Thank you for the many, many emails in response to yesterday’s report.

Let me share a portion of just one of the many. This is from Rick Luoni, St. George's Summerville:

Friends, that is indeed what we are about in South Carolina. As I said yesterday, that is reality.

A couple of links as a result of yesterday. No doubt you’ve already seen them, but they are worth a look if you haven’t:

Schism is likely according to the Times of London.
NT Wright agrees.

sigh..

If you are still having trouble getting kendall’s blog, try this link.
I also recommend George Conger’s Blog. It’s good.

Well, back to this side of the country. Tuesday – the seventh day of General Convention

The Vice President ran the session this morning.

Several “points of personal privilege” are made as we begin.

Deputy Centreau of Long Island encouraged his fellow deputies to exercise restraint on debates. He asked his fellow deputies to please exhibit restraint from questioning what we are doing.

Fontane, Montana did the same thing and added amendments to the don’t do list. She reminded us that if we amend now we may not get it passed.
Ms. Fontane, I believe the inability to get some of these jewels passed  would be just fine in most circumstances …

A member of the new San Joaquin urged us to recycle.

My, isn't David looking dapper this morning!
And Gregory, that's a nice tie!

First Item up – a request to suspend the rules and bring up the amended D025 as the first item of business in this afternoon’s session. 

                 Deputy Jennings (the chair of the bill’s committee) was very pleased to report that they were ready to go. Hint, hint. Wink, wink.

Need I add that we voted to do it?

Fontane also as a Point of Personal got up and reminded us that this is the first time we’ve elected lay people to the bishop’s trial court.
She says it increases the balance in our polity.

Back to the daily calendar. We are on day four, “supplemental” and this is day seven.

I found out that the mouse ears belong to Deputy Zoe Cole of Colorado (who speaks to a lot of motions)

Debated A098 for a good half hour. It changes the book of Lesser feast and fasts to “Godly Women and Men” and, in my opinion, attempts to change the definition of sainthood.

David spoke.

Tried to cut off debate, didn’t carry by a 2/3, continued debate.
It finally passed.

Deputy Selnick got up complaining about the way we are running things this morning. Doesn’t like the chair’s leadership.  
A couple of others also complained.

David spoke again.

Frank Wade (the chaplain) came over and spoke to David. They seem to be trying to help him.
We spent the rest of our time on a095, and a096.

At end of the morning session we were visited by ecumenical visitors.

These were people of various faiths from all over the LA area.

An Episcopal Clergyman, a Moslem cleric and a Jewish Cantor all sang blessings to us.
(source: Lydia Evans)

              
I believe they all three sang the Aaronic blessing.

Lydia's comments on this deserve a read...

Afternoon session –

Haden mentioned he saw a report on our convention on MSNBC.  According to their reporter we have given lesbians and transsexuals
the right to preach.  Oh.

This is Rhodes Hollowell,
brother of Holy Cross staff member Kelley Hollowell!
Rhodes is a major behind-the-scenes player in keeping
the Convention runing smoothly.

Well, as promised this morning, we dealt with D025 first off.  Gay Jennings, chair, noted that by a strong majority her committee voted to concur. Hint, Hint, Wink, Wink. President Bonnie is back in the chair for this afternoon session.

A younger delegate spoke against D025. Didn't hear which diocese.

Philip Linder of Upper SC spoke in favor of it.

Many speakers followed – both for and against.

Spence, Montana spoke against –and said if it does pass, he asks the committee on World Mission ro give a theological explanation of how we can do this.  Deputy Spence, don’t hold your breath while you wait for an answer.

An amendment was offered and all speakers afterward urged defeat of the amendment. The general plea: “We’ve worked so hard to pass this. Don’t let it die!”

This member of our Youth Presence spoke in favor, and said (and I quote), "Morality has changed and the church needs to recognize that fact.” He said it’s time for the church to catch up.  Oh.

Another said, “Love is not a sin, love is not a crime, love is of God.”

              This Deputy from Central New York said,  “Come come come – get on with it – do what you have to do. You have you pass it!”

Zack Brown our conservative youth voice from Upper SC got up at the end and made an impassioned appeal for us to vote against the resolution.
He said, "Don't make other conservatives feel like I do - Like I'm the only one left."

We voted by orders. While we waited for results on D025, went back to the day 4 calendar.

The next resolution considered (out of order) was C014 – "to explore and identify key theological dimensions of marriage." It's asking for “tools to be designed for discussion at the local level.”  Mercy!
It passed – but it was challenged with a procedural question. The question prevailed, and because of it, the bill was removed from consideration and ordered by the chair to be perfected in committee. 

Results for D025. Guess what – it carried.

Next, we voted for General Theological Seminary trustees and Executive Council members. Results probably won’t be known until tomorrow.

Wade Logan spoke in favor of C067.  Transparency in national budget.
Great Job Wade!

A guy who identified himself as "...a trail lawyer for 30 years" got up and said this was just a bill to allow those who stole our property to find out how much we had spent on defending our property!

Mercy!

Wade got back up and protested the guy’s language in the strongest manner and asked President Bonnie to rule on whether the decorum of the House had been violated (it had). She didn’t, of course. President Bonnie thanked Wade for his comments and moved on along.

After a few more minutes and several more challenges to the way we are being treated this afternoon,

the Chair informed us that the Chair is losing patience with points of personal privilege and the challenging of the Chair’s rulings… 

Mercy!

We continued on – Still in day 4 supplemental. A075 – Eucharistic “hospitality” with the Presbyterians (PCUSA).  Not celebrating Communion but doing joint worship services.  Passed.

D037 – requesting study for keeping Episcopal Life monthly instead of going quarterly. During the time of study EL would be kept monthly. A good amount of debate ensued.

 This is Kim Bynum of NY. The Integrity head for many, many years.
He spoke in favor it. After that, it passed. Of course.

Moved on to Day 5 dailies. We considered A052.  This is designed to keep retired bishops from voting. This is a second reading, coming from 2006. The HOB really, really wants this. The HOD will really, really give it to them.

A deputy tried to amend it. (Ain’t gonna happen!)  It didn’t.

It was a vote by orders.  We will know the results tomorrow Of course, we already know.

The session was supposed to adjourn at 5:00 to allow us to go to provincial caucuses to elect two reps from each synod for Council. We adjourned at 5:15. Close enough.

Back at the hotel, the desk had a message for me – UPS had a package waiting for me. It’s yet another gift from my Holy Cross staff.
Gracious! Hershey chocolate goodness! Look at all this!
Here’s one of everything sent:
 
I thank God that I am part of the greatest church staff in the whole Church!

Thanks so much for reminding me why we are here!

While I was working on this report I got a call from my 21-year old (Clemson graduate) daughter Elizabeth! What a wonderful surprise! Thank you Zil!

I stayed in tonight and finished up this report early. It looks like I’m actually going to get some sleep. I'm done now, and it's only 11:00! (2:00 a.m. Home Time) Thank you Lord!

And South Carolina, thank you for thinking about us over here. Do keep praying!  Just three more days to go.

Good night from Anaheim!