The resolution also commits the church to “continued prayer, study and
discernment on the pastoral care for gay and lesbian persons”.
The resolution does not call for the development of rites for blessing
of same-sex relationships.
Both our lay and clerical deputies were divided on this, with two in
each order voting for and two against the resolution.
Contrary to what you may have seen reported in the secular media, sex
was certainly not the only item on the agenda here!
In both legislation and daily worship, there was significant recognition
of the growing diversity of our church. The service booklets
for the morning Eucharists were printed in both Spanish
and English, with the languages used alternately throughout
the liturgy. Lectors read not only in English and Spanish,
but also in several other languages, including French,
Chinese and Ojibwe.
Spanish interpreters, led by Dalia Mesa of San Francisco de Asis, Miami
Lakes, were available at every session of both houses,
and all worship services and legislative sessions were
signed for the hearing impaired.
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Sign
language interpreter Diane Lynch makes sure deaf deputies
don't miss any of the debate. |
Dalia
Mesa and Canon Luis Quiroga listen in the Spanish translation
booth as a deputy from the Dominican Republic thanks
the Spanish interpreters for their work. |
Two
Hispanic dioceses, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, were welcomed
into full membership in Province IX of the Episcopal Church.
Both were formerly extraprovincial dioceses, without full
participation in the decisions of the Episcopal Church in
the United States.
Resolutions
were passed that require many printed and audio-visual materials
from the Church Center in New York to be made available in
Spanish and French, and directed the Office of Communications
to develop a multi-lingual advertising campaign.
Another
resolution recommends that diocesan conventions elect deputations
to General Convention that reflect the diversity of the church,
including representatives of the next generation, multilingual
and multicultural character of its congregations.
Our
representative in the official youth presence, Erin Ferguson
of St. George’s, Riviera Beach, spoke in favor of this resolution,
saying, “It is important that we include youth in all parts
of the leadership of the church…so we can hear from all parts
of the church … what motions we want to get across and what
voices we hear.”
Many
resolutions dealt with evangelism and mission—church planting,
outreach to varied ethnic groups and funding for youth leadership
training.
Other
legislation focused on issues of racism, war and peace, and
the responsibilities of global citizenship.
A
complete summary of General Convention actions will be posted
soon on the General Convention website.
In
the midst of difficult debate and decision, the bishop and
deputies prayed together; in addition to the daily Eucharists
and noonday prayers in both houses, the chaplains were frequently
called to the podium to lead prayer during the most divisive
discussions.
At
the end of communion at this morning’s Eucharist, the congregation
began to sing the hymn that was sung in the House of Bishops
after the vote to consent to the consecration of Canon Gene
Robinson as bishop—“Ubi caritas” (Where charity and love
are, God is there.)
Janet
Aguhob of St. Paul’s, Delray Beach, who has been a coordinator
of registration for General Convention, observed, “I think
that’s been the theme song here—‘Ubi caritas’.”
Gallery--"Ubi
caritas"
Every
day during General Convention, there were activities for
the children of deputies, staff and volunteers. This was
the first General Convention to provide a program for children.
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The
Rev. SuzeAnne Silla, formerly our Canon to the Ordinary
and now serving on the diocesan staff in the Diocese
of Milwaukee, places an origami crane in a tree at
an Aug. 6 ceremony commemorating the dropping of the
atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. |
ECW
Triennial delegate Cynthia Williams with a Native American
dancer, Capt. Bob Dudley of the Church Army, who took
part in the Eucharist celebrating the addition of Ojibwe
priest Enmegahbowh to the church's calendar of saints. |
Local
young people disturbed at protesters carrying signs with
hateful slogans made their own signs and displayed them outside
the Convention Center.
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Rachel
Thomas (left) talks with musician Ana Hernandez (right)
at a forum on church vocations during the "Count
me Faithful" youth event. |
Bishop
Holguin of the Dominican Republic and his wife were
Bishop Frade's guests at a dinner for the Southeast
Florida deputies and others from the diocese attending
General Convention. |
Fr.
Michael Hartney (center) and his wife Susan, watched from
the press box as their son Matthew, the youngest deputy from
the Diocese of Western New York, joined in debate.
Click
here for full coverage of General Convention |
