Deputies consider reports, resolutions as they prepare for GC79

Deputies gathered around the table at Good Shepherd, Summerville.

South Carolina's Deputies to the 79th General Convention met today to review topics and issues that will come before the House of Deputies when they convene in Austin, Texas in July.

The group met for more than 3 hours at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Summerville, either in person or by teleconference. Prior to the meeting, each deputy was assigned part of the "Blue Book" reports, which are filed every three years before General Convention and include reports from task forces, standing committees and other bodies, including proposed resolutions.

The deputies read these reports and resolutions, and then gathered today to take turns summarizing them for the rest of the deputation.

The Very Rev. Rick Lindsey, the chairman of South Carolina's deputation, also led discussions on how the deputies will organize their time at Austin, and at the Province IV Synod meeting in June. Deputies made plans to have daily meetings during General Convention. The Rev. Jean McGraw was named Chaplain to the deputation, and closed today's gathering with prayer.

Eight deputies and two alternate deputies plan to travel to Austin this summer. Their names, and their subject-area assignments, are listed below. The links will take you to the reports on the General Convention website, generalconvention.org. (The numbers in parentheses are the official committee numbers.)

Governance, Structure, Safeguarding & Title IV (3&4) – Carrington Wingard

Task Force to Study Provinces

Task Force to Update Sexual Misconduct Policies

Evangelism, Congregational & Diocesan Vitality (10 & 11) – Wil Keith             

 Advisory Group on Church Planting

Task Force for Latino-Hispanic Congregational Development and Sustainability

Task Force on Leveraging Social media for Evangelism

International – Cuba, World Mission, Social Justice (5,6, & 7) – Rick Lindsey

Task Force on the Episcopal Church in Cuba

US Social Justice and Care of Creation (8&20) – Pam Guess

Advisory Council on the Stewardship of Creation

Racial Justice and Reconciliation (9) – Lonnie Hamilton

Response to Racial Injustice (2015-C019)

Prayer Book, Liturgy, and Music (12&13) – Jean McGraw

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music

 Task Force on the Study of Marriage

Christian Formation, Ministry, and Discipleship (14 & 15) – Andrea McKellar

Committee to study the Relationship of the General Theological Seminary and the General Convention
Task Force on Clergy Leadership Formation in Small Congregations             

Task Force to Study Dual Call Couples

Church Pension, Stewardship, and Investing (17&18) – Jim Taylor               

Board of Trustees of the Church Pension Fund

Churchwide Leadership and Ecumenical Relationships (16&19)– Wilmot Merchant               

Task Force to Study Church Leadership and Compensation

Program, Budget & Finance (21) – Mark Szen               

Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance

Want to see all the resolutions submitted so far? Visit this page on the General Convention website. 

General Convention Official Youth Presence

Hello all! My name is Helena Upshaw and I was recently selected to serve on the 79th General Convention’s Official Youth Presence (OYP). I am a high school senior at Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston, and I have attended Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston ever since I was invited to the St. Nicholas Choirs. Besides musical worship, I have tried to become involved in every youth and service event offered at my church, diocese, and province. The most memorable events in my youth life include the Episcopal Youth Event 2017, where I was able to meet Episcopalians from all over the world, and Grace church’s annual charity cafe, Tea Room, with which I waitress, bus, and bake.