Report from a volunteer

Hello to all from Anaheim. I completed my first day as a volunteer at General Convention. My volunteer duties are for Public Safety. Kati Braak from our own St. Michael’s Carmichael is the Public Safety Coordinator for General Convention. This is Kati’s third GC to act in this capacity. She has a staff of 3 coordinators, 8 supervisors (experienced PS volunteers) and 250 volunteers. It is the Public Safety’s task to make sure the right people are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. It’s called access control. PS is also responsible for responding to medical emergencies of which, there are several each day from falls, needs for band aids, to needing attention for fatigue. There are 2 registered RN’s on duty at convention at all times.

Serving as chair of the Communications Commission allowed me to obtain a media pass so I have spent time in both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops watching and listening to the discussions around important resolutions. I see many familiar faces from our diocese dressed in their yellow aprons; the apparel of a convention volunteer.

Keep our deputies and our Bishop in your prayers as these next few days bring some of the most important decisions for our church.

Peace to all, Jim Sargent

Kati Braak, Pubic Safety Coordinator

A Deputy Moment by Rev. Matthew Lawrence

It may safely be said that the Deputation of our Diocese is a relatively quiet one. We are not known for rushing to microphones to make breathless speeches. Nor do we huddle until dawn in strategy sessions, scheming to sway legislation. When debate on an arcane resolution is leading all 830 deputies by the nose into a muddled torpor, we mutter under our breaths that someone should call the question, but we don't tend to do it ourselves.

All this changed on Saturday, when Betsey Monnot strode to the microphone. With fire in her eyes and red hair blazing, she stood at the microphone like a hero of the faith. Significantly, the light bulb above her head turned on. The House fell silent. The President turned her majestic head toward the light.

"Microphone 4, to what purpose do you stand before us?"

Waving her 6-pound book of resolutions before a silent House, she spoke: "Madame President, Deputy Monnot from Northern California. I rise with a question."

The President gazed over her spectacles and beheld the witness, made tiny by the distance between them.

"Proceed."

"Line 13 on page 10 of Resolution A083 refers to the SCLEF. What, may I ask, is the SCLEF?"

The President looked momentarily confused, then quickly regained her composure. "I refer your question to the Secretary."

The Secretary scowled. "Madam President," he intoned, "that would be Standing Committee for Lifelong Education and Formation."

Humbled and yet strangely warmed, the Deputy with the fiery hair thanked the President and stepped down. The light went out. And thus our moment in the sun was over.

Rev. Matthew Lawrence