The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon
you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26
Yesterday in the House of Deputies an Episcopal priest, a Jewish cantor, and a Muslim prayer leader called us to pray by chanting in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. They each prayed in their own language and with prayers from their own tradition, and then ended by chanting together the blessing of Abraham from the Book of Numbers. The blessing ended as the three languages and three voices came together and ended on a single note.
Holy silence filled the cavernous House of Deputies as the blessing came to an end. In that moment I felt truly blessed and also filled with hope. Filled with hope for the world, for people of faith around the world, and for the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion----hopeful that we can find a way to sing out of the truth of who we are while accepting and embracing the truth of our neighbor --- hopeful that we can find a way to sing in harmony the mission that we are all called to. A mission that is shaped by what I perceive to be a common desire to find ways to be God’s salt and love and light to a world in desperate need of God’s loving embrace.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Musings from Jim Pritchett
From: Jim Pritchett, Clergy Deputy
Sorry you haven’t heard from me before now. I am assigned to the Communications Legislative Committee, and we have met almost every morning at 7:30, often again after lunch, and sometimes again after dinner. I’ve just been pooped! (How Bishop Taylor attends his meetings and still blogs is beyond me.)
Here is a bit of what it is like in the House of Deputies:
The room contains about 830 deputies, 100 or so alternates, some press, some visiting bishops and dignitaries from other parts of the world, and a 100 or so spectators (a number that rises and falls depending on what we’re considering). To get on the floor, deputies must pass through a partition and show their credentials to volunteers. Going through the checkpoint, I’m always tempted to say, “Hold your fire!”
Here’s a typical exchange:
A Deputy goes to one of the eight microphones. A light goes on when she steps onto a platform, alerting the President of the House.
President: For what purpose does the deputy at microphone 4 rise?
The Deputy’s image then appears on 2 giant screens on either side of the dais.
Deputy: [Introducing herself by name and diocese] Snow, Alaska. [This is a real example. Other of my favorites include, “Land, Wyoming,” and “Houston, Texas.”]
Deputy: Madam President, I ask the House to divide the question so that we consider resolution 4, beginning at line 23, separately.
President: Deputy, that motion is in order. Is there a second? [etc., etc., etc.]
General Convention is, I believe, a separator of Christians. It doesn’t separate the sheep from the goats, but rather one kind of faithful sheep from another. Some good, faithful, wonderful Christians would rather have a root canal than be required to attend General Convention. For many Christians for whom faith is found primarily in contemplation and quiet prayer, or who think that the institutional Church has little to do with the practice of faith, a day on the floor of General Convention would, at best, be unpleasant and might, at worst, make them lose their religion.
I understand and respect that perspective and know it is held by good, faithful, wonderful Christians. But it is not my perspective. Let me tell a story:
When Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul’s in London, was inspecting the construction, he saw a worker engaging in a task that didn’t make sense to Wren. Wren approached the laborer, who did not recognize him, and asked, “My good man, what are you doing there?”
“Sir,” the laborer replied, “I am building a great cathedral!”
I can despair when my perspective becomes too small, when I focus too much on the endless list of tasks before me. I can despair when I reflect on how little things seem to change. When I focus only on my little job in my little office, it’s easy for me to say, “What difference does this really make? So I’ve helped one person or one parish? What real difference will that make in the long run?”
General Convention reminds me that what we are about is not small. As I am among the Church gathered, as I hear the passions of my sisters and brothers, as I worship with thousands of (singing!) Episcopalians, as I see such a variety of people and concerns and such a multitude of ways the Church responds to those concerns, General Convention reminds me (in a way I’m sure it doesn’t for others) that we are about a great work. We Christians are about God partnering with us to bend a warring universe toward peace. We Christians are about God partnering with us to bend an estranged universe toward unity; we Christians are about God partnering with us to bend a guilty universe toward forgiveness; we Christians are about God partnering with us to bend a despairing universe toward joyfulness.
What I can do might be small, but General Convention reminds me that the work that we, together, are about, the work of being the Body of the Risen Christ in the world, is anything but small. We, my sisters and brothers, are not just about the endless tasks before each of us. We, my sisters and brothers, are, together, about building a great cathedral.
I thought I’d give you a glimpse of the kinds of resolutions we’ve considered. (The media would have you think we only talk about sex.) Here, by title, are some of the things we’ve voted on to date. You can go to the webpage linked to the WNC home page to tack specific legislation:
• Budget Priorities (not in order of priority-all have the same priority):
o Networking the members of the Body of Christ
o Alleviating Poverty
o Claiming our identity
o Growing congregations for the next generations of faith
o Strengthening Governance and Foundations for Ministry
• Adopt the “Five Marks of Mission” and specify that they will be budget priorities at the next GC:
o To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
o To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
o To respond to human need by loving service
o To seek to transform unjust structures of society
o To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
• Youth: Camping ministries curricula, resources, and training
• Commending The Episcopal Church in the Philippines
• Addressing human rights violations in the Philippines
• Funding missionaries
• Endorsement of the Earth Charter
• Addressing immigration concerns
• The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation (Gus, it passed!)
• Health care
• A huge and very significant Strategic Vision for Reaching Lationos/Hispanics
• Evangelism Toolkit of the 21st Century
• HIV/AIDS training
• A “Just War” resolution renouncing “first use” military action (in accordance with the teachings of, among others, St. Augustine)
• Governmental policies on Environmental Stewardship
• Third World Debt
• Pensions for survivors of clergy
• Consent to the election of several bishops, including a hotly contested one (Central Ecuador)
• A statement regarding the church’s position on sexuality and ordination (which will get all the press, but which is ingeniously ambiguous)
• A wholesale revision of the disciplinary canons (12 years in the making)
• Changes to the Book of Occasional Services and Lesser Feasts and Fasts: Holy Women and Holy Men
• Increasing the Church’s giving to the Millennium Development Goals (to reduce extreme poverty in the world) from 0.7% to 1% (this is a huge step of faith and commitment in the current economic crisis. You should be proud!)
This is just a sampling. There is more to come. We’ll consider an important insurance question and lots more resolutions. I’m hoping the one I proposed, calling for the formation of an “information technology cooperative network for dioceses, congregations, and other institutions” will pass on the consent calendar tomorrow or the next day. (Resolutions on the consent calendar or considered non-controversial and are voted on without amendment or debate.)
Be well, and keep us in your prayers, as you are in ours.
Peace,
Jim Pritchett
Sorry you haven’t heard from me before now. I am assigned to the Communications Legislative Committee, and we have met almost every morning at 7:30, often again after lunch, and sometimes again after dinner. I’ve just been pooped! (How Bishop Taylor attends his meetings and still blogs is beyond me.)
Here is a bit of what it is like in the House of Deputies:
The room contains about 830 deputies, 100 or so alternates, some press, some visiting bishops and dignitaries from other parts of the world, and a 100 or so spectators (a number that rises and falls depending on what we’re considering). To get on the floor, deputies must pass through a partition and show their credentials to volunteers. Going through the checkpoint, I’m always tempted to say, “Hold your fire!”
Here’s a typical exchange:
A Deputy goes to one of the eight microphones. A light goes on when she steps onto a platform, alerting the President of the House.
President: For what purpose does the deputy at microphone 4 rise?
The Deputy’s image then appears on 2 giant screens on either side of the dais.
Deputy: [Introducing herself by name and diocese] Snow, Alaska. [This is a real example. Other of my favorites include, “Land, Wyoming,” and “Houston, Texas.”]
Deputy: Madam President, I ask the House to divide the question so that we consider resolution 4, beginning at line 23, separately.
President: Deputy, that motion is in order. Is there a second? [etc., etc., etc.]
General Convention is, I believe, a separator of Christians. It doesn’t separate the sheep from the goats, but rather one kind of faithful sheep from another. Some good, faithful, wonderful Christians would rather have a root canal than be required to attend General Convention. For many Christians for whom faith is found primarily in contemplation and quiet prayer, or who think that the institutional Church has little to do with the practice of faith, a day on the floor of General Convention would, at best, be unpleasant and might, at worst, make them lose their religion.
I understand and respect that perspective and know it is held by good, faithful, wonderful Christians. But it is not my perspective. Let me tell a story:
When Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul’s in London, was inspecting the construction, he saw a worker engaging in a task that didn’t make sense to Wren. Wren approached the laborer, who did not recognize him, and asked, “My good man, what are you doing there?”
“Sir,” the laborer replied, “I am building a great cathedral!”
I can despair when my perspective becomes too small, when I focus too much on the endless list of tasks before me. I can despair when I reflect on how little things seem to change. When I focus only on my little job in my little office, it’s easy for me to say, “What difference does this really make? So I’ve helped one person or one parish? What real difference will that make in the long run?”
General Convention reminds me that what we are about is not small. As I am among the Church gathered, as I hear the passions of my sisters and brothers, as I worship with thousands of (singing!) Episcopalians, as I see such a variety of people and concerns and such a multitude of ways the Church responds to those concerns, General Convention reminds me (in a way I’m sure it doesn’t for others) that we are about a great work. We Christians are about God partnering with us to bend a warring universe toward peace. We Christians are about God partnering with us to bend an estranged universe toward unity; we Christians are about God partnering with us to bend a guilty universe toward forgiveness; we Christians are about God partnering with us to bend a despairing universe toward joyfulness.
What I can do might be small, but General Convention reminds me that the work that we, together, are about, the work of being the Body of the Risen Christ in the world, is anything but small. We, my sisters and brothers, are not just about the endless tasks before each of us. We, my sisters and brothers, are, together, about building a great cathedral.
I thought I’d give you a glimpse of the kinds of resolutions we’ve considered. (The media would have you think we only talk about sex.) Here, by title, are some of the things we’ve voted on to date. You can go to the webpage linked to the WNC home page to tack specific legislation:
• Budget Priorities (not in order of priority-all have the same priority):
o Networking the members of the Body of Christ
o Alleviating Poverty
o Claiming our identity
o Growing congregations for the next generations of faith
o Strengthening Governance and Foundations for Ministry
• Adopt the “Five Marks of Mission” and specify that they will be budget priorities at the next GC:
o To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
o To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
o To respond to human need by loving service
o To seek to transform unjust structures of society
o To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
• Youth: Camping ministries curricula, resources, and training
• Commending The Episcopal Church in the Philippines
• Addressing human rights violations in the Philippines
• Funding missionaries
• Endorsement of the Earth Charter
• Addressing immigration concerns
• The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation (Gus, it passed!)
• Health care
• A huge and very significant Strategic Vision for Reaching Lationos/Hispanics
• Evangelism Toolkit of the 21st Century
• HIV/AIDS training
• A “Just War” resolution renouncing “first use” military action (in accordance with the teachings of, among others, St. Augustine)
• Governmental policies on Environmental Stewardship
• Third World Debt
• Pensions for survivors of clergy
• Consent to the election of several bishops, including a hotly contested one (Central Ecuador)
• A statement regarding the church’s position on sexuality and ordination (which will get all the press, but which is ingeniously ambiguous)
• A wholesale revision of the disciplinary canons (12 years in the making)
• Changes to the Book of Occasional Services and Lesser Feasts and Fasts: Holy Women and Holy Men
• Increasing the Church’s giving to the Millennium Development Goals (to reduce extreme poverty in the world) from 0.7% to 1% (this is a huge step of faith and commitment in the current economic crisis. You should be proud!)
This is just a sampling. There is more to come. We’ll consider an important insurance question and lots more resolutions. I’m hoping the one I proposed, calling for the formation of an “information technology cooperative network for dioceses, congregations, and other institutions” will pass on the consent calendar tomorrow or the next day. (Resolutions on the consent calendar or considered non-controversial and are voted on without amendment or debate.)
Be well, and keep us in your prayers, as you are in ours.
Peace,
Jim Pritchett
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Hoping the Past will Shape our Future
By The Rev. Karla Woggon, Alternate Clergy Deputy
My day started sharing breakfast with my mother; my best friend from seminary, The Rev. Debra Trakel; the retired bishop of Maine, the Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen; the first woman bishop of the Episcopal Church, and retired bishop who served in Massachusetts and Washington, The Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris; five or six other bishops; several international visitors; and about 400 other women and men. We gathered to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ordination of women and the 20th anniversary of the consecration of Bishop Harris at the triennial breakfast of the Episcopal Women’s Caucus.
One of the speakers was Pamela Darling the author of a wonderful book about the history of women in the Episcopal Church: New Wine in old Wine Skins. I’d read her book in seminary 12 years ago but the history came to life as I sat at a table next to Bishop Harris. Bishop Harris the first woman ordained to the Episcopate was also present at the ordination of the first women in Philadelphia. At the time she was a business woman and served as the senior warden in the parish were the first eleven women were ordained. She was the crucifer for the service. After Bishop Harris shared her story we heard again the story of the struggle to include women in the full councils of the church. It is always shocking to me to remember that it was not until the early 1970's that women were allowed to serve as Deputies in the House of Deputies. It was shocking to hear again how reviled the first women priests were by many in the church and the society at large. Bishop Harris and the first women ordained to the priesthood received death threats and were often spat upon.
Following breakfast we walked across the street to the convention center to celebrate Eucharist with about 8000 people. The service was led by the Presiding Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Katherine Jefferts-Schori; the prayers were led by the president of the House of Deputies, Dr. Bonnie Anderson. The two deacons serving were the both women as well, because they are currently the president and vice president of the national deacons association. Women are fully included in all the councils of the church and in represented in all orders of the church. And yet there are still parishes in our church that do not accept or honor or recognize the ministry of women.
This afternoon I sat in the House of Deputies and listened to a debate about resolution D-025 which sought to find a way to honor our relationships within the Anglican Communion and also honor the gay and lesbian members of our church. The debate was more compassionate than it had been at previous conventions but there is not yet full consensus in the church. D-025 passed the House of Deputies and will now move to the House of Bishop's for their consideration.
I hope that 35 years from now we will be celebrating the fact that our church found a way to honor all the members of our community. I hope that we continue to find ways to raise up all who are called to serve. We need more not fewer servant leaders. I hope that 35 years from now we are celebrating the fact that we left this convention filled with an even greater desire to go out into the world and share the gospel's of Christ's wide open, grace filled love to all.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
More from a Novice
Well, I've been here for almost a week and things seem to be making more sense. For the first few days there were lots of committee meetings to hammer out and adjust resolutions (pretty boring) but Thursday was the deadline for resolutions and now it's all to business. Business takes place for the clergy and lay delegates on the DELAGATE floor where no man or woman dare to go without the right credentials. The alternates sit in the PEANUT gallery and follow along. Sessions include an opening prayer and a semi homily and then there's the part about who's here and who's not and then there has been a potpourri of "messages" from the Bishops, ie. what they have voted on, then maybe a few addresses by various folks like visitors from the Anglican Communion and the ECW President today, and then there's voting for HOTLY contested races fsuch as for Church Pension Fund Trustees (our own BP. Johnson was elected on the first round) and the Bishop's Disciplinary COURT. And there's been quite a few resolutions passed such as relating to: Human Rights Violations in thePhillipeans; Wall Around Palestine; Charters for Lifelong Christian Formation and Theological Education; Funding Missionaries; Education and Resources for HIV/AIDS; Mission Cooperation intheAmericas; Youth Camping Ministry; and Immigration. The BIG one is DO 45 which requires all Parishes and Dioceses to make public the names of all people who have been appointed to any position within 30 DAYS of the appointment. No one seemed to know what happens if you don't do that!! I see now that the newest buzz word is TRANSPARENCY. Now where have you heard that word before? So all these votes (I actually was given Bob Schneider's deputation this morning and got to vote) are done with a little something like a TV remote and we are carefully instructed to "VOTE NOW - 1 for YES and 2 for NO." On the lighter side our Eucharist services have been interesting with songs and languages from different cultures, and hearing over 1,000 voice sing is awsome to be sure. Each evening we (our delegation) gathers in the Bishop's "Ante Room" to review events of the day, discuss how exhausted everyone is, and at 9:30 sharp the lights are turned out and we watch (from the 8th floor - thank you Bishop) the most INCREDIBLE FIREWORKS - every night!!
UTO Grant for Durgapur
The Episcopal Church Women started early today with a 7:30 a.m. hearing on the proposed grants from last year's United Thank Offering monies. There were over 7 million dollars worth of requests and this past year's total Offering was slightly over 2 million dollars so several worthy proposals had to be turned down for lack of funds.
I am happy to report, however, that is appears the UTO grant requested by our diocese on behalf of the Diocese of Durgapur is to be funded. This grant will go to create a sewing center that will help create jobs and income for young girls and women in a sewing co-op. The total grant given is $27, 167.96.
I am so grateful for the strong support of UTO in our diocese and for the ECW's positive response to the Durgapur request. And I am also grateful that the grant is not rounded off but includes 96 cents. How often have you seen a young child places quarters and dimes and nickels and pennies in an offering plate? When it is time again to support UTO, remind our children how important EVERY gift is towards the Offering, including their 96 cents.
Today, we also continue with the Public Narrative process, focusing on the story of us. How does my own call connect with a wider call to my parish, diocese, the Episcopal Church? We will explore those larger calls today.
Peace,
Brian Cole
I am happy to report, however, that is appears the UTO grant requested by our diocese on behalf of the Diocese of Durgapur is to be funded. This grant will go to create a sewing center that will help create jobs and income for young girls and women in a sewing co-op. The total grant given is $27, 167.96.
I am so grateful for the strong support of UTO in our diocese and for the ECW's positive response to the Durgapur request. And I am also grateful that the grant is not rounded off but includes 96 cents. How often have you seen a young child places quarters and dimes and nickels and pennies in an offering plate? When it is time again to support UTO, remind our children how important EVERY gift is towards the Offering, including their 96 cents.
Today, we also continue with the Public Narrative process, focusing on the story of us. How does my own call connect with a wider call to my parish, diocese, the Episcopal Church? We will explore those larger calls today.
Peace,
Brian Cole
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Power of Conversation
The parliamentary procedure of General convention both irks and delights, depending on the disposition of the deputy. Today, our vote for Pension Fund trustees didn't quite go as planned, we heard a ten minute history of how we arrived at the controversial legislation BO33 and finally, we had some conversation.
As many of you know, we are using a process called public narrative to facilitate conversation in such a way that it encourages discernment and action. This morning, before Eucharist, we had the first real session where we put it into practice. Our deputation was broken up between two tables and we each took turns telling a two minute story about ourselves to the other members of the group. The idea behind this process was to engage why we got involved in ministry and to examine that story in community--- so that eventually we might arrive at a communal story which could get us working toward mission.
I must say, I was really pleased with this morning's results. It was moving to hear how each of our deputies came to follow Jesus out of the particularities of their own experiences, and I went into worship thinking that this would be well worth doing in our parishes around the diocese. We each have a testimony, but we so frequently keep it to ourselves, to the detriment of the body, and in some part, to our own spiritual growth. In telling my story, I remembered why I came to be here serving as a deputy and as Canon for Spanish speaking ministries. In hearing others, my faith was strengthened knowing that God calls us to minister in so many different and beautiful ways.
So I was feeling pretty good about conversation when we arrived at the Committee of the Whole discussion during the legislative session. Apparently a full house of deputies conversation of this sort has not been done since the 70's and the sheer magnitude of deputies (almost 1000) made me dubious that it would really work. But "work" it did. During the exchange of the peace at the morning eucharist, I passed the peace with some deputies from South Carolina, one of whom, I later found out, employed a dear friend of mine who was one of my mentors in youth group growing up. South Carolina's deputation is very near ours on the floor of the house, and when Deputy Jennings from Ohio told us to find someone with whom to share a 30 min conversation regarding how BO33 has affected us individually and communally, this same rector turned around and motioned to me.
Honestly, I was a little worried. I mean, passing the peace is one thing, but this could be some really sticky conversation with a deputation that is not known for tolerating varying points of view. My heart kind of leapt, but once I got my wits I walked over and pulled up a chair and proceeded to have one of the most meaningful exchanges yet about BO33. We talked about ministry, media portrayal, and mission and I left knowing that regardless of how differently we may approach this piece of legislation, we were most certainly united in our desire to proclaim Christ and serve the world in Christ's name. The labels, conservative and liberal, just flew out the window and we were two Christian brothers sharing the good news with each other. It felt timeless. It felt like we could have been walking to Emmaus together only to be surprised by the resurrected Christ walking alongside us. I can only hope his experience of Christ's presence was as profound as mine.
So often we categorize people by ideological positions, by voting patterns, or through other such superficial criteria. As Christians our task is to get beyond those stumbling blocks and engage the living God that seeks expression in each of us uniquely. Thank God General Convention created the space for that to happen. I hope we can pursue it within our churches and in our interactions with those outside the church. That seems to be the stuff of real evangelism. Can you imagine what a witness that would be to this world?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A view from a Novice
WILL THE REAL EPISCOPALIAN PLEASE STAND UP! Well, I've been hearing alot about inclusiveness - ALOT ABOUT INCLUSIVENESS. Episcopalianians are definitely inclusive. They are also very much into parliamentary procedures. Did you know that if you "Call the Question" it is not debatable? So far (I hear that's about to change) they are pretty neutral about everything. On the one hand we seem to be an aged and stately bunch. Imagine attending your 12th (x3) Convention!! On the other we seem to have many "inclusives" among us. Political correctness is a mandatory, so much so that I'm afriad to say much of anything until I can adapt to the correct (definitely not the "right") way of saying things. We seem somewhat curious about evangelism, vaguely interested in declining church membership, somewhat interested in goals and priorities, and very interested world hunger and environmental issues, but only SO FAR. We have many more days and many more issues ahead. As an ALTERNATE, I have to sit behind the line and not make a sound, sort of "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." The good thing is I DON'T have to ask permission to leave the floor unless it's for a short "call of au naturalle" so to speak. I can also see that one has to attend enough General Conventions to be called by one's first name before one is assigned to a COMMITTEE or a COMMISSION.
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