GC Day 8
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I am sorry for being tardy in my blogging but the pace of meetings at this convention is breakneck. It is Wednesday and more clear decisions will be made today on resolutions about marriage. In the House of Bishops comprehensive BCP revision was rejected yesterday, and a more general resolution about continuing local and provisional revision was approved. For my part the affirmation of a continuing place for the 1979 book, as well as a willingness to consider a more English or Canadian way of thinking about the BCP, were welcome. (My favorite quote in the debate was read by Bishop Brewer from an email of a millennial: “why shouldn’t you boomers wreck the Prayer Book, you wrecked everything else in our world.”
Yesterday’s big event was the re-admission of the Church of Cuba into our Church. (Bishop Griselda will be visiting St. Michael and All Angels this coming Sunday). Both emigrants from Cuba and their children spoke movingly. Yesterday was also our joint session on the environment, with a powerful appeal from a young Alaskan Gwichen woman.
As I mentioned earlier, some of the most encouraging parts of convention happen in corridors or the exhibit hall. My accompanying photo of an old friend reminds us that, more quietly, Gospel ministry like church planting continues to go on throughout our Church.
Last evening the keynote speaker for the Nashotah dinner was our own curate at the cathedral, Ryan Pollock. His message about millennials and the longing for tradition may be more “ahead of the curve” than much of the avant garde you would find at convention itself.
Peace
+GRS