A Word From The Bishop

GC Day 4

Dear Brothers and Sisters, greetings in Christ.

The cost of a shorter, less costly General Convention is a more frenetic pace and longer days. As you should expect our deputation is doing yeoman’s work accompanied by much prayer. 

We are in the thick of it in terms of the controversial legislation about marriage, with the outcome uncertain. We seem to have a good chance of avoiding immediate prayer book revision, though the long term prospects are harder to say. In this blog I do want to hold up people rather than outcomes (about which we can speak more intelligently later). Our own Jordan Hylden and Christopher Wells have done remarkable work as irenic and articulate ambassadors for more traditional Episcopalians. We owe them a debt.

I also want to mention our friend Lloyd Allen, bishop of Honduras. He has spoken bravely on behalf of better translation here, and we hope for a new translation of the BCP in Spanish.

A highlight for me yesterday, during the joint session on racial reconciliation was the presentation by Dr.Catherine Meeks of the Absalom Jones Center in Atlanta. She grounded her work in a deep and personal Christian piety, which she spoke from with a quiet humility and authority. 

Representatives from the Communion are sprinkled through the crowd. It was good to see Thabo Makhoba, primate of South Africa as an observer at the House of Bishops, a reminder of our connection to our wider family. 

I want to note the young people serving as stewards from Texas, among them young adults from Tyler who spoke up at a hearing on behalf of the resolution we have hope for. We need to keep in mind that our efforts are aimed by God’s grace at the future as leaders in our Church.

Finally I had lunch with Gar Anderson, the dean at Nashotah today. Coming and going as you please as dean- now that’s the best way to attend Convention!

But it isn’t all legislative tedium and stress- tonight revival and bbq....

Peace,

+GRS

GC July 5

Photo: The Rev. Catherine Plummer from Navajoland with Bishop George Sumner. 

Bishop’s blog from General Convention 

Greetings in Christ from Austin. Convention officially starts today, but the side of the event which is more like a church bazaar and reunion is in full swing. Guests from around the Communion are here, and the exhibit room has vendors whose wares include clergy shirts, social causes, and seminary educations! Clergy greet friends in the lobby. Koinonia includes the grassroots.

Last night was the listening session for Convention’s expression of #MeToo. It had morphed into a liturgy of testimony and repentance against a musical backdrop of Taize, all of which I thought was a wise. The personal statements, read by bishops and protecting privacy, were from young and old, men and women. As a theologian, I was struck by the need, here as everywhere, for a robust doctrine of sin and redemption to come to terms with the brokenness of the Church.

On a happier note, Stephanie and I enjoyed dinner with Bishop Michael and our friends, the deputies from North Dakota.
Be assured that your deputation is working diligently and is led very ably by Mother Victoria. The major resolutions concerning the Prayer Book and marriage are still in committee. Let me remind everyone that, no matter the outcome of these debates here, we will remain steadfast in the teaching of the Church catholic and continue with traditional Prayer Book worship. Keep praying for us!

Peace

+GRS