Seeking God's Spirit

Respectability is the number one sine qua non of General Convention. Whether you are a liberal or a conservative, you will find your place at the table as long as you look more or less like an Episcopalian. This is hard to define but you know it when you see it - from the bow ties and Brooks Brothers blazers sported by eager-beaver conservatives, to the Hawaiian shirts worn by the winsome Californians, everyone looks more or less respectable within the parameters of their given culture.

This presented my first challenge after arriving in Anaheim. I had spent the previous 2 1/2 months camping and studying while on sabbatical, and had gleefully let my respectability - always fragile in the first place - go to the dogs. But after a quick haircut, a trimming of my chin hair, and the donning of a clergy shirt for the first time since Easter, I am happy to report that I now fit in, more or less. It took some work, but I haven't been shown the door yet.

We are now, in our carefully dressed manner, seeking after the Holy Spirit. To my eye, She has visited us a few times: in the passionate testimony of Latino Episcopalians hoping to secure greater support for Hispanic ministries; in the outbreak of Gospel and South African rhythms at worship, in the prayerful manner in which all of us are attending to issues of inclusion for gay, lesbian, and transgendered members of our community.

We still have our divisions, to be sure; but if in nothing else, we are united in our prayers, and in our fashion sense. I get the sense that the Episcopal Church will prevail wherever well-dressed Christians bow their heads in prayer. This is some comfort, perhaps enough to get us through the days to come.

Matt Lawrence