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