The One That Got Away
I don't usually shy from opportunities to speechify. But the prospect of addressing 830 members of the House of Deputies was truly terrifying to me. When invited by the Spirit or by other deputies to speak, I felt like a novice bungee jumper being nudged toward the edge of the Grand Canyon.
As it turned out, I never did address the House - though I was next in line to speak, heart pumping, when the final debate over the same- sex union resolution (C023) came to a close.
My regret is not that I didn't get to speak to that issue - there were plenty of others saying more or less the same thing - but that I didn't rush to the microphone to amend what I thought was a truly horrible resolution that passed nearly unnoticed - A063 from the Evangelism Committee: "Resolved ... that the 76th General Convention respond to the persistent and alarming numeric decline of Chrisitianity in the United States and the corresponding decline in the Episcopal Church by directing the Evangelism and Congregational Life Center of the Episcopal Church Center to actively initiate and participate in conversations on mainline mission and evangelism..."
I was embarrassed and alarmed by this resolution, and in the few seconds between the motion and the vote I felt an urging of the Spirit to speak. But in my terror I hesitated and the moment was lost.
This is what I would have said:
"There are many good reasons to do evangelism. Because we love God; because we love our neighbors; or just because it is fun to share one's faith in a deep and profound conversation. But the very worst reason - and the reason that will doom all evangelism efforts - is beause our church is in decline. Evangelism is only authentic when it is done out of love for the one being evangelized, and never when it seeks to perpetuate the institution of the church. People who are evangelized for that reason quickly smell the rat - that our only interest in them is to bolster our numbers, as if their only value is as a means to further our own ends.
"Let us never mistake our anxiety for the future of our church with a reason to do evangelism. I therefore propose that we amend it by striking lines [...] from the body of the text. "
So there it was - the fish that got away. But at least you have caught a glimpse of it - and that's almost as good!
Jul 18, 2009
Last Day Thoughts by Cookie Clark
Two things that the Presiding Bishop said has stuck with me. Early in convention, she said "Give us the grace to make our decisions with hope and speak the word of God to the world." The other occurred in the introduction to the budget "There is death in this budget--death of program and death of positions."
Clearly we are called to hope. Hope for the future of the church. Hope for the way we live out our mission. Hope for economic stability of our congregations and The Episcopal Church. And certainly we can empathize with The Episcopal Church mourning the loss of program as we struggle with our diocesan and congregational budgets. As one speaker, on the budget, said "we believe that in death life is changed but not ended. It is the same as our budgeting process--lots of potential for living creatively amid the grief over cuts in program.
On Thursday we debated a resolution submitted by Bishop Allen of Honduras. Like the situation in Honduras there was much disagreement over the details of the resolution. The final decision was to support Bishop Allen.
On Wednesday Stephen+ gave his comfort cross on a beaded necklace (that he had created) to a cashier at Starbucks in our hotel. Friday morning I saw her wearing it!
Now that convention is closed, what are we called to do? Participate in Domestic Violence Prevention training--participate in World AIDS Day--hold a healing service for wounded veterans--study the Anglican Covenant draft(s)--name a diocesan Day of Repentance and hold a service of repentance for slavery--take action consonant with the Earth Charter--recommit to anti-racism training--raise awareness of recovery issues --any more!
Our chaplain, the Rev. Frank Wade of Washington, asked "Did we combine our energy in a morally satisfying way? I hope so!
Clearly we are called to hope. Hope for the future of the church. Hope for the way we live out our mission. Hope for economic stability of our congregations and The Episcopal Church. And certainly we can empathize with The Episcopal Church mourning the loss of program as we struggle with our diocesan and congregational budgets. As one speaker, on the budget, said "we believe that in death life is changed but not ended. It is the same as our budgeting process--lots of potential for living creatively amid the grief over cuts in program.
On Thursday we debated a resolution submitted by Bishop Allen of Honduras. Like the situation in Honduras there was much disagreement over the details of the resolution. The final decision was to support Bishop Allen.
On Wednesday Stephen+ gave his comfort cross on a beaded necklace (that he had created) to a cashier at Starbucks in our hotel. Friday morning I saw her wearing it!
Now that convention is closed, what are we called to do? Participate in Domestic Violence Prevention training--participate in World AIDS Day--hold a healing service for wounded veterans--study the Anglican Covenant draft(s)--name a diocesan Day of Repentance and hold a service of repentance for slavery--take action consonant with the Earth Charter--recommit to anti-racism training--raise awareness of recovery issues --any more!
Our chaplain, the Rev. Frank Wade of Washington, asked "Did we combine our energy in a morally satisfying way? I hope so!
A New Day in The Episcopal Church by Dean Brian Baker
I just arrived home. General Convention was absolutely exhausting, and exhilarating. If you haven’t heard, this morning we passed the resolution that will open the door for same-sex blessings/marriages. A few days ago we passed the resolution that will allow us to ordain gay or lesbian bishops. Both of these resolutions passed by huge majorities.
It is clear that a new era has come to the Episcopal Church. We have stopped holding ourselves hostage to the concerns of others in the Anglican Communion. Yes we care about our sisters and brothers in other provinces of the Anglican Communion. But we aren’t going to try to hold the Communion together by discriminating against gays and lesbians. Not anymore. Not ever again.
And we aren’t going to put a bushel-basket over the particular light we have in The Episcopal Church. Because we care about our siblings in the Anglican Communion, we will share with them the gospel of Christ that we have found. That gospel necessarily includes the full inclusion of those who are gay or lesbian. We now know that our church would be terribly diminished if we didn’t have the witness of the brave and holy gay and lesbian Christians. Why handicap Christ’s body?
That’s enough opining for tonight. I’m home for 36 hours. Then I get my son to scout camp and fly to Salt Lake to take care of some business before driving back to Sacramento with Andrea.
I’m hoping in the days to come I’ll have a chance to blog about some of my experiences at Convention. I had a lovely breakfast with the Dean of the Cathedral in Central Florida where we openly discussed our differences and explored what the direction of this convention meant for each of us. Andrea and I went to the opening of a short documentary about the strain on gay families caused by Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I then participated in a panel discussion with Dan Choi and a few other folks. (This wasn’t part of Convention. It just happened to take place while we were there.)
It is clear that a new era has come to the Episcopal Church. We have stopped holding ourselves hostage to the concerns of others in the Anglican Communion. Yes we care about our sisters and brothers in other provinces of the Anglican Communion. But we aren’t going to try to hold the Communion together by discriminating against gays and lesbians. Not anymore. Not ever again.
And we aren’t going to put a bushel-basket over the particular light we have in The Episcopal Church. Because we care about our siblings in the Anglican Communion, we will share with them the gospel of Christ that we have found. That gospel necessarily includes the full inclusion of those who are gay or lesbian. We now know that our church would be terribly diminished if we didn’t have the witness of the brave and holy gay and lesbian Christians. Why handicap Christ’s body?
That’s enough opining for tonight. I’m home for 36 hours. Then I get my son to scout camp and fly to Salt Lake to take care of some business before driving back to Sacramento with Andrea.
I’m hoping in the days to come I’ll have a chance to blog about some of my experiences at Convention. I had a lovely breakfast with the Dean of the Cathedral in Central Florida where we openly discussed our differences and explored what the direction of this convention meant for each of us. Andrea and I went to the opening of a short documentary about the strain on gay families caused by Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I then participated in a panel discussion with Dan Choi and a few other folks. (This wasn’t part of Convention. It just happened to take place while we were there.)
It's a Wrap by Cookie Clark
Wednesday
I spent Sunday D-025 (witness to the Anglican communion) came before the house of deputies. I trusted our deputies to listen prayerfully to the Holy Spirit when they voted.
Tuesday I visited the House of Bishops. The ecumenical and interreligious visitors were there to greet the Bishops. A cantor, an Episcopal priest, and an Islamic leader sang an Abrahamic Blessing blending their voices. At the end they hugged. It was a very moving experience.
Following that, the Bishops considered A-074 (Theological statement on interreligious relations). Bishop +Beisner received special Kudos for noticing erroneous reference.
Time off the floor means being able to walk the exhibit hall. Multiply by 50 the number of exhibits at our convention. There are lots of free items: buttons for every issue you can think of, note pads, pens, booklets, etc.
I hauled an alb and stole to Anaheim and was assigned as deacon at all Eucharists. The duties of the deacons are to carry a flagon of wine to the altar, take it to one of the ten communion stations (mine has been number one), fill the eight chalices, and then look important – and be ready to fill any chalices that get low.
Meanwhile I discovered a resolution that contains a litany on trafficking of women and another setting Prison Ministry Sunday. I am looking forward to sharing these at Epiphany.
It has been exciting to meet so many people from our diocese. Thanks to Anne Pierson for all her work encouraging people to come to Anaheim and serve as volunteers.
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