8-8

It was the telephone, sounding off some 7 minutes before my trusty room radio was planning to do it's job. On the line was Lonnie Hamilton, who was supposed to give me a ride to the airport in his rented car. I was scheduled to meet him downstairs at 8:00. As it turned out, Lonnie's car was full with souvenirs his wife and grand niece had purchased during their time here with him. He didn’t have room for me!

I rented a taxi, and took Lydia Evans with me to the airport. Here’s one more shot of Minneapolis as we said goodbye:

At the airport, there are huge crowds and long lines just waiting to be frisked.

I was not chosen, but Lydia was. They humiliated her with a full criminal search. No, I didn’t take a picture of this.

I did take a picture of Mark Goodman, who was on a different plane, headed back to Myrtle Beach.

When we arrived in Charleston, There was a group of St. Phillipians there to meet Lydia, including the rector himself!

Tonight, I called Wade Logan who didn’t e-mail with today's convention details me like he said he would… Got his recorder.

I called and talked to Kendall Harmon – Kendall said the energy on the floor of the House today was non-existent, and there were more people gone than there were left there.

Two notes of interest - the House failed to approve the new Common Lectionary readings, and they passed the Title III canonical revisions without the direct ordination to the priesthood that the deacon’s union wanted us to have.

Archbishop Calls Primates to London
08/08/2003
When bishops and deputies reassembled this morning for the final day of General Convention, the question on everybody’s mind was echoed by the Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, in his sermon at the morning Eucharist: “What is going to happen when I get home to my congregation, my diocese? What is going to happen to the Anglican Communion?” He answered his question with, “I don’t know? … But what I do know is that love has been at work among us.”

What has the convention done and what affect will it have in the life of the church? Cathy Lynn Grossman, writing in USA Today, reported, “The Episcopal Church gave official recognition to same-sex unions … two days after ratifying the church’s first openly gay bishop.” The New York Times labeled it “a landmark.” The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk, Bishop of New York, saw it as “a compromise.” The Rev. Michael Hopkins, president of Integrity, declared it a “huge victory” and dubbed it “local option.” In effect, while recognizing that same-sex ceremonies do take place, the convention neither “condoned nor endorsed” such action. Nor did the convention authorize the preparation of official rites for blessing such unions. What appears to be obvious is that it will be interpreted in different dioceses in different ways.

As to the convention’s impact on the rest of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion, word came in this morning that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, had called “ an extraordinary meeting” of the Primates of the communion. The meeting will be held in London, Oct.15-16.

In other action, convention overwhelmingly adopted the 20/20 initiative to double church attendance by the year 2020. The new ecumenical Revised Common Lectionary, adopted by the House of Bishops, was defeated narrowly in a vote by orders in the House of Deputies. The vote was Clergy: yes 52, no 44, divided 9; Lay: yes 53, no 44, divided 7. However, the permissive use of the Revised Common Lectionary passed handily in a vote by orders. The vote was Clergy: yes 98, no 7, divided 1; Lay: yes 97, no 5, divided 1.

Canons governing the ordination process (Title III) were streamlined, but there will not be any direct ordination to the priesthood.

Ten days ago, when the General Convention assembled, it was recalled that the last time convention met in Minneapolis (1976) momentous decisions were made which changed the life of the Episcopal Church. They were the revision of the Book of Common Prayer and the ordination of women to all orders of ministry. The 74th General Convention also marks a defining moment.

The Very Rev. George Werner, president of the House of Deputies, expressed concern over “What’s going to happen next Sunday.” He said that “an awful lot of people are going to be walking into the Episcopal Church. They’re going to ask what’s going on? It will be a great opportunity to open up the scriptures and to open up the life of Jesus.”

In a touching moment in the closing minutes of the House of Deputies, Charles Crump of Memphis, Tenn., a 17 time deputy, rose to a point of personal privilege and announced that this might be his last General Convention as he was approaching his three score and twentieth birthday in October. The convention adjourned Sine Die at 5:12 pm.

Perhaps the best way to end this final report from Minneapolis is to quote the concluding words from Bishop Griswold’s’ sermon this morning: “My dear brothers and sisters, may this (God’s) deep love be with us as we go forth and return home. May its reconciling force heal us and hold us for the sake of God’s world.”

The Rev. Bob Libby

Well, that’s it from General Convention, 2003. Thank you for the hundreds (close to 300) e-mails you’ve sent me from all over the world, from England to Australia, from Canada to Alabama, from New Hampshire to San Francisco. God bless you all!

I will be making a report from our special Diocesan Clergy meeting on August 18^th, and as it stands now, I’m going to try to go to Plano, Texas in October for the re-alignment conference. If I can go, I will report back nightly, just as I have done for the past 10 days. You can find details below.

If you are ever in the Charleston area, drive out to the beach and come see us at Holy Cross, on Sullivan’s Island. Visitors will feel at home.