Happy Friday one and all!

Thought I’d share part of my Friday morning devotions as we begin today. It’s in a translation I don’t use everyday but it fit well this morning:

 1-6 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

 7-10 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
                                                                                                    Ephesians 2:1-10, The Message

Up at 7:00 this morning – earlier than I had expected, but Wade Logan phoned me. He decided to take the day off and allow our lay alternate, Lonnie Hamilton an opportunity on the floor. <yawn> It's going to be a long day today!

Bishop Lawrence made the Convention Daily, the house news organ. Here's a shot of the article:

We have some clever sign toppers on the Convention floor.  Here’s a couple:
     

Guess where this one’s from:

Of course! Where else would it be?

Well, look who I ran into! Sam Candler – formally of St. Paul’s Summerville.

Back in 2003, Sam and Kendall Harmon debated the issue of whether we should ordain Gene Robinson. The public debate before a crown of over 1600 jam-packed into a ball room was main event for that Convention.

Do I need to say who spoke for and who spoke against?

Didn’t think so.  

Sam wanted me to take his picture in front of our flag.
Here you go, Sam.

Frank, our Chaplain, was meeting with the Altar Guild this morning (I guess we do have one) and he appointed Elizabeth Anderson, a member of the youth presence, to read his morning prepared devotion. She sounded like Frank but with a woman’s voice.

We have Lonnie Hamilton with us this morning! Yea!

Lonnie, since you didn't get to pose with us yesterday, here's another one, Just for you:

This morning at 10:00 we will be doing are doing another “Committee of the Half.”  (As I mentioned yesterday, the Bishops declined to join us for these things, thus only half of us are here.)

The powers that be handed us a sheet explaining the long history of the parliamentary procedure called the “Committee of the Whole.” In my life experience, when you have to explain it, you know there’s been some grumbling.

We did some minor bill-passing. We had a lot of people speaking to B001. This resolution would require us to post information concerning the amount of energy each parish and mission consumed in the yearly parochial report.  The motion was defeated.

10:02 – Went into the Committee of the Whole. (Did we have a CoW?) 

This is not a legislative session it is a “conversation.” No motions allowed. We had a lottery for the privilege of speaking on the issue at hand. The issue at hand is B033 from the previous Convention.
The speakers are not supposed to make a political statement, but simply tell their story about how they have been affected by three years under B033

First speaker – a priest from W.NC – told his story about growing up Baptist in Missouri. Before he voted for GR in 2003, he looked in the mirror and said, “you’ve come a long way baby.” Says we need to move beyond B033. He wasn’t supposed to urge “moving beyond…” or anything like that. Again, this is not supposed to be political.

Second speaker compared us who passed B033 with the Germans who ignored the gassing of Jews. Said we needed to move beyond B033.

Third speaker spoke of the joys of the gay contributions to his parish. He said he believes the Holy Spirit is leading us to this full participation in all the sacraments. Said we needed to move beyond B033.

Forth speaker actually urged us to not take any action against B033. Said we are going against Holy Scripture and Tradition and instead incorporating rules of order and politics. He said he will take Scripture and Tradition any day. He was from the diocese of El Camino Royale.

Fifth speaker referred to herself as a young, bring and talented lesbian. Asked us what will we tell our children? That the Church refuses to be loving and affirming? Said we needed to move beyond B033.
6th speaker seems to be concerned that some parts of this Communion are trying to turn the Communion into a confessing Church. She doesn’t want to let this church be turned into Presbyterians. Said we needed to move beyond B033.

The next speaker was convinced that the MDG’s  (the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals) are the true bonds of affection and we will survive when we do move beyond B033.

Alright! Dan Martins Got to speak! He said B033 got our PB seated at Lambeth and has accomplished everything it has designed to accomplish. He said relations are still fragile and if we wish to remain in an ubuntu relationship with the rest of the world we need to leave B033 in place, as ABC urged us.

Louie Crew spoke. He said back when he first began coming to Convention this house was just like the rest of the Anglican Communion that we now deride. Said when he began we didn’t have the other house (HOB) with us either, but we do now.

(To me it seemed like Louie was reveling in the fact that after years of incremental successes, he is now fully and firmly in control of both houses of the Episcopal Church Convention.)

Louie said what we did with B033 was to destroy the mission of the church - the mission that says the Episcopal Church Welcomes You. He said, “Move beyond B033 and do it in a way that honors the rest of the Communion.” He said, “Love your LGBT as you love yourself. After all, it’s a gift to yourself.”

Central Fla. delegate Charlie Holt spoke for retaining B033. He said if we are to press forward, what are we saying to the unity of the church by insisting on our own way? That’s inconsistent with scripture.

Deputy Willoby (sp?) cried as he urged all of us to move beyond B033.

Bruce Garner of Atlanta quoted acts 10 to tell us that we have declared gays as unclean. He’s spent the past thee years trying to repair what B033 has done to his friends. God says we should not call anyone profane or unclean. Will we hear that call? Said we needed to move beyond B033.

Delegate from SW Fla, Sharon Lewis, urged us to stay with B033. Used the analogy of a bird with only a left-wing or a right wing. If only one wing – right or left – having one or the other will cause a downward spiral and crash. We need both wings of the House and B033 provides that.

Delegate from Texas said had a daughter who is gay but this is not the time to ignore or brothers and sisters around the world and particularly Africa and Asia. Would be irresponsible to take action that would tear us further apart.

Colorado delegate spoke on Change – we’re in the midst of it and it’s uncomfortable. The temptation is to jump out of the chaos and jump out too early.  B033 is something we don’t want to jump out of too quickly.

Diocese of Atlanta delegate wept with joy in 2006 when we elected K. Felt sick to the stomach and betrayed on the last when we passed B033. Said we sold our earth rights for a bowl of porridge.  Said we needed to move beyond B033 and reclaim our canonical position of non-discrimination.

A Virginia delegate sounded like Bishop Sauls.  Said “they” say that Anglican Communion as we know it may cease to exist if we move beyond,  but the ties that bind have began to choke us. Said let’s move beyond B033 and maybe we can be reunite later.

Rio Grand delegate – said a question asked him when he was going through marriage counseling was, would you rather be right or would you rather be married?  He said B033 has been a catalyst for a cease fire in his diocese – please wait. Please be still – It’s not to throw anyone under a bus, but to refrain from driving the bus over everyone else.

The next spoke delegate of Gamaliel (Acts 5). Said we have to decide – are we going to come out and speak the truth? The truth is the lbgt have give us much and it is shameful to make them choose to wait and hide. It is especially immoral in this country that has the freedom to live like you want. Said we needed to move beyond B033.

The next said we remain a community of exclusion – She said inclusion is not a new prophetic movement; it is actually a return to Jesus’s teaching. She said inclusion wasn’t popular in Jesus’ day either but Jesus felt it was the right thing to do. She said Jesus got killed because he wanted to include people. Said we needed to move beyond B033.

sigh...

A delegate from Springfield mentioned it was inappropriate to blame the churches in other countries for attacking gays in their home countries. (Some proponents of moving on tried place the blame of attacks on gays in some countries on the stance taken by conservative bishops.) He said it would be no more right to blame the Anglican church in other countries than it would be to blame the Episcopal church for attacks on gays in America.
 
(You know, it’s amazing what a little logic will do for you when all you’ve been doing for 45 minutes is feeling!)

The next speaker actually said, “Madame President, I rise to speak in favor of moving beyond B033!” Madame President stopped him and reminded him that we are not debating this in a political way. He apologized and then went ahead to debate this in a political way.

Delegate from New Jersey – spoke of the plane crash in the Hudson – hero pilot. Kept the plane from breaking apart as it landed in river. Let us be the same heroes that keep the plane together by moving on. Repeal B033 and move on. (No… I didn’t quite get the analogy either)

The last Delegate to speak said he was 16 and present at 2006 Convention when we passed B033. Said it hurt him badly.  He said, “Listen for what is said, not who is saying it. What kind of message is being said when we close doors?”  Said we needed to move beyond B033.

Time expired. President Bonnie said “Guidance has been given. Can we make a motion that guidance has been given?” We made a motion that guidance had been given.  Eyes had it – heard no no’s.

President Bonnie’s family was welcomed to the HOD.

Sam Candler suggested we sing Hymn 525. So we did. We stood and sang the whole thing.
It seemed like it dragged a bit to me. It needed Ann Hood’s  or Porter Remington’s magnificent Holy Cross organ playing to accompany it!

We broke for mid-day worship and lunch, noting that we would be back in session from 2 to 6:00. Sigh.
Boo Pennewill and I traveled together to the Luncheon but only after Boo made a pit stop for a tire change...

Worship was just what I needed at the AAC luncheon. Had to leave a bit early to get back to the House floor and do the housekeeping required of the delegation chair.

When we cranked back up at 2:00, we debated dozens upon dozens of minor resolutions.

To me, most of these just seem superfluous. I know they are very important to the person or persons who wrote them, and I don’t mean to offend here, but do we really need to debate resolutions that urge people to be energy conscious, or to tell the US government to not be friends with the leader of the Philippines?   And we are going to have to sit through this for four straight hours this afternoon?  Mercy!

Haden Mc Cormick leaned over and said, “John, I think General Convention IS God’s judgment on the Episcopal Church! I replied, “Or at least it’s God’s judgment on those who were chosen to attend!”

We spent a considerable amount of the afternoon debating B023 which consents to the election of Luis Fernando Ruiz Restreputo in the diocese of Ecuador.  The folks in Ecuador didn’t get an election – the House of Bishops appointed a bishop for them. They seem to feel that a guy they didn’t want was chosen for them by the Episcopal Church and they want an election. Fishy stuff going on here – something is not quite right. Sarah Hey had an article on it.

After 30 minutes or so of discussion, we moved debate to a “time certain” which means it will be brought up later in the convention. Maybe.

Billy Kingery of Roanoke came by the table to meet Kendall.
Kendall, meet Billy.

 John Mark Ford of Alabama also dropped by and wanted us to say hello to a classmate of his in seminary – Callie Perkins. Callie is an associate at Grace, Charleston. Callie, if you happen to see this – John Mark says hey.

We moved to elections of Pension Fund. This one got totally fowled up yesterday. While describing how we would do it today, a pigeon got in the floor and flew from one end of the other, finally landing on the top of the flags over the stage.                                                         Comic relief.

Line of the day came from the woman conducting the elections for us:
“I understand that some of you are having difficulty hearing me while you are talking to others….”

This is the tough part of being a deputy. Sitting through resolution after resolution after resolution, ad nauseam. Passed many other resolutions - some I object to, some I just have no interest in. I’m trying to remember that each of these was important to the writer and some of his or her friends, and trying to devote some energy to at least listen to them.  It’s 5:20 right now - 40 minutes to go. Whew!

Oh by the way - Here's what greg looked like today:

I noted that Matt Kennedy of Stand Firm “live-blogged" this afternoon's HOD session.
Matt said this at 4:15:

They are proceeding to vote for trustees of the pension fund...I am taking a break.”

Hey Matt - we still have at least 1:45 minutes more to go! Come back here and suffer with the rest of us!

We paused at 5:30 to hear from the president of ERD - Episcopal Relief Development. Ron Radtke.
They no longer use the word "ERD". They have, as the president noted, “rebranded” themselves - they now want to be known as the Episcopal Relief Development with the accent on Episcopal. “Healing a hurting world” is their slogan.

Mr. Radtke gave a 20 minute slide show on the many wonderful projects they have going all over the world. They are saving lives with their projects.

He got a standing ovation, and a huge hug from President Bonnie. They love him. 

Three years ago I got castigated by our diocesan ERD rep when I described Mr. Radtke’s 2006 speech to the HOD as “in need of improvement.” Let me just say that this 2009 presentation was drastically improved.

Results of the balloting for Pension fund were announced, and only six out of the 12 needed slots were filled. We’ll have to have a second ballot.

These were elected:                                                            These still to go:

Frank, our chaplain made it back for the closing prayer. We finally adjourned at 6:10.

Bishop Lawrence invited me to join him in the 14th floor Executive Lounge for snacks.
This is the view from the 14th floor. 


Stunning.

I came back to my room at 8:30 and started putting this report together for you. From my window the view is not quite as impressive but we did have one spectacular sunset this evening!

And so, as the sun slowly sets in the West, I bid you a fond adieu from Southern California…

As always, thank you for your continued prayer. Seven more days to go. Thank you for sharing them with me.

at 4:50 a.m.home-time, Good night from Anaheim!