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!!