The work ends and the work begins...

Tomorrow morning I head back to New Jersey. I have truly enjoyed the work here, and I am ready to come home. In the ten days of General Convention, of the 419 resolutions proposed, the House of Deputies considered and acted on 361. We voted to substantially revise the Title IV Canons, which govern how clergy misconduct allegations are handled; to affirm that all the sacraments are available to all the baptized; to begin the process of developing same-gender blessings; to provide training on domestic violence and alcohol abuse for clergy; to reinstate the commitment to Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) in the budget. We added new saints to the calendar and elected members of the Executive Council (which carries out the business of the church during the triennium)and trustees of the Church Pension Fund.
In the midst of the work, I got to know the Newark Deputation members even better than in our monthly meetings of preparation for the past year. I met new friends (Anne, a pediatrician from The Diocese of Fond du Lac, and Stephen Carpenter, a priest from Napa) and reconnected with old friends (Elsa Pressentin and Cass Martensen from the Episcopal Conference of the Deaf; Scott Allen from my Clergy Leadership Project group).
Tonight, the Bishop and Deputies had a relaxed dinner together. Mark asked Bert Jones and I (the newbies), "Now that it is over, would you do it again?" We both answered yes, if elected again. I am challenged by the words of Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies: the real work of the Convention happens in the triennium, the years between the gatherings. The legislation passed by both houses will now make its way through the office of the Secretary and the work will be assigned to the body responsible: Executive Council, a Committee, Commission, Agency or Board (CCAB), Provinces or Dioceses, Parishes and the ministers of God (you and me). Stay tuned for all that will come forward from this Convention. The budget passed reflects a $23 million gap between what TEC wanted and what it can afford and be balanced. The Presiding Bishop reminded us that the heartbeat of the church is mission. When these two realities combine, it means that all of us will need to be more creative in the exercise of our ministry and our energy will need to be spent on what is most important for our mission.
For today and the near future, I will let the experience sink in. As I share my story of the 76th General Convention, I hope you will let me know what your questions are, and where your sense of mission is. There is plenty of work for all of us, and plenty of grace from God to enable us to carry it out.
See you in New Jersey!

Report back day for the Newark Deputation is Thursday, July 23rd, at St. Agnes' Church in Little Falls, from 10 am to 12 noon and 7 to 9 pm.

Suspended animation

-- that describes my feeling this Thursday morning. The legislative business of the House of Deputies, which yesterday morning seemed bogged down, has begun to gather steam for the work ahead. There are ten legislative days; yesterday, day eight, we had almost completed the sixth day's business. But despite this, we have considered and voted upon life-changing resolutions for the church: Denominational Healthcare Plan, Pension Plan for Lay Employees, and a statement that will encourage and guide interreligious relations.
"Highlight of the day" is not the right term for the introduction of TEC's budget for the triennium; debate and approval of the budget will occupy us in the last two legislative days. Any deputy can propose a change to a budget line item, but must show where the monies would come from in order to fund their proposed change. The Committee on Program Budget and Finance (PB&F) predicts a total triennial income of $141,271,984 and expense of $140,856,531. Cuts in program staff in the New York office of The Episcopal Church (approximately 30 of the 180 employed), program cuts in some church-wide program and reduction in face to face meetings for the Committees and Boards which meet in the triennium (electronic and conference call meetings are suggested) are some of the ways the PB&F arrived at the proposed budget for 2010-2012. Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori opened the joint session of Bishops and Deputies with remarks about the pain the budget will cause as well as the belief that "through grace the church will emerge mopre able to respond to its vocation." See the full report in the Convention Daily here http://www.episcopal-life.org/107145_ENG_HTM.htm . Also check out the media hub, where you can find stories on any aspect of the Convention that interests you http://gchub.episcopalchurch.org/
The intensity of the schedule here at GC demands that we find ways to refresh ourselves. I have found that wandering in the exhibit hall, talking to people who represent various organizations in the church (Military Chaplains, EfM, Integrity, Diaconate Association) as well as checking out the merchandise for sale, can be a welcome short break. Several of us visit the health club (a room full of treadmills and elliptical trainers) or take a walk or run early in the morning. I spent an our Wednesday morning (beginning at 6 AM) at a swim workout with the local Masters swimmers. They were so welcoming, and it was very refreshing to see the sunrise as we swam in that 50 meter pool! That one session of exercise fueled my spirit for the entire day!

Saturday was a welcome break in the action of the Convention; I went to Angels Stadium in Anaheim to see the Yankees play. The day was warm, the stadium a beauty and the company fantastic (Alex and Vanessa had secured the tickets, and fellow newbie Deputy Bert Jones was my guest). Except for the fact that the Yankees were blown away 14-8, it was a great game (!) and a necessary break for me.
Sunday was a time of re-energizing for us all as we were treated to a worship service that pulled out all the multi-sensory stops – liturgical dance, drum and brass, bells, and a most astounding gospel style choir, from the Diocese of Los Angeles, the Episcopal Choral Society. There was only one legislative session on Sunday and a more relaxing evening.
But today, Monday, we began in earnest again; each day this week features two legislative sessions, two hours in the morning and four plus in the afternoon. The Chairperson of the Dispatch of Business Committee, whose responsibility it is to see that our business “moves along,” referred to his Committee as Metamucil! (If that is true, we are going to need to have a lot more of them.)
The General Convention functions by way of Legislative Committees – some of them are Standing Commissions, which operate throughout the time between Conventions (called the triennium) and others are committees which operate only during the Convention itself. Both types produce and/or process the numerous resolutions which come before the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. Deputies can serve on these committees by volunteering and receiving appointment. New deputies are welcome, but are not encouraged to participate in legislative committees because of the very intense schedule of meetings and hearings, as well as inexperience in how these groups function. But we are encouraged to attend the meetings of whatever committee we might be interested in, and follow specific legislation to learn the process of the Convention.
I chose to attend meetings of the Ministry Committee, and am following a resolution which speaks to ministry discernment for persons with disabilities. The resolution, A080, originated in the Standing Commission on Health, and was assigned to the Ministry Committee. I was able to testify at a Committee hearing to support the Resolution and to offer suggestions to help it express what the members wanted it to say. It has been adopted by the House of Bishops in its revised form (actually a “substitute” since the revision was extensive), and should be scheduled for action by the House of Deputies as its next step.
One of the most exciting developments concerns Resolution D025, Commitment and Witness to the Anglican Communion, which states that The Episcopal Church affirms its membership and participation in and support of the Anglican Communion, and also affirms that God's call to all orders of ministry for all baptized people. If the adoption of this Resolution in the House of Deputies was a victory for justice and compassion, the process of its passage was a wonderful example of the best of “the Episcopal way.” Framed by the order of Robert's Rules and the flexible conversation of the committee of the whole, supported by our own individual and community stories, we listened and spoke and prayed our way into this Resolution. It moved to the House of Bishops where it was amended; to be continued. You can follow this and other legislation here: http://gc2009.org/ViewLegislation/view_Legislation.aspx

As we enter the fourth legislative day of General Convention, I am beginning to sense a rhythm and routine despite the fact that each day is different in schedule and task. The legislative sessions are carefully run, and while any set of rules of the house can be tedious, they are the necessary framework for the business at hand.

A break in the sessions came as the order of business before us was to consider General Convention Resolution B033 (2006) in a session known as committee of the whole. It was not a debate or legislative session, but a chance to reflect, first by pairs (two deputies who did not know each other) and then in two-minute testimony to the House by about twenty five people, chosen by lottery.

B033 is the Resolution passed by the last General Convention, which calls on Bishops and Standing Committees to "exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."

It appears to my eyes and ears that the mind of the House of Deputies is looking to go beyond B033, although it is not clear yet what form that may take.

Any question that anyone might have about the necessity of making a new statement of welcome and inclusion for all the baptized was laid to rest in last night's Integrity Eucharist. I had to hold on to the back of my chair to keep he force of the Holy Spirit in that room from knocking me over. The liturgy was a feast for the senses: gospel procession, led by drum and chant, which wound its way through the whole assembly, complete with red and gold streamers waving, holy water showers, and sweet incense. The Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris preached a powerful sermon and our celebrant was The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson. The entire experience was an awesome witness to the gifts given to the church by our LGBT brothers and sisters.

All I can do today is marvel in a church that is able to expand and contract (kind of like the 'floating floor' in our own Great Hall) and still be of one piece. I will not delude myself that it can never fracture, but for today I will simply take in the richness of The Episcopal Church and the amazing gifts each person brings to the table.

One of the surprises of GC for me is the beauty and depth of the corporate worship experience in this setting: a space which is a cross between airplane hangar and movie studio, completely black with track lighting, circular tables for the twelve hundred or so worshippers, with a large but simple altar on a raised platform. There is no formal procession; we all are the procession, filling the massive room after leaving our early legislative sessions. We set aside our urgency and personal concerns as we set aside our wheeled carts or backpacks full of the work of the church. And slowly we enter the space which is liturgy, the work of the people. We begin to praise God with voice and drum and keyboard. The familiar rhythm of the Eucharist sweeps us along into prayer and learning and silence. Our Presiding Bishop speaks of the difference between a change of mind and a change of heart.

Shortly thereafter, we return to the business of legislation and debate. We have not completely left worship; we have just moved from the room where there is more worship than business to the room where there is more business than worship. We find at our seats a tiny card which reads, "A Daughter of the King has prayed over your seat today." It does not matter whether I know who the Daughters of the King are or even whether or not I agree with their theology. I believe in the power of prayer and I am touched that they took time to pray for me.

If you would like to keep up with the many aspects of General Convention, check out the Convention Daily, here http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112079_ENG_HTM.htm

Anticipation

There is a classic dream of embarrassment in the psychology literature. The dreamer is in a public place or about to walk on stage when suddenly he realizes that he is naked. The clergyperson’s version of the naked dream goes something like this: she stands in the entryway of the church, the first chords of the procession are playing, and the preacher realizes that she has no sermon prepared. No papers, no note cards, no text in the pulpit. She realizes that in less than twenty minutes, she will stand in that pulpit and have only her experience, decades-old seminary education and random thoughts to get her through.

A week ago Sunday, I left for California for a visit with my son and his wife. After a wonderful time of relaxing and hiking Yosemite, we delivered my husband to LAX for his return trip home, and I went on to Anaheim for the ten days of the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. So the version of the embarrassment dream I had was this: I arrive at the Anaheim Marriot for Convention, open my suitcase, and find shorts, t-shirts with goofy sayings on them and a Yankees cap instead of a suit, skirts and clerical shirts and collars. Fast-forward to Newark Liberty Airport, where Ted disembarks from Continental flight 16 with my suitcase full of proper convention attire.

I am happy to tell you that I (and my luggage) arrived in Anaheim without incident. Today is the first legislative session of the Convention. The past two days were full of learning the routine and becoming oriented to the layout of the land (The Convention Center flanked by the two hotels used for lodging as well as committee hearings and meetings).

As a first-time Deputy, I am the newbie -- a different role for me which challenges my normal mode of operation. I am excited to be here and looking forward to debate, conversation and worship. But first I have to put behind me the experience of being stuck between floors in the elevator (only for about ten minutes) and juggle the meetings and sessions with the need to eat lunch.