Good Things are Happening

While the House of Deputies anxiously waits for the House of Bishops to send us CO56, a resolution that attempts to consolidate the many original resolutions on same-sex blessings, and the while both deputies and bishops tremble some at the upcoming Joint Budget Hearing scheduled for later today, many good things are happening - here are a few:

• We approved a sweeping update of the our 'Lesser Feasts and Fasts' the Episcopal Church's calendar of saints and holy people. Notable additions for those of us in the 'new world' are Oscar Romano, the martyred archbishop of El Salvador and James Thomas Holly who brought Anglicanism to Haiti. There were many others.
• CO61 was adopted by the deputies which included 'gender identity and expression' in the list of those who will not be denied access to the ordination discernment process
• A constitutional change debated for over a decade that removes the vote from retired bishops and thereby simplifies the House of Bishops quorum requirements.
• Defeated an effort to force the national church to report on recent litigation costs in the wake of disaffiliating parishes and dioceses.

Convention Dangers Come in Many Forms

A word about the scooters (used by folks with disabilities). Notwithstanding their obvious blessing for many, they are a potential cause of injury to the innocent. A couple of days ago, I got on a full elevator, including a women and her scooter. When we reached her floor, she pressed whichever lever she thought was reverse in order to back out, but instead hit the forward at full speed. She slammed against the elevator wall and the jolt almost unseated her and it unnerved the rest of us. Now anxious and full of apologies to the others crowded in the small space, she tried again and again. She slammed into the wall and this time bounced back just missing another person. Well that was enough for most of the passengers - they started jumping ship and not stopping until they were well down the hallway. One other foolish gent and myself stayed with her, but from the safety of the hall just outside the elevator and with most of our bodies protected by the outside wall. We continued to hold the doors open and encouraged her to try again. At length and after a couple more wall crashes, she managed to exit the elevator. After checking to see if she was okay, my new colleague and I jumped back into the elevator and hit the down button.

A day later another lady, who knew well her directional gears, backed out so fast and without a look over her shoulder that she almost mowed down a couple of folks in the hallway. This all happened as a door on the bank of evaluators just across the hall was opening. At the speed she was going I thought for certain she would end up in that elevator, but at the last moment she made a critical turn and off she went with others nearby congratulating themselves on their good fortune not to be run over.

Weary, But Not Done Yet

I think most of us are tired and yet we know there is still very important work to be done in these last three days. The mood is a bit quieter - everyone must be thinking, regardless of their position on the issues, "how will I explain what has happened to the folks back home?" Some of us will go home excited and proud at what has been accomplished and some of us will go home defeated, hurt and angry. That's how big and emotional these issues remain. Those with a pastor's soul, will go home wondering how and if the pride can be tempered and the hurt can be healed. It is still too early to know how it will turn out - who will be happy and who will be sad.

by Jim Greer