Reflections on First Official Day by Dean Brian Baker

Yesterday (Wednesday, July 8) we had our first daily worship service. We somehow managed to turn a huge convention room into holy space. It is lovely to have 3000 or so Episcopalians in one place all singing heartily. The Presiding Bishop preached (click here to read her sermon)

On the wall behind the altar, they projected these beautiful “stained glass windows.”
(click here to view photos)

We also had our first legislative session of the House of Deputies. 4 clergy and 4 lay persons from each diocese sit together in a huge room. The President and other officers sit on a large dais. Behind them are the flags of all the nations in which the Episcopal Church exists (like Honduras).

When we registered we were given a huge notebook in which we will put all the resolutions we consider and our daily business. At the beginning of each session we load our notebooks with more sheets.

Also today the protesters arrived.They tried to make up in energy what they lacked in numbers, but nobody took much notice.

The evening ended with a great presentation by the Presiding Bishop and the Archbishop of Canterbury and three folks in the Episcopal Church working on the front lines of economic and ecological justice. I commend their presentations to you. You should be able to find them on the Media Hub here: http://gchub.episcopalchurch.org/

Committee on Ministry, Activity & Reflections by Stephen Carpenter

Take a deep breath, fasten your seat belts. Start your engines and here we go! There always is an air of excitement and electricity as you enter the doors of the House of Deputies. With all deputies in their seats (over 850) the President of the House of Deputies, Bonnie Anderson, declares that the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church is called to order.

Yesterday my committee, #14 on Ministry, met and discussed the resolutions appointed to us. These resolutions deal with Multicultural Leadership Development, amending canons dealing with ministry, Theological Education Issues, Indigenous Ministry Training, and many more. We have our work layed out before us!

I sit in the House of Deputies wondering where the Holy Spirit will take us. I am very proud of our Episcopal Church and I know that God is still, and will remain in control. Keep us all in your prayers!

The Rev. Canon Stephen M. Carpenter