Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Jamestown Cross
UBUNTU: Ubuntu was the theme for General Convention 2009. Ubuntu is an African way of life of being oneself shaped through the community one is in. I in You and You in Me. When at Convention I definitely felt the theme take life in what we were doing. We dealt with many difficult issues but we worked through them together and respectfully. We listened to each other, we prayed with each other, we sang songs of praise with each other. We were truly a family and lived up to the theme of Ubuntu. We became good friends with many other deputations that were sitting near us as well. Our deputation grew very close while discussing resolutions that were put in front of us to vote on. We also participated in many social dinners and gatherings together that allowed us to talk more freely and get to know one another more fully. At the end of Convention I really felt like I had extended my church family to the national level, with the closest of these members being on my own deputation. Resolutions and church legislation are a very important part of General Convention, but the relationships built, and community felt is what Christ was all about.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Last day of convention: 7.17.09,
I won't lie, I am tired and ready for it to be over...but am very exctied to have been part of the deputation to Convention and had an amazing time and felt like we really did make history. : )
That morning legislative session we voted yet again against bringing C023 back to the floor for vote. We passed the concent calendar for the day, and we started talking about c056 which we later took a vote by orders on.
After that I had to pack my things real fast and get out of the hotel room by noon so i missed some of the eucharist with the Presiding Bishop giving the sermon so I was sad to miss that but needed to do what i needed to do.
I went to lunch w/Tray and Tim and then it was time for the 2pm leg. session:
C056 results came back, there needed to be 55 yes in both orders. clergy: 74 yes, 27 no, 7 div, carried by 68.5%. In the lay order it was 78 yes, 23 no, and 7 divided, carries by 72%.
There were elections to the Standing Committee of the search of the Presiding Bishop. C061 was amended by the HOB but they took away the list of who/what couldn't be discriminated on, and therefore it did not pass in the house, and was directed to a committee chosen by the Secretary of the House later. A051 was also taken in vote by orders. lay: 100 voted yes, and in clergy:98 yes, 2 no, 1 divided. Carries.
It was an amazing experience I will be writing a peice on Ubuntu and the over all feeling of the Convention for the James Cross soon, and I will post it on here as well. We are going to most likely have two debriefing/learning experiences for those in the diocese who wish to come and here about Convention. I will keep you posted! This has been a true pleasure serving the Diocese of Southern VA in this capacity as Deputy to General Convention and I am blessed to have had the opportunity and am very greatful! : )
I won't lie, I am tired and ready for it to be over...but am very exctied to have been part of the deputation to Convention and had an amazing time and felt like we really did make history. : )
That morning legislative session we voted yet again against bringing C023 back to the floor for vote. We passed the concent calendar for the day, and we started talking about c056 which we later took a vote by orders on.
After that I had to pack my things real fast and get out of the hotel room by noon so i missed some of the eucharist with the Presiding Bishop giving the sermon so I was sad to miss that but needed to do what i needed to do.
I went to lunch w/Tray and Tim and then it was time for the 2pm leg. session:
C056 results came back, there needed to be 55 yes in both orders. clergy: 74 yes, 27 no, 7 div, carried by 68.5%. In the lay order it was 78 yes, 23 no, and 7 divided, carries by 72%.
There were elections to the Standing Committee of the search of the Presiding Bishop. C061 was amended by the HOB but they took away the list of who/what couldn't be discriminated on, and therefore it did not pass in the house, and was directed to a committee chosen by the Secretary of the House later. A051 was also taken in vote by orders. lay: 100 voted yes, and in clergy:98 yes, 2 no, 1 divided. Carries.
It was an amazing experience I will be writing a peice on Ubuntu and the over all feeling of the Convention for the James Cross soon, and I will post it on here as well. We are going to most likely have two debriefing/learning experiences for those in the diocese who wish to come and here about Convention. I will keep you posted! This has been a true pleasure serving the Diocese of Southern VA in this capacity as Deputy to General Convention and I am blessed to have had the opportunity and am very greatful! : )
Friday, July 17, 2009
Continuation of 9.16.09:
9am session: Passed X013 Special Order for consideration of Report from PB&F to be heard at the 2pm session. Passed other not as exciting resolutions.
I went to sleep during lunch hour. Still so tired.
2pm session: Passed concent calendar for the day (which is increasing daily since it is just one vote for all resolutions in it). Passed budget with no amendment after having special order for it. D048 urging Universal Health Care was a hot issue. We voted 50.4 yes, 49.6 No. C023 came up about Sam Sex Unions:Defense of Marital Statuses, there was a vote by order and some confusion on deputations' votes and even 2 people asked for us to relook at the decision, but we didnt. Lay: 70 yes, 28 no, 11 divided (which equals no) and Clergy: 60 yes, 35 no, 14 divided, it passed in both orders and therefore carries.
That night I went out with some people from the chicago deputation as well as Tim Sessions to an Indian restuarant it was good. Then we went to the U2Charist which was long and loud, so we left after the peace, then went to the social wind down hour in the Bishop's room, then bed.
This morning (7.17.09) I am up, went to the deputation meeting that was in the Bishops room for 45 minutes and we discussed some closing legislation as well as ideas for meetings later throughout the diocese to tell our stories.
I am going to write again on the last day probably tomorrow.
: )
9am session: Passed X013 Special Order for consideration of Report from PB&F to be heard at the 2pm session. Passed other not as exciting resolutions.
I went to sleep during lunch hour. Still so tired.
2pm session: Passed concent calendar for the day (which is increasing daily since it is just one vote for all resolutions in it). Passed budget with no amendment after having special order for it. D048 urging Universal Health Care was a hot issue. We voted 50.4 yes, 49.6 No. C023 came up about Sam Sex Unions:Defense of Marital Statuses, there was a vote by order and some confusion on deputations' votes and even 2 people asked for us to relook at the decision, but we didnt. Lay: 70 yes, 28 no, 11 divided (which equals no) and Clergy: 60 yes, 35 no, 14 divided, it passed in both orders and therefore carries.
That night I went out with some people from the chicago deputation as well as Tim Sessions to an Indian restuarant it was good. Then we went to the U2Charist which was long and loud, so we left after the peace, then went to the social wind down hour in the Bishop's room, then bed.
This morning (7.17.09) I am up, went to the deputation meeting that was in the Bishops room for 45 minutes and we discussed some closing legislation as well as ideas for meetings later throughout the diocese to tell our stories.
I am going to write again on the last day probably tomorrow.
: )
Thursday, July 16, 2009
7.15.09
Update from yesterday: C061 passed in the HOD and sent to the HOB which came back with an amendment from them which we then passed and changed a little again so it went back to the HOB and was passed.
2-6pm legislative session: (PS I have no more legislative committees!) During the joint session we got the National Church's Propopsed Budget. We passed x013 a special order resolution on D067 on Mission and Missionary Budget.
We passed a lot of other resolutions as well.
That night it was Tray's birthday so we went to Outback steakhouse. Then I came home and hung out and went to sleep.
9am session coming up! : )
Update from yesterday: C061 passed in the HOD and sent to the HOB which came back with an amendment from them which we then passed and changed a little again so it went back to the HOB and was passed.
2-6pm legislative session: (PS I have no more legislative committees!) During the joint session we got the National Church's Propopsed Budget. We passed x013 a special order resolution on D067 on Mission and Missionary Budget.
We passed a lot of other resolutions as well.
That night it was Tray's birthday so we went to Outback steakhouse. Then I came home and hung out and went to sleep.
9am session coming up! : )
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
9.14.09:
D025 came back from the HOB with an amendment *an amendment that did not do too much to what the resolution orignally said* and after long debate was passed in the HOD. C061 is the resolution that is now a hot topic resolution, this resolution is close in relation to that of D025, it just also includes transgendered people (to allow them to be ordained into any ministry in the church and express what gender they feel they are).
I went to both Disneyland and Disney's CA Adventure yesterday and had a wonderful time but am not veryveryvery tired this morning. I woke up at 6:30 to make it to the 7am deputation meeting and woke up again around 715 and so I called the deputation and told them I would need to miss out on the AM legislative session.
I will keep you posted on the last few days of convention! : )
D025 came back from the HOB with an amendment *an amendment that did not do too much to what the resolution orignally said* and after long debate was passed in the HOD. C061 is the resolution that is now a hot topic resolution, this resolution is close in relation to that of D025, it just also includes transgendered people (to allow them to be ordained into any ministry in the church and express what gender they feel they are).
I went to both Disneyland and Disney's CA Adventure yesterday and had a wonderful time but am not veryveryvery tired this morning. I woke up at 6:30 to make it to the 7am deputation meeting and woke up again around 715 and so I called the deputation and told them I would need to miss out on the AM legislative session.
I will keep you posted on the last few days of convention! : )
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Continuation of 9.12.09:
After a lovely 2 hours of pool time I came back, took a shower and was off to legislative session from 3-6pm. We had nominations for executive council, and trustees of the General Theological Seminary. We started talk on resolution D025 which will change the history of our church if we and the HOB pass it! In essence it is calling everyone (esp. homosexual people) to every ministry opportunity in this church, priest and bishop. When we had the vote by orders vote I went to ask what our alternates thought because it was such a big issue I wanted to have everyone's input, the ones who chose to respond all agreed we should adopt the resolution. As we voted all of the clergy but one, as well as all of they lay voted to adopt the resolution. In the HOD there were 77 lay vote by orders that were for adoption, and 31 against. In the clergy there were 74 for and 35 against, for lay we needed 50 to pass, and in clergy, 49. So it passed!!!! It was now onto the HOB for passing.
That night Samantha, Tray, Tim, Amelia and I all went out to Pop The Cork for dinner at Anaheim Gardenwalk and Tray, Amelia and I went to Bar Louise after for a beer. Got home around 11:30pm, woke up at 6am!
7.13.09: Woke up Tired! The newness and excitement is starting to wear down and now the exhaustion is catching up. Went to the deputation meeting where we decided to start meeting at 7am now since the legislative committees were going to slow down. Not my committee...there was a hearing in which was to repeal B033 where most everyone was for it (but with D025 I don't think that is really an issue as far as legislation is concerned anymore) and they started to deliberate on some resolutions at which time I left because I knew I would later hear them in the HOD. I was tired and got a little moody (just mehh...) so I got some coffee before 9:30am legislative session. In that session we talked more on the special order of B023, the Bishop elect of Ecuador Central. There was much split feelings in that diocese about if he should be Bishop. However, the committee dealing with this promised us that they conducted their search and process the way they are supposed too by the constitution and cannons.
After that I was so tired I skipped Eucharist for the first time being here (which later I found many others had as well...) and went straight to sleep for about an hour and a half...very much needed nap.
I woke up ate lunch, got more coffee and went to the legislative session at 2-6pm. At this session it was a little boring because they were slightly nit picky or reduntant in positive thought about certain resolutios. We voted and carried that beginning with concent calendar day 6 we would have one vote for or against everything on the concent calendar. We adopted day 6 as recommended. we had 3rd, 4th, and 5th Ballots on Church Pension Fund Trustees and finally had all we needed for election. We had 3rd and 4th Ballots on Bishop search committee and got all we needed in lay but not clergy.
We passed B023 in favor of the Bishop elect of Ecuador Central. That night we had our Southern VA Dinner with the Bishop at the Whitehouse Anaheim, it was absolutely Gorgeous and I had a great vegetarian meal!!! : ) Went to bed around 11pm, up at 6:30, and am going to Disneyland and Disney's CA Adventure all day tonight! : ). This is my full break day!
After a lovely 2 hours of pool time I came back, took a shower and was off to legislative session from 3-6pm. We had nominations for executive council, and trustees of the General Theological Seminary. We started talk on resolution D025 which will change the history of our church if we and the HOB pass it! In essence it is calling everyone (esp. homosexual people) to every ministry opportunity in this church, priest and bishop. When we had the vote by orders vote I went to ask what our alternates thought because it was such a big issue I wanted to have everyone's input, the ones who chose to respond all agreed we should adopt the resolution. As we voted all of the clergy but one, as well as all of they lay voted to adopt the resolution. In the HOD there were 77 lay vote by orders that were for adoption, and 31 against. In the clergy there were 74 for and 35 against, for lay we needed 50 to pass, and in clergy, 49. So it passed!!!! It was now onto the HOB for passing.
That night Samantha, Tray, Tim, Amelia and I all went out to Pop The Cork for dinner at Anaheim Gardenwalk and Tray, Amelia and I went to Bar Louise after for a beer. Got home around 11:30pm, woke up at 6am!
7.13.09: Woke up Tired! The newness and excitement is starting to wear down and now the exhaustion is catching up. Went to the deputation meeting where we decided to start meeting at 7am now since the legislative committees were going to slow down. Not my committee...there was a hearing in which was to repeal B033 where most everyone was for it (but with D025 I don't think that is really an issue as far as legislation is concerned anymore) and they started to deliberate on some resolutions at which time I left because I knew I would later hear them in the HOD. I was tired and got a little moody (just mehh...) so I got some coffee before 9:30am legislative session. In that session we talked more on the special order of B023, the Bishop elect of Ecuador Central. There was much split feelings in that diocese about if he should be Bishop. However, the committee dealing with this promised us that they conducted their search and process the way they are supposed too by the constitution and cannons.
After that I was so tired I skipped Eucharist for the first time being here (which later I found many others had as well...) and went straight to sleep for about an hour and a half...very much needed nap.
I woke up ate lunch, got more coffee and went to the legislative session at 2-6pm. At this session it was a little boring because they were slightly nit picky or reduntant in positive thought about certain resolutios. We voted and carried that beginning with concent calendar day 6 we would have one vote for or against everything on the concent calendar. We adopted day 6 as recommended. we had 3rd, 4th, and 5th Ballots on Church Pension Fund Trustees and finally had all we needed for election. We had 3rd and 4th Ballots on Bishop search committee and got all we needed in lay but not clergy.
We passed B023 in favor of the Bishop elect of Ecuador Central. That night we had our Southern VA Dinner with the Bishop at the Whitehouse Anaheim, it was absolutely Gorgeous and I had a great vegetarian meal!!! : ) Went to bed around 11pm, up at 6:30, and am going to Disneyland and Disney's CA Adventure all day tonight! : ). This is my full break day!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
7.11.09
So for the morning legislative session we elected the Vice President for the next three years who is the same vice president now (and same with the President, although we did not do that today we did that a day or so ago) and passed other resolutions that will be in the big report that will be printed sometime in January once completed. Then was Eucharist, then Samantha and i worked out during lunch (and made a quick sandwich). Then we had Public Narrative from 2-3:30pm and after, one of the priests in the group came up to me and said that he thought a may be interested/good for the job of being on the National Standing Committee on Evangelism. And I thought it was really nice of him to think of me and I will think about it.
Then there was another legislative session from 4-6 where we heard from representatives/the equivalents to what our HOD president or PB is. New Zealand, Ghana, Canada, Brazil, Kenya and South Africa were represented, and showed great love and support for all we are doing. The New Zealand representative told us that there were many unchecked horrible rumors flying around the Communion for some time but after actually talking with and finding out the truth they were very much in support of us.
We did the 1st Ballots for Trial of Bishops and 2nd Ballot for Church Pension Fund trustees.
After that I went to the Nashotah House reception. I had a wonderful conversation with two people who were more conservative about the issues facing us at this Convention but I told them how appreciative that I was that they were there as well as for our conversation.
Then some of us went to downtown disney to the jazz kitchen and had a lovely social time.
This morning Samantha and I woke up and went to the Women's Caucus breakfast, which was exciting...they talked about the issues they once faced and the issues that we are now facing and how there are many parallels. Now its time for the UTO ingathering/Eucharist and then free time till 3pm (pool time!!!)
: )
So for the morning legislative session we elected the Vice President for the next three years who is the same vice president now (and same with the President, although we did not do that today we did that a day or so ago) and passed other resolutions that will be in the big report that will be printed sometime in January once completed. Then was Eucharist, then Samantha and i worked out during lunch (and made a quick sandwich). Then we had Public Narrative from 2-3:30pm and after, one of the priests in the group came up to me and said that he thought a may be interested/good for the job of being on the National Standing Committee on Evangelism. And I thought it was really nice of him to think of me and I will think about it.
Then there was another legislative session from 4-6 where we heard from representatives/the equivalents to what our HOD president or PB is. New Zealand, Ghana, Canada, Brazil, Kenya and South Africa were represented, and showed great love and support for all we are doing. The New Zealand representative told us that there were many unchecked horrible rumors flying around the Communion for some time but after actually talking with and finding out the truth they were very much in support of us.
We did the 1st Ballots for Trial of Bishops and 2nd Ballot for Church Pension Fund trustees.
After that I went to the Nashotah House reception. I had a wonderful conversation with two people who were more conservative about the issues facing us at this Convention but I told them how appreciative that I was that they were there as well as for our conversation.
Then some of us went to downtown disney to the jazz kitchen and had a lovely social time.
This morning Samantha and I woke up and went to the Women's Caucus breakfast, which was exciting...they talked about the issues they once faced and the issues that we are now facing and how there are many parallels. Now its time for the UTO ingathering/Eucharist and then free time till 3pm (pool time!!!)
: )
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Not Much...
Since I wrote till the wee hours of the night last night not much has occured yet. However, I got up went to the Deputation meeting at 6:30am than seen that the Commission was going into deliberation aka I would here what they had to say about the resolutions being looked at in the HOD...so I decided to eat breakfast with Samantha at our hotel instead and check up on some stuff.
Today however, I will be the "Head of the Deputation" because David T. is taking the day off. So thats kind of exciting/nerve wrecking a little at the same time. But it will be exciting and everyone around me will help me if anything crazy comes along.
So till something else happens....
Today however, I will be the "Head of the Deputation" because David T. is taking the day off. So thats kind of exciting/nerve wrecking a little at the same time. But it will be exciting and everyone around me will help me if anything crazy comes along.
So till something else happens....
Friday, July 10, 2009
Long time coming=long blog
Continuation of 7.9.09:
After the legislative committee from 2-4pm, it was necessary for some coffee. I was actually quite emotionally charged after the committee meeting because it seemed to me that we, as the Episcopal Church, were trying so hard not to further offend the Anglican Community, but I was confused on what they were doing in order to stay in communion with us. I got a real sense of Our way or the Highway. However, I do not know if the Anglican Communion feels the same way about us. So I calmed down a bit and really actually wanted to figure out if they truly were doing anything (this is still a task I am working on throughout this Convention)
The next legislative session was from 4:30-6pm. At this legislative session we tried to elect 12 people to the Church Pension Fund Trustees, however, there was a lot of malfunction of in the voting key pads so we decided not to continue with it, and wait till another time where the kinks were all worked out. So we moved on to our first meeting as "The Committee Of the Whole" this is committee #8 (World Commission *the one I am reporting most on*) way of trying to bring this issue up slowly to the HOD and hear from the Deputies in order to gain some guidance on how the HOD feels about the issue of B033 in order to shape legislation accordingly. They began with approximately a 15 minute history on B033 and went into an activity.
The first activity was a 30 minute exercise where Deputies were asked to get with a Deputy they did not know and physically close to where they were sitting and talk about three questions with that Deputy. The questions were: What is your story with B033, What is the church's story with B033, and what should the church do now. I met with the head of the Deputation, also a Senior Deputy from Utah. He had much insight and brought up points I had not thought about. In the end he was in favor for moving beyond B033.
Immediately after the session was over I grabbed my friend and 19 year old 2nd time Deputy from Chicago to come with me to the National Cathedral reception. There were many people there and we spoke with the director of events who had put the reception on and learned more about all the National Cathedral in Washington DC has to offer. One most important thing was that they have hours and hours of videos of interviews with many influencial people, including Desmond Tutu.
After that around 8:15pm I grabbed another friend, 22 year old Alt. Deputy from South Western VA and we went to the opening reception of the Young Adult Festival (YAF) that started that night. After meeting up with another friend actually from our Diocese we all went out to the "Block" to a restaurant and had margaritas while discussing the future of our Church. Went to bed around 11:15pm.
Friday, July 10th:
Woke up again at 6am, attended the deputaion meeting at 6:30am where the debriefing from each of us is getting longer and more interesting as more resolutions move through the legislative committees.
I went to the only legislative committee meeting time scheduled for the day at 7:30-9am, and half way was visited by Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander, assistant rector at my church, roommate, and good friend. The committee said that they would meet again at 7:30pm-10pm, however, I believe this to be a closed meeting because it was not listed on the board for open committee meetings in the Convention Center *and either way I was not going to be able to attend*. The committee almost immediately got into sub committees because the hearing they had planned for D020 had no one signed up to testify for.
Samantha and I listened into the Bishop Elections and Anglican Communion subcommittee as they tried to perfect the resolution C061, which in the end they brought before the main Committee when they regrouped. After a lot of debating on grammer and word use the subcommittee came up with something that basically said this: All baptised persons will have access to any ministry and not have their discernment process discriminated against based on (all the normal things, marital status, sex, age, race, ethnicity) but here's the important part: sexual orientaion, gender identity or expression.
When the subcommittees came together and it was time to present this amended C061 there was much confusion on the presenting committee's part about whether they were just perfecting the resolution to bring to the House floor or to actually reccommend the resolution when it is on the floor of both houses. This kind of annoyed me...that is what committees DO...that is their job, how are you on a committee and not know that? This caused some slight confusion, and therefore not as many Deputies were on board with the resolution as perfected as once thought. However when brought to a vote there were 17 deputies who passed it to go to the HOD and 8 who voted against bringing it to the floor. The 4 Bishops in the group all voted against bringing it too any house. However, since the Deputies passed it my understanding is that it will first go to the HOD and if passed *without amendment* will go back to the committee for the Bishops on that committee to back a recommendation or not. Either way it will go to the House of Bishops *HOB* at that point, but with a recommendation it would look better to the HOB.
This could be one of the major resolutions we deal with at General Convention, this could be the resolution that moves us past B033. Stay tuned!
After that we went into Legislative Session where we did not do anything of real controversy.
Then was Eucharist. After Eucharist i went and worked out, got coffee and was back for the 2-6pm Legislative Session. John Baldwin gave up his voice and vote this session to Alternate Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander. At this session we voted and elected 6 Trustees to the Church Pension Fund. We also heard from the President of the Episcopal Relief and Development, and most controversially had an hour of talk on views of B033, where speakers who addressed the House won the lottery conducted the day before. John Baldwin had previously gotten a low number and gave it to Rev. Michael on our deputation, and he spoke ellogantly and with ease. My Deputy friend from Chicago was also able to speak. There were a total of 30 speakers, 20 of them for moving beyond and forward from B033 and 10 wanting to take no action. If you think about that, that's 2/3rds of the house on the side of moving beyond B033. Also there was much confusion and concern surrounding the resolution of accepting Rev. Luis (something) to become the Bishop of Ecuador that came from the Committee on Bishop Elections. A woman passionately spoke against this resolution saying that when the process was occuring in Ecuador a lot of shady actions were being taken in order for this man to come so far, and that half the provinces wanted him as Bishop but the other half did not, and that in many ways people were oppressed and it was not a fair and just process. This resolution was tabled until there was more documentated information for the Deputies to look over to aid in their decision on what to do.
7:00Pm I went with Samantha and Marilyn Meek to the UTO Dinner and it was absolutely wonderful. The food and company were lovely and the Bishop speaking was inspiring and humourous.
9pm I joined the Chicago Deputation for their social meeting and met up with yet two more friends from that diocese!
On the way back to my hotel I met up with some of the YAF participants who'd gone to the Integrity Eucharist who had nothing but great things to say about the service, I got to go to the one last Convention and I heard it matched up to that standard.
10pm I joined my diocese for their social time. I met up with the new Rector of Johns Memorial, the church I attended when I was at Longwood and found that he had brought at least one other student that I knew, and I was excited to see them.
11:37 I am finally caught up on my blog and am ready for some much needed rest! : ) I'll try not to take so long in catching up next time, so the blog won't be as long.
After the legislative committee from 2-4pm, it was necessary for some coffee. I was actually quite emotionally charged after the committee meeting because it seemed to me that we, as the Episcopal Church, were trying so hard not to further offend the Anglican Community, but I was confused on what they were doing in order to stay in communion with us. I got a real sense of Our way or the Highway. However, I do not know if the Anglican Communion feels the same way about us. So I calmed down a bit and really actually wanted to figure out if they truly were doing anything (this is still a task I am working on throughout this Convention)
The next legislative session was from 4:30-6pm. At this legislative session we tried to elect 12 people to the Church Pension Fund Trustees, however, there was a lot of malfunction of in the voting key pads so we decided not to continue with it, and wait till another time where the kinks were all worked out. So we moved on to our first meeting as "The Committee Of the Whole" this is committee #8 (World Commission *the one I am reporting most on*) way of trying to bring this issue up slowly to the HOD and hear from the Deputies in order to gain some guidance on how the HOD feels about the issue of B033 in order to shape legislation accordingly. They began with approximately a 15 minute history on B033 and went into an activity.
The first activity was a 30 minute exercise where Deputies were asked to get with a Deputy they did not know and physically close to where they were sitting and talk about three questions with that Deputy. The questions were: What is your story with B033, What is the church's story with B033, and what should the church do now. I met with the head of the Deputation, also a Senior Deputy from Utah. He had much insight and brought up points I had not thought about. In the end he was in favor for moving beyond B033.
Immediately after the session was over I grabbed my friend and 19 year old 2nd time Deputy from Chicago to come with me to the National Cathedral reception. There were many people there and we spoke with the director of events who had put the reception on and learned more about all the National Cathedral in Washington DC has to offer. One most important thing was that they have hours and hours of videos of interviews with many influencial people, including Desmond Tutu.
After that around 8:15pm I grabbed another friend, 22 year old Alt. Deputy from South Western VA and we went to the opening reception of the Young Adult Festival (YAF) that started that night. After meeting up with another friend actually from our Diocese we all went out to the "Block" to a restaurant and had margaritas while discussing the future of our Church. Went to bed around 11:15pm.
Friday, July 10th:
Woke up again at 6am, attended the deputaion meeting at 6:30am where the debriefing from each of us is getting longer and more interesting as more resolutions move through the legislative committees.
I went to the only legislative committee meeting time scheduled for the day at 7:30-9am, and half way was visited by Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander, assistant rector at my church, roommate, and good friend. The committee said that they would meet again at 7:30pm-10pm, however, I believe this to be a closed meeting because it was not listed on the board for open committee meetings in the Convention Center *and either way I was not going to be able to attend*. The committee almost immediately got into sub committees because the hearing they had planned for D020 had no one signed up to testify for.
Samantha and I listened into the Bishop Elections and Anglican Communion subcommittee as they tried to perfect the resolution C061, which in the end they brought before the main Committee when they regrouped. After a lot of debating on grammer and word use the subcommittee came up with something that basically said this: All baptised persons will have access to any ministry and not have their discernment process discriminated against based on (all the normal things, marital status, sex, age, race, ethnicity) but here's the important part: sexual orientaion, gender identity or expression.
When the subcommittees came together and it was time to present this amended C061 there was much confusion on the presenting committee's part about whether they were just perfecting the resolution to bring to the House floor or to actually reccommend the resolution when it is on the floor of both houses. This kind of annoyed me...that is what committees DO...that is their job, how are you on a committee and not know that? This caused some slight confusion, and therefore not as many Deputies were on board with the resolution as perfected as once thought. However when brought to a vote there were 17 deputies who passed it to go to the HOD and 8 who voted against bringing it to the floor. The 4 Bishops in the group all voted against bringing it too any house. However, since the Deputies passed it my understanding is that it will first go to the HOD and if passed *without amendment* will go back to the committee for the Bishops on that committee to back a recommendation or not. Either way it will go to the House of Bishops *HOB* at that point, but with a recommendation it would look better to the HOB.
This could be one of the major resolutions we deal with at General Convention, this could be the resolution that moves us past B033. Stay tuned!
After that we went into Legislative Session where we did not do anything of real controversy.
Then was Eucharist. After Eucharist i went and worked out, got coffee and was back for the 2-6pm Legislative Session. John Baldwin gave up his voice and vote this session to Alternate Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander. At this session we voted and elected 6 Trustees to the Church Pension Fund. We also heard from the President of the Episcopal Relief and Development, and most controversially had an hour of talk on views of B033, where speakers who addressed the House won the lottery conducted the day before. John Baldwin had previously gotten a low number and gave it to Rev. Michael on our deputation, and he spoke ellogantly and with ease. My Deputy friend from Chicago was also able to speak. There were a total of 30 speakers, 20 of them for moving beyond and forward from B033 and 10 wanting to take no action. If you think about that, that's 2/3rds of the house on the side of moving beyond B033. Also there was much confusion and concern surrounding the resolution of accepting Rev. Luis (something) to become the Bishop of Ecuador that came from the Committee on Bishop Elections. A woman passionately spoke against this resolution saying that when the process was occuring in Ecuador a lot of shady actions were being taken in order for this man to come so far, and that half the provinces wanted him as Bishop but the other half did not, and that in many ways people were oppressed and it was not a fair and just process. This resolution was tabled until there was more documentated information for the Deputies to look over to aid in their decision on what to do.
7:00Pm I went with Samantha and Marilyn Meek to the UTO Dinner and it was absolutely wonderful. The food and company were lovely and the Bishop speaking was inspiring and humourous.
9pm I joined the Chicago Deputation for their social meeting and met up with yet two more friends from that diocese!
On the way back to my hotel I met up with some of the YAF participants who'd gone to the Integrity Eucharist who had nothing but great things to say about the service, I got to go to the one last Convention and I heard it matched up to that standard.
10pm I joined my diocese for their social time. I met up with the new Rector of Johns Memorial, the church I attended when I was at Longwood and found that he had brought at least one other student that I knew, and I was excited to see them.
11:37 I am finally caught up on my blog and am ready for some much needed rest! : ) I'll try not to take so long in catching up next time, so the blog won't be as long.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
7.9.09
So I went to the Public Narrative session at 9:45am-11:30am and it was interesting, it was on trying to get people to understand your story of self, to get them hooked in order to challenge them to do something at the end of the full conversation. We were in a big table of about 10 of us and it was a nice growing/learning about others time.
1130-1245pm was Eucharist, nice as always.
1pm-Mission of the Holy Spirit did a nice skit and song about the MDG's in the exhibit hall many gathered to see what was going on.
1:30pm-went to VA Theological Seminary Luncheon and learned more about this important seminary to so many in our diocese. : )
2pm-Legislative committee hearings on Resolutions Do49, B015, b016, B019, D040 and D020.
Most of the testimony's were not very eventful except for d020 which I will explain more later, it really got me slightly riled up!
They also deliberated on A131, A132, and D007, but I left for that part because whatever they decide I will be told in the HOD and keep you updated.
: )
So I went to the Public Narrative session at 9:45am-11:30am and it was interesting, it was on trying to get people to understand your story of self, to get them hooked in order to challenge them to do something at the end of the full conversation. We were in a big table of about 10 of us and it was a nice growing/learning about others time.
1130-1245pm was Eucharist, nice as always.
1pm-Mission of the Holy Spirit did a nice skit and song about the MDG's in the exhibit hall many gathered to see what was going on.
1:30pm-went to VA Theological Seminary Luncheon and learned more about this important seminary to so many in our diocese. : )
2pm-Legislative committee hearings on Resolutions Do49, B015, b016, B019, D040 and D020.
Most of the testimony's were not very eventful except for d020 which I will explain more later, it really got me slightly riled up!
They also deliberated on A131, A132, and D007, but I left for that part because whatever they decide I will be told in the HOD and keep you updated.
: )
continuation of 7.8.09:
World Mission Commission: This is the commission I am following. This commission is broken into two subcommittees, one called World Mission and the other called Episcopal Elections and Anglican Communion. The way they meet normally is they will start with both subcommittees meeting as a whole discuss what each subcommittee has done and vote on things that need to be voted on and then get back into subcommittees. Now as time is going on, they are also having hearings on the resolutions each subcommittee is in charge of (that is at the beginning of each main meeting normally).
Wed, July 8th, 11am was my first legislative committee meeting. Here they decided that Resolution A039 would be discharged to Committee number 9, A133 would be discharged to Committee 6, and A189 which would be presented to the HOD would be adopted as written with out any amendment. Later in the HOD that day the commission asked to remove it from vote by the HOD because the resolution was missing an attached document. That same night they tasked the chair of the committee to find it and hopefully bring it back to the HOD today (Thursday, July 9).
Resolution C053 was discharged and referred to committee 7, stewardship committee.
A real treat was when the Archbishop of Canterbury came into our meeting for about 10 minutes, I'd never seen him in person, and it was exciting!
D027 was amended and was sent to the HOD which later they adopted.
Wed. afternoon the HOD passed a special order of business from the World Commission Committee to hear the history of and discuss B033 the following day (thursday, july 9) at 5pm. Those wanting to speak about it (with no debate, just feelings) would need to pick up chips and the lowest 30 numbers would get to speak to the HOD, as a lot of some kind.
At 2pm on Wed I went back to a legislative committee and they decided they would hold hearings that night fr,om 7:30-9/9:30 on resolutions A128 *Funding Missionaries*, C001, C046 *Both about Gender Identity with focus on transgenderism*, C061 *Asking to parallel the language in the Cannons of 3.12 and 3.13 in saying in 3.12 transgendered people can be admitted to canadicy, and in 3.13 saying they can then be granted ordination*. They had hearings after this on Resolutions A124 and A136 (Support EPGM). They decided that at 2pm tomorrow Thursday, the 7th, they would discuss D020. They also decided that at 7 am that same day they would hear what the subcommittee on Episcopal Elections and Anglican Communion (EEAC) was going to present history wise to the HOD at 5pm, and from 8-9am they would have hearings on Resolutions A134, A130, A131, A132, A190, and D007. Lastly, D026 was rejected because of the passing of a similar resolution of D027.
At 6:15pm the ArchBishop of Canterbury spoke along with a pannel of three others and the Presiding Bishop and HOD President on the Global Economy and what we can all do to help our situation and each other.
At 7:30pm I went back into legislative committee and listened to about 10 testimonies on the resolutions for that time, there were at least 7 transgendered people testifying and at least 4 of those were preists or deacons, which I personally thought was great. After that 6 resolutions from the World Commission subcommittee were deliberated on, A124, A125, D040, B015,
B016, and B019. Unfortunately I became very tired around 9pm and left, I was there to find out that A124 was discharged to the standing commission and A125 was discharge to Executive Council.
Personal Note: I went to workout after that, and on the way back to my hotel room got stuck in an elevator for about 10 mins, pretty scary, I won't lie. I slept like a baby, very tired, bed @10:15pm. It was a long and sort of stressful day, but in a good way. P.S. I didnt get dinner this night... : /
**** YOU CAN FIND ALL RESOLUTIONS ON THE GENERAL CONVENTION WEBSITE TO MAKE MORE SENSE OF WHAT THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE, AS WELL AS A DESCRIPTION OF COMMITTEE'S.************
Thursday, 7.9.09:
Woke up at 6:00am, went to the deputation morning meeting @6:30am, where I expressed my work from the previous day to two other deputies, and they said to make sure I am taking it easy and enjoying my experience, and it took some pressure off and I am glad to have spoken with them. i went to the legislative committee meeting @7am and at 7:15 or so they went into Executive Council, meaning by standers were not invited to stay. So I went back to my hotel room figuring that it may be a while, and because I could have stayed and waited from 30mins to an hour to hear the hearings, but since I was just told I could take it easy i left. I went back had breakfast and am now writing this blog. very relaxing! : )
More To come!
World Mission Commission: This is the commission I am following. This commission is broken into two subcommittees, one called World Mission and the other called Episcopal Elections and Anglican Communion. The way they meet normally is they will start with both subcommittees meeting as a whole discuss what each subcommittee has done and vote on things that need to be voted on and then get back into subcommittees. Now as time is going on, they are also having hearings on the resolutions each subcommittee is in charge of (that is at the beginning of each main meeting normally).
Wed, July 8th, 11am was my first legislative committee meeting. Here they decided that Resolution A039 would be discharged to Committee number 9, A133 would be discharged to Committee 6, and A189 which would be presented to the HOD would be adopted as written with out any amendment. Later in the HOD that day the commission asked to remove it from vote by the HOD because the resolution was missing an attached document. That same night they tasked the chair of the committee to find it and hopefully bring it back to the HOD today (Thursday, July 9).
Resolution C053 was discharged and referred to committee 7, stewardship committee.
A real treat was when the Archbishop of Canterbury came into our meeting for about 10 minutes, I'd never seen him in person, and it was exciting!
D027 was amended and was sent to the HOD which later they adopted.
Wed. afternoon the HOD passed a special order of business from the World Commission Committee to hear the history of and discuss B033 the following day (thursday, july 9) at 5pm. Those wanting to speak about it (with no debate, just feelings) would need to pick up chips and the lowest 30 numbers would get to speak to the HOD, as a lot of some kind.
At 2pm on Wed I went back to a legislative committee and they decided they would hold hearings that night fr,om 7:30-9/9:30 on resolutions A128 *Funding Missionaries*, C001, C046 *Both about Gender Identity with focus on transgenderism*, C061 *Asking to parallel the language in the Cannons of 3.12 and 3.13 in saying in 3.12 transgendered people can be admitted to canadicy, and in 3.13 saying they can then be granted ordination*. They had hearings after this on Resolutions A124 and A136 (Support EPGM). They decided that at 2pm tomorrow Thursday, the 7th, they would discuss D020. They also decided that at 7 am that same day they would hear what the subcommittee on Episcopal Elections and Anglican Communion (EEAC) was going to present history wise to the HOD at 5pm, and from 8-9am they would have hearings on Resolutions A134, A130, A131, A132, A190, and D007. Lastly, D026 was rejected because of the passing of a similar resolution of D027.
At 6:15pm the ArchBishop of Canterbury spoke along with a pannel of three others and the Presiding Bishop and HOD President on the Global Economy and what we can all do to help our situation and each other.
At 7:30pm I went back into legislative committee and listened to about 10 testimonies on the resolutions for that time, there were at least 7 transgendered people testifying and at least 4 of those were preists or deacons, which I personally thought was great. After that 6 resolutions from the World Commission subcommittee were deliberated on, A124, A125, D040, B015,
B016, and B019. Unfortunately I became very tired around 9pm and left, I was there to find out that A124 was discharged to the standing commission and A125 was discharge to Executive Council.
Personal Note: I went to workout after that, and on the way back to my hotel room got stuck in an elevator for about 10 mins, pretty scary, I won't lie. I slept like a baby, very tired, bed @10:15pm. It was a long and sort of stressful day, but in a good way. P.S. I didnt get dinner this night... : /
**** YOU CAN FIND ALL RESOLUTIONS ON THE GENERAL CONVENTION WEBSITE TO MAKE MORE SENSE OF WHAT THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE, AS WELL AS A DESCRIPTION OF COMMITTEE'S.************
Thursday, 7.9.09:
Woke up at 6:00am, went to the deputation morning meeting @6:30am, where I expressed my work from the previous day to two other deputies, and they said to make sure I am taking it easy and enjoying my experience, and it took some pressure off and I am glad to have spoken with them. i went to the legislative committee meeting @7am and at 7:15 or so they went into Executive Council, meaning by standers were not invited to stay. So I went back to my hotel room figuring that it may be a while, and because I could have stayed and waited from 30mins to an hour to hear the hearings, but since I was just told I could take it easy i left. I went back had breakfast and am now writing this blog. very relaxing! : )
More To come!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
IT's sooooo late! Well, okay its 10:07 but feels like 1:07am thats what it even says on my computer! Soooo Ok, I got up, was here at the convention center by 11:30pm on July 7th *tues*, Samantha Vincent and I are rooming together, and we traveled here together. We decided to try and save the diocese some money by going and getting food from a grocery store, which took a 20 min bus ride through Anaheim both to and fro. But we finally found a target and a natural food store. We got back around 3pm or so and I started unpacking as samantha napped. At 4pm we went to the Deputy Orientation. That was interesting, we learned how to electronically vote and there was a skit about how a resolution would be discussed, which of course centered around Disney characters/Disneyland.
Then Samantha and I went to the Chicago Consultation reception at 5:30pm and they had a speaker on who they were, what they were trying to do and what they were planning on doing. This collection of bishops and deputies and regular lay people are for the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bi sexual and trensgendered *LGBT* people in same sex blessings and so forth. They have a dvd out about African voices and two booklets/study guides on the theology of LGBT blessings and equal rights w/in the church.
At 6;30 we went to the International Bishops Dinner and seen just how diverse universally the Episcopal Church really is, we are truly not just a national church, but an international church.
After this, we gathered as a deputation in our Bishop's Hotel room for some social gathering time. by this time I was so jet lagged I stayed for about an hour and promptly went back, took a shower and headed to bed. best sleep ever.
7.9.09
I woke up at 6:30, Samantha and I went down for breakfast at our hotel, the marriott at 7, then the bishop joined us and we were able to find his views on some of the pressing issues on our minds *very helpful, a very open and sincere response*
8am was our first legislative session where we elected a secretary as well as asst secretaries and a treasurer and sent a message saying we were ready for business to the House of Bishops *HOB*
Next was community Eucharist with a wonderful sermon from the Presiding Bishop on the stability of the church in the Phillipeans and the importance of mission in the Episcopal Church.
11=1245pm was my first legislative committee meeting. I am assigned to World Mission which is made up of two sub committees, World Mission and Episcopal Elections and the Anglican Communion....
....Okay, there's alot more about this committee, it is one of the most controversial committees dealing with the most controversial resolutions at least, so I am tired and will continue tomorrow....
: )
Then Samantha and I went to the Chicago Consultation reception at 5:30pm and they had a speaker on who they were, what they were trying to do and what they were planning on doing. This collection of bishops and deputies and regular lay people are for the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bi sexual and trensgendered *LGBT* people in same sex blessings and so forth. They have a dvd out about African voices and two booklets/study guides on the theology of LGBT blessings and equal rights w/in the church.
At 6;30 we went to the International Bishops Dinner and seen just how diverse universally the Episcopal Church really is, we are truly not just a national church, but an international church.
After this, we gathered as a deputation in our Bishop's Hotel room for some social gathering time. by this time I was so jet lagged I stayed for about an hour and promptly went back, took a shower and headed to bed. best sleep ever.
7.9.09
I woke up at 6:30, Samantha and I went down for breakfast at our hotel, the marriott at 7, then the bishop joined us and we were able to find his views on some of the pressing issues on our minds *very helpful, a very open and sincere response*
8am was our first legislative session where we elected a secretary as well as asst secretaries and a treasurer and sent a message saying we were ready for business to the House of Bishops *HOB*
Next was community Eucharist with a wonderful sermon from the Presiding Bishop on the stability of the church in the Phillipeans and the importance of mission in the Episcopal Church.
11=1245pm was my first legislative committee meeting. I am assigned to World Mission which is made up of two sub committees, World Mission and Episcopal Elections and the Anglican Communion....
....Okay, there's alot more about this committee, it is one of the most controversial committees dealing with the most controversial resolutions at least, so I am tired and will continue tomorrow....
: )
Short and sweet!
7.8.09 Today I finally got my blog up, actually its the first time i've been on the internet since leaving norfolk, yesterday around 5am. I only got time to start it because I got out of the legislative committee meeting I am assinged (and signed up for) early. (World Mission). Its now about 3:40pm here in Anaheim, CA and I need coffee haven't had any all day (I am trying not to have too much. I have had a long beginning of the day and a long night ahead of me. All very exciting of course. I will write more later, maybe not till tomorrow, but I will set some time aside to be more detailed and cover my first almost two days here! : )
woooooooooo I am at Convention! *In CA!!!*
woooooooooo I am at Convention! *In CA!!!*
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