Vince Currie
July 20th
As I reflect back on the 76 General th Convention of The Episcopal Church (July 2009), I see one of the best experiences of my 33 years attending this triennial event (my 12th General Convention!). It could have been the weather in Anaheim…it was beautiful every day! It could have been the facilities…they were world class in every way! It could have been the leadership…currently the best I’ve seen (in both Houses)! It could have been our Central Gulf Coast deputation…attentive, informed, punctual, friendly, well-mannered, well-dressed and well-respected! Or, just maybe, and including all the ingredients listed
above, it might have been the presence and work of the Holy Spirit!!! Win, lose, draw, or rained out…at the end of the day, the Holy Spirit was/is always present!
You really have to go and be there to know it’s not “church” as many of us knows it! There is a mystery about The Episcopal Church that is indeed unique. Lines are drawn all throughout the sand to form a mosaic not unlike a difficult picture puzzle. After all, that’s what makes us Anglican. The tension we share, the calling we share, is to all be one in the sight of God. As one of the longest-serving deputies in the House of Deputies, I had several special assignments which were personal highs for me. I and three others of the President of the House of Deputies Council of Advice met privately with Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to share with him our understanding of the polity of The Episcopal Church (different in a lot of ways from most Provinces of the Anglican Communion), and how that polity affects the decisions and positions of The Episcopal Church. He clearly understands; but wanted us to be sure we understand the tension and frustration the Anglican Communion feels at the same time. The Archbishop of Canterbury was cordial and friendly, but very forthright! He has a tough job.
Later in the Convention, I was one of four (two lay deputies and two bishops) chosen to draft a “sense of The Episcopal Church” letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury trying to explain the process and implications of the two “hot-button” resolutions, D-025 and C-056. D-025 – Commitment and witness to the Anglican Communion, reaffirms the continued participation of The Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion, giving thanks for the work of the Bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008, and encourages dioceses, congregations and all members of the Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion. It also affirms the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons” as called for by Lambeth Conferences of 1978, ‘88 and ‘98 and recognizes that the baptized membership of the Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in life-long, committed relationships. It also recognized the various ministries exercised by gay and lesbian persons and affirms that God may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church…”acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church”. It acknowledges that the Episcopal Church as well as the Anglican Communion are not of one mind but as Christians of good conscience, disagree about some of these matters. Our message to the Archbishop of Canterbury was simply that the discernment and the listening process will continue and that in the meantime, call to service to the Episcopal Church will be tested through a discernment process in accordance with the Constitutions and Canons of The Episcopal Church. These have historically been very inclusive.
C-056 – Liturgy for blessings, the General Convention acknowledged the changing circumstances of the United States and other nations around legalization of civil unions, domestic partnerships, and the need for pastoral response from The Episcopal Church. There was no call in the resolution to design any liturgy! The resolution asked that liturgical resources be collected and developed and reported to the next General Convention. It calls for involvement from the whole Episcopal church, as well as fellow members of the Anglican Communion. In the meanwhile, it resolves that Bishops, particularly those in diocese, within civil jurisdiction with same-gender marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this church. The generous pastoral response is a discretionary term to be used by bishops to fit their particular needs. It does not call for any universal constitution or canonical change within the Episcopal Church, but calls on the church to continue study, and at the same time afford some pastoral response where that is necessarily appropriate. Again, in our communication to the Archbishop of Canterbury, our committee stressed the continued discernment and listening process, and asked for the patience of the Anglican Communion while we work through these delicate matters together. As mentioned above, the mosaic of The Episcopal Church is much like a picture puzzle. It is unlikely that the two “hot-button” resolutions will be overriding or divisive in the Central Gulf Coast. Bishop Duncan and the majority of the Central Gulf Coast deputation voted against both. That’s where we think we are in the puzzle. “Generous pastoral care” is always a good thing; but it not need bring controversy!
I served on the Church Pension Fund Committee of General Convention. We were successful in bringing two major pieces of legislation to reality: a Denominational Health Plan for The Episcopal Church and a mandatory lay pension plan (by canon). These initiatives will be managed by the Church Pension Fund, and will be fully implemented by 2012. The budget of The Episcopal Church is desperately bleak! The budget for 2010-2012 is $24 million less than 2007-2009. The General Convention adopted this budget with as much emphasis on program and mission as possible, at the expense of “business as usual”. General Convention, interim committees, Church Center staff are in for major cuts. Latino ministries, Millennium Development Goals, and communications are prominent in the new budget.
On a personal note, I want to thank Kathy Duncan and Paul Kreamer for their oversight of our deputation meeting room — keeping it well-stocked with timely treats to calm our weary thirsts at the end of each day. I also want to thank my bishop, deputy and ECW colleagues for their concern and comfort for me as I struggled until the last day with what turned out to be slight pneumonia! Dr. Capalito at the Golden Key Medical Center became my private physician (three visits and two phone calls!) in Anaheim.
Thanks to him too!
Let us not forget…the Holy Spirit was/is always present!!!
July 12th
Greetings from Anaheim!
The 76th GC is half-baked, but still quite uncooked! Special orders of business have consumed gobs of time. This is not necessarily atypical, and it always seems to get done by the final gavel.
Rumor has it that the budget is woefully underfunded (sound familiar?) And going forward, there may need to be some drastic reductions—-maybe even some changes in how we do “national church”.
The Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast should be very proud of its deputation. We are attending ALL meetings (not every diocese can say that) and ALL are actively involved in committee work, arrive timely and appropriately dressed (really, not every diocese can say this)
The new deputies are learning a lot I think and are very engaged. We old-timers are enjoying old friends and are hopeful for a peaceful ending to this triennial event.
Please keep us in your prayers. Please do not jump to any premature conclusions. We’ll sort it out for you when we get home.
Peace be with you!
Vince Currie
