it’s how you did it...”.

The new director of communication at the Church Center put forward a draft budget that called for the “morphing” of Episcopal Life, the monthly diocesan newspaper, into Episcopal Life, the quarterly magazine at the end of 2009. Regular “news” would be communicated in other ways; the magazine could explore issues with more depth. The significant savings realized, with respect to staff resources, would allow more development and utilization of other communications media.

The plan has encountered significant resistance. Many believe that Episcopal Life, the monthly newspaper, has had and continues to have an essential role in dioceses where newer media are less effective due to geography and demographics; and even more importantly, in dioceses where it has been a potent symbol of connection to the larger Episcopal Church. For example, in one diocese its circulation was blocked by a bishop who eventually left the Episcopal Church, taking a number of parishes with him. In another, its display in peoples’ homes signified their resistance to prevailing attitudes with respect to future directions.

Committee discussions and an open hearing have fleshed out the issues and given voice to different constituencies. I am confident that, with an adjusted timeline and some clarification of lines authority, it will be sorted out in the end! In the meantime, it is fascinating to watch.