Some thoughts before General Convention

Province IV bishops met last week – Tuesday and Wednesday – and then the deputies joined us at Kanuga for our pre-General Convention Synod meeting, Wednesday through Friday. With all that time in chairs, and all the orientation about what is coming and all the predictions about what might happen, can General Convention itself be far behind? Indeed, the time is coming soon!

The deputation from The Episcopal Church in South Carolina is unusual in many ways. With only a couple of exceptions, this is a group of General Convention rookies. In itself, that is not at all typical among dioceses. But then, the folks going to Salt Lake City from South Carolina could not previously have gotten elected, for the most part. This group is eager, positive, and ready to go. And, all of us can be proud of the group attending General Convention from our diocese!

As I think about the experiences ahead, I anticipate quite a few varying reactions from the deputies, as well as from me. We will see and experience The Episcopal Church, with its diverse parts, in new and exciting ways. Cultures, countries, and contexts will join in Salt Lake City … and in that joining, there will be opportunities and challenges galore. The breadth and expanse of the Church of which we are a part will be on full display. And that fullness will be beautiful and challenging and unavoidable and wonderful, all at once.

Part of the reason for General Convention is to do the business of the organization known as The Episcopal Church, the General Church, or The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (our legal name). In attempting to do that necessary business, there will be occasions of frustration and of getting stuck. At Synod, in fact, we observed and experienced some of the molasses-slow movement of parliamentary process. At Convention, one challenge before the body will be to reform itself – and that’s always an effort fraught with emotion and misgiving, as well as excitement. Nevertheless, doing the business of the Church is a necessary and important part of the work of General Convention.

I want to make a request of our diocese, as this momentous time approaches. Pray for our church – The Episcopal Church – and pray, too, for our bishop and deputation to General Convention from The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Prayers for the Church, beginning on page 816 of the Book of Common Prayer, are appropriate. I especially commend the one on page 818, “For a Church Convention or Meeting”, to your personal and corporate prayer, making a few modifications appropriate to this particular Convention:

Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding,
be present with those who take counsel at General Convention for the
renewal and mission of your Church. In all things, teach bishops and deputies
to seek first your honor and glory. Guide them to perceive what is right, and
grant them both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.