Yesterday was pretty wild around here with the early morning news of the SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality. The committee on marriage was told the news and decided to ajourn so members and visitors could have time to receive it and communicate with others.

The President of the House of Deputies, the Reverend Gay Jennings, preached a wonderful sermon at daily Eucharist. We were also led in worship by Theodicy Jazz Collective, which includes Ann Phelps of St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Jackson, MS. Ann’s voice led us beautifully and the music was stirring.

Legislative sessions today dealt with some easy resolutions and defeated a resolution to adopt the Donor’s Bill of Rights. Canon David Johnson of Mississippi was a principle speaker against the resolution with some very wise words.

Last night the marriage committee held hearings on the four marriage liturgies submitted by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. It was interesting to note how lightly attended the hearing was. Almost all those testifying were in favor, with one opposed and one bishop wanting to make sure they had discretion to not use these in their diocese. These rites will most likely be proposed as “trial rites” which moves them closer to prayer book revision, which could possibly take place in 2018. The rites offer four ways to “do” marriages and  / or blessing liturgies, with gender neutral language. One of them is from the 1928 prayer book! Trial use would provide feedback to the SCLM for GC in 2018.

This morning I am attending marriage committee meetings where the committee debates the resolutions after the hearings. Marriage hearings are over with so now the committee gets into the sausage making. I will be on the floor for legislative sessions today, which will include the House of Deputies receiving and concurring on the election of a new Presiding Bishop. The House of Bishops will meet at St. Mark’s Cathedral to elect the PB. Will there be purple smoke?

Some important legislation should show up today at the House of Deputies, including A037 which extends the work of the marriage task force, adds members to it, and requires more cultural and theological diversity. While I would love to continue on the task force, odds are most of the members will be new. The bishops passed A037 without dissent.

As always you can go to generalconvention.org and actually check on resolutions, and go to the media hub for live streaming of worship and other activities.