Yesterday (Saturday) I gave my floor seat to one of our more than capable alternates and spent time with some old friends who were in town. Breakfast with seminary classmate Monique Ellison, who now works for the fabulous Listening Hearts ministries. I hope our COM will take a look at how they can help train discernment committees (are you reading Melanie Lemburg?). Then a great visit with Bruce Colville, a stalwart at Camp Cost Care following Katrina and dear friend. Bruce has dedicated his life as a missionary to disaster relief and recovery and brings incredible energy and expertise and abilities to those situations. It was great catching up with both.
In the afternoon I watched legislation progress online, and sat in the House of Bishops gallery to observe their debates. I always like to spend a bit of time in the HoB while at convention, they are of course a much smaller body than the House of Deputies and therefore their debates are very different. I am impressed with their respect for one another. AND, just like in the HoD, there are “certain” Bishops who really don’t feel a resolution should ever go to vote without them speaking to it!
I was GREATLY disturbed about resolution D045. Read it here. While tucked into a seemingly innocuous resolution to our Rules of Order (which frame how we debate things – this resolution talks about how long people can talk, how we handle certain elections, how long debate must take place prior to an amendment being presented, etc.), this resolution ALSO proposes a bizarre element. The resolution calls for a “polity review” of every resolution to make sure it doesn’t violate our “polity” or make changes to it. The review person for each legislative committee would be appointed by the President of the House of Deputies. WHOA NELLIE! First of all, this arbitrary review based on one person’s opinion of “correct polity” is a blatant attempt by the sitting PHOD and her supporters to maintain control over every piece of legislation. A polity reviewer could simply reject any reform legislation before it even is addressed by the committee. What a back door way to maintain status quo! I was stunned to read this and I was immediately regretting not being on the floor so I could speak against it. The other really bad news – the resolution was proposed by our current Parliamentarian (appointed by the PHOD) – a rumored candidate for Vice President of the HoD, and co-sponsored by our chancellor – also a candidate for VPHOD, and the just-appointed-by-the-President acting VPHOD.
This reminds me of old Communist Party tactics. What an amazing attempt to control legislation and combat the movement of reform sweeping this GC! Fortunately there were folks who caught on and the resolution was sent back to committee. DEPUTIES LOOK FOR THIS – we must not allow that language to win the day, it gives way too much power to the PHOD, no matter who that is, and is just a really bad idea.
A resolution to add some “official” translations of the Bible to the list in our Canons brought on a lot of debate, but also highlights one of the areas of needed reform in our canons. Do you know how hard it is to get over 800 deputies, most of whom have no real expertise in this area, to agree on proper Bible translations? There has to be a better way to approve, or disapprove, such things.
Much attention had been spent on the ongoing budget process. I know that committee has been really putting in long hours and have a monumental task.
Congratulations to our own Canon Kathryn McCormick on her election on the first ballot to be a Trustee of the Church Pension Fund! Now on to Anita George’s election to the Executive Council. Vote Anita y’all!
Today your Mississippi deputation will proudly wear our Camp Bratton Green t-shirts to the host diocese’s event at the baseball field. Go CBG!
GC 77 2nd Legislative Day
Hard to believe it’s only the 2nd day for legislative sessions. The marathon is in full swing. Legislative committee and hearings beginning as early as 7 am and lasting until 10 or later is the rule of the day.
On the House floor today we dealt with some of “those” resolutions – the kind that drive me crazy! I know the church needs to speak out on issues of justice and equality, and I know these things are important to those that write these resolutions, but I just can’t imagine why we spend time at GC debating such things as – Washington, D.C. should have representation in the Senate, or sperm-donor-children need the right to their family history. Look, I am not arguing that those are good causes, nor that they are very real and personal to a lot of folks, I just cannot for the life of me understand why we deal with resolutions like that at General Convention. It’s really an old and no longer useful model of what the church should be about when gathered in Council. We do have important stuff to do, and the way we include all orders of the church in these deliberations is wonderful and unique and very important. But with that comes days and days of extra time at GC because we have to deal with all this stuff!
I know it’s difficult to draw the line, but we must figure that out, and focus all we do on Christ – knowing Him and making Him known. Some will argue we do that by speaking out on purely political things like that, I don’t see it that way. Let’s talk about planting churches, sending missionaries, adding campus ministries and youth workers. Let’s work on our liturgy, our disciplinary canons and such. Let’s help churches with formation curriculum and best practices in all aspects of church life, then let’s empower local congregations to change the world right where they are. If our parishioners want to fight for these causes, that’s fantastic, please do so. But let’s not spend our time at GC dealing with such things.
OK, enough soap box. Today the Episcopal Cafe quoted little ole me HERE (http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/general_convention_2012_live/gc_committee_says_time_to_sell.html) in their report on the giant hearing on structure reform – out of 40 folks who testified. It was really fun and today I’ve been encouraged by quite a few folks who stopped by to tell me they appreciated what I had to say. Thanks everyone! Now….let’s get this done!
We passed a resolution today to sell the church center in New York. HALLELUJAH! We did amend on the floor the original resolution so that there is not a 3 year deadline, but only because the real estate market in NYC is horrible right now and a too-early-sell would cost us more than keeping the building. But symbolically it’s a great statement about where we are now, leaving the old behind and building the new.
It’s also been so inspiring to hear testimony from the Official Youth Presence (they are FANTASTIC) and also young adults with the Episcopal Peace Fellowship. They are engaged and educated about many issues and not afraid at all to speak at hearings and on the floor of convention. They give all of us great hope that we are helping create a church that will sustain them as well.
Tomorrow I am attending the ECW Distinguished women event where St. James’ own Barbara Brunson is being honored. Very well deserved!
I close with the quote of the week so far. At the hearing on reform, one young priest was encouraging us to get this done ASAP. He said, “after all, we only have 88 years to bring our church into the 21st century”. Tongue in cheek and very well said, my friend!
1st Legislative Day GC77
I know all my loyal fans are wondering “where are David’s blog updates?”. Sorry to be late starting but didn’t have much to say yet.
Arrived in Indy the evening of July 3. On the 4th we could register and start attending committee meetings. I am not assigned to a committee so I am “monitoring” several, including Structure, Social and Urban, and Prayer Book and Liturgy. More on all those below.
Most of our deputation arrived on the 3rd and we began our daily lunch meetings where we discuss legislation and make plans for the next 24 hours. Ed Sisson serves on World Mission, Anita George is Vice-Chair of Education, David Johnson is on Structure, and Kathryn McCormick is on Church Pension Fund. They all have some pretty crucial stuff to look at.
On the afternoon of the 3rd we had opening remarks from the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies. The speeches could not have been more different. The PB did her usual mission stuff but in an engaging way and a way that pointed to our efforts to restructure. The President of the House of Deputies (PHOD), Bonnie Anderson, has a nice delivery and presence, but her message was so confusing (at least to me). She talks about change and restructure and how that’s good, then reminds us that by God our polity was established around the time of the Constitution and how dare we change anything. She even (seemed to me) compared the “change agents” (my words not hers) as the Israelites who wanted to go back to Egypt to die, HUH? Later today at the Structure hearings on changing structure of GC and 815 et al, one speaker put it right – we’ve been stuck in Egypt mode too long, it took 40 years for the Israelites to shake it off, now is the time for us to do so.
Early today I was privileged to speak to the Social and Urban Committee concerning resolutions A125 and A127 about Anti Racism. As a recent appointee to the Anti Racism Committee of the Executive Council I thought it important to be there. Then Anita George, member of the Mississippi deputation and long time chair of that same committee, asked me to speak on behalf of the resolutions. Both Anita and I did, and basically we became the “expert witnesses” for questions the committee had about the resolutions (Anita far more than I – she is so beloved by so many for her lifetime of work in racial reconciliation). It was really fun and I think I did a good job with the questions they had.
The first legislative sessions were pretty routine. We did approve reinstituting 300K in the budget for the Episcopal Youth Event. Not only is EYE a great event, restoring this funding makes a statement of our priorities and I hope sends a message to our youth.
Most of the rest was pretty routine.
Tonight was the first really big hearing of GC – the Committee on Structure was holding hearings about all the structural reform resolutions (over 50 of them). I was part of a small working group that met informally on Tuesday night to work on a strategy. Several of us agreed to speak and also to encourage others from all the dioceses who submitted these resolutions. Primarily we are calling for a special task force to be appointed right after GC to put EVERYTHING on the table that has to do with governance, polity, CCABs, General Convention, budget, etc. The idea also includes a call for a special Constitutional Convention to deal with what comes out of that task force, so it doesn’t take the usual 6 years for Constitutional changes to take place. The room was packed and all but one of the 40 speakers spoke in favor of reform. I had my two minutes and I think it went well. The committee was initially reluctant, we think, to act on these proposals. They should have no reservation now of the will of the people for major changes. It’s very exciting!
Well it’s really late here and the day starts quite early. More later.
Remember you can track legislation in real time at http://generalconvention.org .
Gearing Up!
Well it’s almost time for GC 77, my 3rd time as a member of the Mississippi Deputation. I’ve been an alternate deputy in 2006 and 2009 and I am honored to be the clergy 2 deputy for 2012.
I leave for Indy Tuesday morning. It’s been a wild few weeks. I had a fantastic 5th and 6th grade camp session the week of June 17-23. Hunger Games RULE! Then last week we moved all our STUFF out of our house in Pass Christian into a storage unit in Jackson. We had LOTS of wonderful help but it was exhausting! I injured my poor feet during the move and I am quite concerned about that for GC, but it is what it is. I think I have $200 of foot and tendon care stuff I am taking to Indy with me!
Today was a great day at St. James. Preached all four services and I am fed by each. I am having a great time here! What a wonderful staff and church, and I am blessed to be hanging out with them. It’s hard to leave them for GC but I am ready for that marathon and whatever I can contribute to the church.
It will be an interesting convention. The momentum for change is strong, the resistance to the same is also strong. We MUST change – structure, budget, emphasis. The old way is no longer working. Many of us refuse to continue down that path. The budget debate is fascinating. By canon the Executive Committee gives a draft budget to the committee for GC (Program, Budget, and Finance – PB&F) and they hold hearings then present a budget for approval. The process this year was convoluted and full of distrust. Then the Presiding Bishop offered a budget idea of her own. Instead of saying “well here is something else to consider”, a lot of the “we don’t need no stinking bishops” crowd in the House of Deputies are up in arms that the PB had the audacity to offer a budget idea. Look people, it has no authority in it, it is just another possible way we can do our budget. Take it, reject it, use some of it. Lord, let the PB be a leader, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? I fear our soon-to-be-retiring President of the House of Deputies has successfully driven a huge wedge between the House of Deputies and House of Bishops where a large number of deputies just think all the Bishops are scum and out to take their power away from them.
And in the end, isn’t it all about power?
I say trust Bishops to be Bishops, trust the Holy Spirit to be involved when we nominate, elect, and consecrate Bishops, our polity is secure, stop the paranoia!
OK, so that’s enough…let’s go to Indy and remember Jesus!
Late night at Camp Bratton-Green
I type this having just completed “post-curfew” run number one. It’s Tuesday night, late. We have just finished our first full day of camp (campers arrived Monday at 2, staff Sunday at noon). So far we are off to an amazing start! Our theme is “The Hunger Games” and these 5th and 6th graders, as well as the staff, are pumped up about it.
But before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, we are certainly down playing the violent aspect of the book/movie (as much as you can when 99% of these kids know the story, having already read it or seen it ). With the help of a very useful book by Julie Clawson, “The Hunger Games and the Gospel , Bread, Circuses, and the Kingdom of God”, we are focusing on the good news in the actions of the characters and trying to relate those to both the teachings of Jesus and our own lives as children of God. So far it’s gone fabulously well. My co-director, Andrew McLarty, has written, directed, and performed in some great skits that set the stage not only for some 5th-6th grade level reflections from me, but also to wrap around other camp activities. It’s been really fun. The Permanent Staff this summer is fantastic (aren’t they always – but all in their unique ways) and have eaten this theme up! Breath taking talent in these young adults.
Many, many people connected to our diocese can vouch for the magic that is Camp Bratton-Green. I was an old man before I got to experience it and I am so grateful my kids grew up going to camp here, and now all my family is on staff with me. My entire adult staff is tremendous and fun, and the counselors are working really hard and laughing a lot. It’s instant community, and it’s gospel, and it’s summer, and it’s love and it’s challenging and it’s just simply beautiful. I wonder if I am getting too old (for late night curfew checks for one thing!) and then I see these campers come alive, gleefully giving me high fives, sweetly grabbing an extra roll for me at dinner without me even asking, delighting in me getting pelted with ice water and nasty food at lunch when I “mistakenly” say “Announcements” – well, if that doesn’t keep you young, what will?
I know I need to write about my beginning time at St. James as Interim Rector – I am having a great time! And I also know that General Convention 2012 is around the corner. I have some thoughts about our pre-GC Synod in Kanuga and some pre-GC comments to add soon enough. But not too soon – right now I am at camp and I really don’t want to be anywhere else, for this one, magical, Jesus-filled-in-every-way week.
Oh, Come Away, come away….
