Voting on prayer book revision

The 2015 General Convention mandated the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to “prepare a plan for the comprehensive revision of the current Book of Common Prayer and present that plan to the 79th General Convention.” The SCLM presented its report in the Blue Book earlier this year, and prayer book revision has been a topic of much discussion and debate ever since.

Today, the House of Deputies voted to approve Resolution A068, which calls for the process of revision to begin. The vote was by orders, meaning clergy and lay deputies’ votes were tallied separately, and the margin was roughly 2-1 in favor in both orders.

Read an Episcopal News Service report on the vote here

The resolution now goes to the House of Bishops for discussion and, likely, amendments that would have to be reconciled between the two houses of General Convention before a final plan emerges. Most agree that it will be 2030 at the earliest before a revised prayer book actually comes into use.

The South Carolina deputation voted in favor of the resolution: Lay deputies were unanimous and in the clergy order the vote was 3-1.

Deputation Chairman the Very Rev. Richard Lindsey said he voted for the resolution so the process could begin.

“It’s time for the language of the prayer book to speak to a new generation,” he said. The last revision was almost two generations ago, in 1979.

The Rev. Dr. Jim Taylor said he voted against the resolution simply because of the finances. Estimates put the cost of the revision at about $2 million, and many deputies raised that figure during debate on the floor.

The Very Rev. Wil Keith said that, unlike previous revisions, this time the voices of marginalized groups in the church can be heard.

Being an Alternate Deputy at GC79

Alternate Deputy Wilmot Merchant, in the foreground, at the SC table on the floor of the House of Deputies.

The Rev. Canon Dr. Wilmot T. Merchant II is an Alternate Deputy from our diocese. This is his blog post as our Deputy of the Day.

On Monday morning, July 2, I left Myrtle Beach, SC for Austin, Texas for the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. As the First Clergy Alternate Deputy, I was looking forward to meeting and greeting many of those I had met over the years, but especially those I met for the first time in the last three years. It is always good to meet the Province IV Synod folks.

There was not much for me to do on Tuesday, July 3, but beginning Wednesday, July 4, we were on our way. Legislative Committee Sessions, opening remarks by the Presiding Bishop and the President on the House of Deputies — this was the first joint Session of the General Convention. It was followed by the orientation for the House of Deputies. The House of Bishops had a listening session, which included Bishops reading brief stories of women and others who had suffered abuse in the church.

When evening came it was time for the 50th Anniversary Gala of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE). It was truly a celebration of the UBE — they were prepared for 300 and we were 400 in attendance. The day ended without much fireworks from where we were because of the rain, but just enough to remind us that it was still the 4th of July after all. 

July 5 was the first Legislative Day for the General Convention, we started the day at 8:00 in the morning with the House of Deputies coming to order. Following a few items of business, it was time for the opening Eucharist. 

As we were leaving the House of Deputies, I was asked to serve as one of the Eucharistic Ministers, serving the bread, and I gladly agreed. This is my second General Convention and I have been asked to serve in this role at both General Conventions. After the service, we went back to Legislative Committee sessions and hearings. As my assignment for our Deputation, I was asked to follow the Churchwide Leadership Legislative Committee. It has been interesting listening to the conversations, because in 2015 when I was on a committee, I was new and was not sure what I was to do, and I spent more time taking in what it was to be a Deputy at General Convention.

Fr. Merchant served as a minister of Communion
at the opening  Eucharist on July 5.

Sitting and listening to the conversations, I wish I were a Deputy assigned to this committee by the President of the House of Deputies; there have been times when I had to remind myself that I could not speak since I was not a member of the committee. This is the committee that dealt with the issue of compensation for the President of the House of Deputies, and a resolution was passed by the Bishops and Deputies of that Committee; and when presented to the House of Deputies was passed by 85 percent.

At lunch time, Deputy Jim Taylor and I switched, I became the Deputy for the rest of the afternoon and all day Friday. That meant I was on the main floor of the House of Deputies, and it also meant I was present to lead the Table conversation of our Deputation during the joint Session on Racial Reconciliation.

During the Legislative Committee session on Saturday morning, we were informed that the House of Bishop had voted in favor of the resolution that will give the President of the House of Deputies some compensation. This is history, because for years it has been a struggle to find a balance between the two houses. 

So let me say it this way, I am have a wonderful experience at General Convention.

The Rev. Cn. Dr. Wilmot T. Merchant II

Prayers for reconciliation: Deputy Lonnie Hamilton

Lonnie Hamilton III is a Deputy from South Carolina at the 79th General Convention. He also served in 2015 and in 2012, the year when a division took place in our diocese.

Lonnie says that in his first few days in Austin this week, dozens of people from dioceses all across the Episcopal Church have approached him to say they are praying for our diocese. In the words of one priest: "We are praying that God reunites the Diocese of South Carolina in complete love."

In an interview Thursday night, Lonnie talked about some of these conversations, and his own prayers for reconciliation. This is his "Deputy of the Day" blog post for Friday, July 6.

From our Missioner for Returning Congregations

The plane touched down in Austin on Tuesday.

I arrived at General Convention with a specific mission and purpose  to meet and learn from as many folks as I could schedule from dioceses who have undergone similar disruptions by disaffiliated groups. In my new role as Missioner for Returning Congregations, I sought out best practices, wise advice and good counsel. Leaders from Fort Worth, Virginia, Pittsburgh and San Joaquin have been wondrously generous in carving out time to meet and share insights. Staff from the Episcopal Church Center in New York offered help. Friends in New England assured me of their prayers for our ministry together in South Carolina.

A great deal to assimilate and process. The plane ride back to CHS today will provide some time to pray and think through potential next steps.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry frames our approach and grounds our initiatives with this truth: My brothers and sisters, we are not just The Episcopal Church. We are the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement. That’s who we are. And that’s what the world is pleading and hungering for us to be.

Our returning congregations are coming back to a relationship with The Episcopal Church that was there when the parish was consecrated for God; and they are going forward to a new day of engaging God’s Mission. All of us will be hearing about this core message – The Way of Love: Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life. May it become our compass.

Join the Church in this endeavor - https://www.episcopalchurch.org/explore-way-love

- Bill

Janet and Bill Coyne at the Austin Convention Center

The Rev. William Coyne
Missioner for Returning Congregations
The Episcopal Church in South Carolina
(843) 614-0679
wcoyne@episcopalchurchsc.org

Keep Your Hand On The Plow

Keep your hand on the plow of God. Hold on, hold on. Keep your hand on the plow, hold on.

This morning was the Opening Eucharist for the 79th General Convention. Nearly, 1500 people gathered to pray, sing, clap, hear the Presiding Bishop preach and receive the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Worship at General Convention is one of the great jewels of our time together. Worship occurs everyday at Convention and a prayer is said before each Legislative Committee Meeting. Worship today was inspiring and renewing!!

I can’t say word-for-word what the Presiding Bishop preached about. Even if I tried, I would not do his sermon justice. Keep looking for the sermon on the internet if you want to listen. The Presiding Bishop reminded us that we are the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement. As this branch of the Jesus Movement how do we react when things in the world seem dark, dysfunctional, messy and just wrong - “Keep your hand on the [Gospel] plow hold on, hold on.” He reminded us that the Way of Jesus is Love, and that Love has the power to change lives and change the world.

As we were going into worship we were given pamphlets. Now, I am assuming very few of us looked at the pamphlet when trying to find our seat. The Presiding Bishop explained to us what we received during his sermon. First, he asked the question, “What Do We Seek?” The answer is Love, Freedom, Abundant Life and We Seek Jesus. This was in the pamphlet. As we were leaving worship, we received another resource guide. The guide is titled “The Way Of Love: Practices for Jesus-Center Life.” This resource says we are to Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go and Rest. You can go online at www.episcopalchurch.org/wayoflove and view this new resource.

I hope you have received a small glimpse of our worship experience.

Blessings,
The Rev. Dr. Jim Taylor

Back to our roots and being fed for the work that lies ahead….

My perch for the next 10 days. Pictured here with Twila Rios, 

member of the General Convention Staff. 

Photo credit: Bishop Adams

I traveled to Austin via my childhood home in Baton Rouge, with my two kids in tow. (They are staying at Camp Nanna and Grandpa for the duration of GC'79. God bless my parents!) I had not spent four days in my hometown in far too many years, so I soaked up every single second as I headed back to my roots, back to the places and people that helped shape me into who I am today. Those places and people and traditions that molded me and helped me discover how I would learn to see the world, act as a part of a community, and find the strength to be myself in the middle of all sorts of crazy. I spent last weekend being fed and nourished, both emotionally and spiritually, and definitely with some delicious Louisiana food! Those times with friends, late nights up with my parents talking, a Sunday service at my childhood church (Methodist, at that!) – these times have reinforced and encouraged me to stay the course I have chosen as a parent with my husband for our family, to keep teaching my children of all their history and their heritage, to encourage them to embrace those cultures as they grow, to be good students, but to be kind above all else, and to seek to see and serve the needs of others. It was a wonderful experience with my children and precious time spent with my family in my childhood home, but it was exhausting! I had fear of missing out and not knowing the next time I’d be back, so we stayed up until 2 am three nights in a row, recalling great memories, talking and treasuring the time together, and speaking of what’s ahead for our family. I was completely wiped out as I boarded the plane to Texas, beignets and café au lait in tow.

As I sat yesterday in the Secretariat and in the House of Bishops, preparing for a busy 10 days of General Convention, it occurred to me that this gathering, this convention, is kind of like ‘returning home’ for thousands of Episcopalians who have chosen to gather here in Austin. Though the locations of General Conventions change every three years, the purpose is the same. We gather together to be fed, to grow as individuals and as our church. We gather together as our large family, from all over the country and our non-domestic dioceses. We gather to return to our roots, to come home and spend precious time with friends, family, teachers, spiritual mentors, and also strangers, to celebrate our history and our traditions, while we continue to look to the future and learn from others. To look forward and see how we, as individuals, and as a church grow into our communities, our nation, and the world while we embrace our Anglican traditions and Episcopal heritage. To discern how we can and should and will be present in our own communities, as a part of this Jesus Movement, to meet the needs of people where THEY are, not where we choose to be.

And my hope and prayer is that we all leave Austin as exhausted as I was when I left Baton Rouge. That we will be wiped out and rejuvenated, spent and engaged all at the same time. That we will have had hard discussions, but maintained respect and acceptance for those whose opinions differ from ours, and that when the gavel sounds at the close and we are done, we can say we have given our best. And that as a result of our difficult, but rewarding work, we will have a guide for the near future on how we as Episcopalians and as humans will continue this Jesus Movement, and how our church will adapt to the world that the future holds, while we hold fast to the traditions and heritage that mean so much to us.

I hope that you will join me in this prayer for exhaustion and lift up this great gathering in your prayers.

I'll be in the HOB if you need me!

- Lauren

Lauren Kinard is Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Diocesan Administrator for The Episcopal Church in South Carolina.

                                       A panoramic view from the platform out to the House of Bishops before meeting today.

Ethnic Ministries in The Episcopal Church

Post by Andrea McKellar, Lay Deputy. Shared from www.funeralhomechurch.com

Image of All Saints Episcopal, Smyrna, TN

One of the resolutions assigned to my committee (Legislative Committee #14, Formation and Discipleship) is A055 -Develop Multicultural Ministry Pathways. We had a hearing on it today and heard testimony by those doing Black, Indigenous, AsiaAmerica, and Hispanic/Latino Ministries. 

We heard stories of Karen communities* that are growing in churches that were on the brink of closing, vibrant Latino congregations across the church, but the most telling for me was from Brad Hauff, Missioner for Indigenous Ministries. As he shared work that his going on in these communities, he said “those living on the land now known as the United States.” What powerful words on this July 4th to repent the atrocities that we have and continue to commit on non-white communities.

The resolution asks for $100,000 over 3 years. That is $33,000 per year for gatherings, trainings, and collaboration between 4 very different ministries that work very well together. This is a unacceptable amount of money for communities that are growing in the United States. These ministries have long been served by The Episcopal Church but they are not the other. These ministries ARE The Episcopal Church. If The Episcopal Church is going to survive, we have to come to terms with how the United States (knowing that The Episcopal Church is larger than one country but still dominated by it) has changed demographically. These ministries represent our future.

* In The Episcopal Church, there are 18 Karen communities served by one priest. They are refugees from the Karen State of Myanmar in Southeast Asia. One example was made famous in the movie "All Saints" that was released this year about All Saints Episcopal Church in Smyrna, Tennessee.