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.