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Fr. Mac, in his usual kind and smiling way indicated that it would good for me to share my experience of attending General Convention: this is also known as giving the sermon. He had hoped that I would be alert enough last Sunday to share my experience. This is after twelve days of intense work and schedule; learning; and then travel home on a red-eye flight from LA. A week of processing and understanding has helped me! I also know that there is much more to come.

I have been given the honor and privilege of serving as a deputy to our General Convention recently held in Anaheim, California. I am one of a team of ten that attended from our Diocese — Western Massachusetts. Our deputation included four clergy and four lay people; one clergy alternate and one lay alternate. Our Bishop, Gordon Scruton, also attends but as a member of "the lesser house". We are deputies not delegates. Ask me more about this at coffee.

It seems hard enough to understand how a local parish runs or even a diocese. The workings of the Episcopal Church are broader!

The Episcopal Church is a global branch of Christ's Church and is located around the world. We are also a branch of the Anglican Communion. We are a missionary church. We have been sent out into the world and continue to be sent out.

Did you know that our General Convention is the largest bicameral (that is, two house) legislative body in the world? The two houses are the House of Deputies (made up of equal numbers of clergy and lay people all with equal vote) and the House of Bishops. (The House of Bishops is also known as the "lesser house".) It takes concurrence of both houses for any resolutions to be enacted. You might be able to recognize that the governance of our church is similar to that of our nation. We were established at the same time and share strong similarities in our governance. What an exciting and daunting thought!

General Convention required a commitment of ten days of work, in addition to travel time and many other events that were happening. (This is cut back from a three week process not so many years ago and the next gathering will be cut to eight days of commitment.) A sampling of what happens with General Convention looks like this: We begin well ahead of gathering with a huge book of proposed resolutions that is sent to each deputy and first alternate. We are offered opportunities for learning and discussion via the internet. We gather at the annual meeting of the Province (our province includes all of New England.) All resolutions come from the various commissions, committees, agencies and boards (CCABs) that work between conventions; by individuals; dioceses; and bishops. A side note: Before I left, the number of resolutions presented was around 325 but we ended with more than 400 at the end of our ten days of legislation. Many are fine-tuned at daily hearings and meetings of these committees then presented to the two houses for action. At convention, we end up receiving and approving a new and transformed book. (Come up to coffee hour and I can show you what I mean.) For a resolution to be enacted then it must be agreed upon by both houses. (Is this sounding familiar yet?)

We operate and plan our mission and ministry in a three year cycle between conventions known as the triennium. A theme is envisioned as we prepare to gather and then go back into our communities and the world. For this triennium, we adopted the theme of Ubuntu. This is an African term that simply and deeply states: I am because you are. It goes much deeper than just hearing the words. It is about our relationships with one another and our interdependence not only with each other but with God and creation. It was noted that it can be hard for Westerners to get our hearts and heads around this understanding as we have traditionally been independent in our thoughts, actions. The spirit of Ubuntu understands that we not only live in a deep relationship with God but that we are all are very much interconnected. For me, this is the ultimate love and respect that is a part of this great relationship and our great commandment to love God and our neighbor.

Convention opened with meditations from our Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. They shared the importance of the times we are in economically, corporately; in our mission and our realization that all of us are interdependent with one another.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, shared in a meditation that we have entered a time of understanding that we will no longer be able to know what was our understanding of "normal". Humankind's greed grew so drastically and our resources remained limited. We need to be aware of each other and the effects that our greed has had on the world. He was clear that we need to do a deep self examination of our ways.

Our Gospel lessons over these past few weeks share examples of working; being together; being sent out; and the need to return and the need to be quiet in order to make sense of our experiences. In addition to all this work and learning that we are called to, today's Gospel has a wonderful message of abundance and not scarcity; an example of being able to give up what we think is treasured (food, for example, in the loaves and fishes); ability to show love and concern for those around us; and to see what wonders God can do. There is no need to be stressed or fear that we do not, nor cannot, get enough. There is a need for people to come together in small gatherings and large; to be fed — not only physically but spiritually; to witness what God can and will do among us; and that God is among us with this deep ubuntu spirit. God provides all that we need even when we have a hard time seeing or believing this. Did you notice that Jesus knew this and was providing an example of what can happen?

Two of the largest items that came out of Anaheim were Resolution D025 and the budget for the next three years. The Episcopal Church has been an advocate for God's encompassing love and witness for several years, even decades, now. This has been a source of tension among the Anglican Communion since we: ordained women to the priesthood, consecrated the first female bishop in TEC and Anglican Communion, consented to Gene Robinson, an openly gay man in a committed relationship, as Bishop of NH ; elected the first female presiding Bishop, Katherine Schori. We have been threatened with possible censure and possible removal from the Anglican Communion. As a result, we have seen some breaking away: first with parishes and more recently with Dioceses. God was and is very much in the midst of this time of stress, anger and frustration. What was clear for me in Anaheim is that we were there to affirm who we are as the Episcopal Church in Resolution D025:

• that we are a member of the Anglican Communion and encourage all participate to the fullest extent in this membership;
• that we will financially continue with our commitment to the Anglican Communion;
• that ALL baptized are welcomed to discern their call in lay or ordained ministries and that we will not discriminate against anyone - especially those who live in a committed and monogamous same-sex relationship.

This resolution was overwhelming accepted by both houses of this convention. More work still needs to be done though!

The other big reality is that our church faces the effects of our all-to-familiar economic realities. The Episcopal Church, like most of us is facing unprecedented and financial change. Deep cuts have been made to in order to live within our means. Staff positions and programs have been cut and or eliminated. General Convention, as well as other committees and agencies will need to find less expensive ways of meeting and completing their work with hopes of utilizing more conference calls and internet meetings instead of traveling to each area of the church for face to face meetings.

Another financial message was clear: that in this new economic reality: more grassroots initiatives need to be done at the parish level and diocesan level. We need to understand what our local mission/purpose is to help those around us. Our resources may be limited but our possibilities are limitless! We need to depend more on each other in new and deeper ways.

One new art form and tool that was practiced was through Public Narrative or the sharing of our stories. Understanding what gets us to make decisions to take part in our life together. Public Narrative also encourages the building of better relationships with one another through our sharing of self; community and where we are now and what actions need to be made.

Other highlights of my time in Anaheim included:

• getting to know others from home in deeper ways
• getting to meet so many more wonderful people including our "new neighbors" from the Diocese of Easton/MD; the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast/FL; Long Island.
• Having pride that our diocese has now raised six bishops — two of whom were given consent at this convention: Larry Provenzano who will serve in Long Island and John Tarrant who will serve in South Dakota.
• being offered a job in Alaska — as Bishop. Seriously! I have a witness!
• Learning the coaching process of Public Narrative and the sharing that is accomplished
• Getting to sit with the Primate of Central America, Martin, and hearing his story

I am honored and thankful to be able to serve and participate in our life in the wider communion. My hope is that we are not afraid to take bold steps into the mission and ministry work that God has in mind for us.

I will leave you with verse 20 of today's lesson from Ephesians from The Message: God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

AMEN

Copyright © 2009, Elizabeth Washburn, Trinity Episcopal Church, Milford, MA

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

More Convention Information

The General Convention 2009 Website

Articles about General Convention 2009 from Episcopal Life

Impressions of General Convention by our Western Mass Delegates