Day 4, GC-80, General Convention

El Camino Real sign decorations, General Convention, 11 July 2022

This is the fourth and final legislative day for the deputation of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR) at the General Convention (“GC-80”) in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, after morning worship and an inspiring sermon by the newly-elected President of the House of Deputies, Julia Ayala Harris, we discussed changes to the Book of Common Prayer, heard a health report by Dr. Rodney Coldren (only 26 COVID cases reported during GC-80) who thanked us for protecting our fellow deputies, celebrated many House of Deputies awards by outgoing President, the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, thanked many remarkable people who have worked for years to make this event happen, planned for GC-81 in Louisville in two years, and filled a variety of positions by election. We particularly celebrated the ten years of the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings as HofD President and gave her many standing ovations.

The historic change of leadership was symbolized by a hand off of the President’s gavel from the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings to Julia Ayala Harris. Both are inspiring and remarkable women who make the world change for the better. In her concluding remarks, Rev. Gay Clark Jennings said it was not enough to appoint and elect change makers, we must also actively encourage and support them to stop the racism and misogyny endemic in our church. People of color and women face real gritty situations and structural barriers, not theoretical problems. We must commit ourselves to this work, seize the opportunity, and not assume others will take care of it.

Check out the Diocese of El Camino Real’s daily GC-80 “Updates from the Floor.”

El Camino Real deputation with the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, General Convention, 11 July 2022

Rev. Gay Clark Jennings with masked pigeon mascot, General Convention, 11 July 2022

House of Deputies ovation for Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, General Convention, 11 July 2022

Katy Dickinson badge and iPad, General Convention, 11 July 2022

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, General Convention, 11 July 2022

House of Deputies President calling House of Bishops, General Convention, 11 July 2022

Handoff of gavel between House of Deputies Presidents, General Convention, 11 July 2022

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Day 3, GC-80, General Convention

Rev. Ruth Casipit-Paguio of the Diocese of El Camino Real, Episcopal General Convention, 10 July 2022

This is the third legislative day for the deputation of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR) at the General Convention (“GC-80”) in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, despite persistent technical challenges, the House of Deputies (HOD) passed a variety of resolutions and amendments, including the church’s budget, the election of Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton as Vice President of the HOD (the first ordained woman to be so elected), and the celebration of the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, the first woman to serve as President of HOD as her term nears its end. There are so many remarkable faith and community leaders here – it is inspiring!

I have mostly stayed in the hotel and convention center but from time to time we go out to eat. Tomorrow night, we celebrate Maryland Night, so I will see more of Baltimore. Check out the Diocese of El Camino Real’s daily GC-80 “Updates from the Floor.”

El Camino Real Diocese, General Convention, 10 July 2022

Constellation ship, Inner Harbor Baltimore, 9 July 2022

dragon paddle boats, Inner Harbor Baltimore, 9 July 2022

Bumble bee on morning glory flower, Baltimore, 10 July 2022

Bird inside Baltimore Convention Center, 10 July 2022

Bishop Susan Haynes (Diocese Southern Virginia), Helen Sharpe-Williams, Katy Dickinson, 9 Jul 2022

Chaplain Rev. Lester Mackenzie, Katy Dickinson, General Convention, 10 July 2022

Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves, and Bishop Lucinda Ashby, General Convention, 10 July 2022

Chaplain Rev. Lester Mackenzie, General Convention, 10 July 2022

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Day 2, GC-80, General Convention

El Camino Real, Episcopal General Convention 80, 9 July 2022

This is the second legislative day for the deputation of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR) at the General Convention (“GC-80”) in Baltimore, Maryland. The big excitement so far was this morning’s election of Julia Ayala Harris as the next President of the House of Deputies (PHoD). She is the first Latina lay person to hold that role, was endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Caucus, and is from the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. After the HoD ballot count was announced, Ayala Harris thanked the other candidates who ran, thanked her predecessor the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, and said her election was “for justice, for inclusion, and for Jesus.” A good start!

Julia Ayala Harris, newly elected President House of Deputies, Episcopal General Convention 80, 9 July 2022

Ovation for Julia Ayala Harris, newly elected President House of Deputies, Episcopal General Convention 80, 9 July 2022

Julia Ayala Harris, Episcopal General Convention 80, 9 July 2022

Today’s House of Deputies session opened with worship and a sermon by the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings. There are about 800 deputies from 107 Episcopal dioceses present. We get a health and safety update from Dr. Rodney Coldren daily. As of this morning, only eight people had reported having COVID-19, which is about 1% of the House of Deputies. Dr. Coldren urged us to follow the guidelines not only to protect the immunocompromised but to respect and protect other people’s choice not to get your COVID. In these pandemic times, assume that symptoms of “just a cold” means COVID, even if you test negative. In more general news, it is raining in Baltimore. Our deputation enjoyed pizza dinner together between the afternoon and evening sessions.

If you want to follow General Convention in real time and detail, check out the Virtual Binder: “The Virtual Binder contains all of the legislative information for the meeting of General Convention. The website is vbinder.net and accessible to the public.” Also, read the Diocese of El Camino Real daily GC-80 “Updates from the Floor.”

Raining, Episcopal General Convention 80, 9 July 2022

El Camino Real pizza dinner, General Convention, 9 July 2022

If you want to receive Katysblog posts by email, please sign up using the Sign Me Up! button (upper right on Katysblog home). Images Copyright 2022 by Katy Dickinson, and Jeff Diehl.

GC-80, Episcopal General Convention

Episcopal General Convention 80 in Baltimore, 8 July 2022

I am part of the deputation of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR) to the General Convention (“GC-80”) in Baltimore, Maryland, this week. This is the eightieth General Convention since the House of Deputies was formed in 1785. (The House of Bishops was formed in 1789.) This is the third time I have been part of an ECR deputation: you can read about my adventures at GC-79-Austin and GC-78-Salt-Lake-City on this blog. Many of us arrived in Baltimore from California and registered yesterday. Today is the first day of business. The Episcopal Church has taken many measures to try to minimize the potential danger of the pandemic to GC participants. For example, GC-80 was postponed for a year, the event was shortened from two weeks to four days, all participants must prove that they are vaccinated or exempted, and we all must mask and test every day. This morning’s sessions opened with worship, including an inspiring sermon by our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

Baltimore is different than where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, especially in terms of water. It is hot and humid here and rain is frequent, unlike our drought-plagued west. Attending a convention in a big city presents dangers beyond the pandemic. As we were arriving at our hotel, a man was killed on the street nearby. Tonight, Bishops Against Gun Violence is holding a prayer service for him.

Flying to Episcopal General Convention 80, 7 July 2022

Episcopal General Convention 80 registration, 7 July 2022

COVID-19 tests, Episcopal General Convention 80, 8 July 2022

Devices, wires, personal protective equipment, Episcopal General Convention 80, 8 July 2022

Episcopal General Convention 80, 8 July 2022

Episcopal General Convention 80, 8 July 2022

Episcopal General Convention 80, 8 July 2022

Presiding Bishop Curry, Episcopal General Convention 80, 8 July 2022

Additional photos after the legislative session:

Presiding Bishop Curry speaking with Bishops Against Gun Violence, Baltimore, 8 July 2022

El Camino Real, Episcopal General Convention 80, 8 July 2022

El Camino Real, Episcopal General Convention 80, 8 July 2022

9 July 2022 update: check out the Diocese of El Camino Real daily GC-80 “Updates from the Floor“

If you want to receive Katysblog posts by email, please sign up using the Sign Me Up! button (upper right on Katysblog home). Images Copyright 2022 by Katy Dickinson, Ruth Casipit Paguio, and Jeff Diehl.

Summary: General Convention GC79

Written after the final legislative day of the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church “GC79” (in Austin, Texas).  I was with the Deputation of the Diocese of El Camino Real (Central California).  In my first GC79 blog, I gave a list of the big topics for discussion at this General Convention.  Here is that same list, linked to an Episcopal News Service article about what happened:

1. Marriage Equality: approved a historic resolution giving all Episcopalians the ability to be married by their priests in their home churches
2. Revising the Book of Common Prayer: adopted a resolution that allows all congregations in the Episcopal Church to use optional, expansive-language versions of three Rite II Eucharistic prayers in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer
3. The Episcopal Church and the #MeToo movement: voices and stories of women played a significant role, from a liturgy where bishops offered laments and confession for the church’s role in sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, to passing a resolution so that deputies can to bring babies on the floor of the House of Deputies to feed them
4. A salary for the president of the House of Deputies: agreed to a plan to pay the president of the House of Deputies for the work of the office
5. Following up on the church’s three priorities: evangelism, racial reconciliation and justice and care of creation
6. Formulating the 2019-2021 triennial budget: accepted $134 million three-year spending plan
7. Middle East peace: of 15 resolutions on Israel-Palestine, only six passed both houses, on topics including Palestinian children, the status of Jerusalem, the disproportionate use of lethal force on both sides, and ways the Episcopal Church can press for peace through its investment decisions

Other GC79 big topics and actions of interest:

• Resolutions on ethical investing in gun manufacturers and retailers: develop and implement a shareholder engagement plan based on the Mosbacher-Bennett Principles for Investors in the Gun Industry
• Episcopal Church of Cuba admitted as a diocese: Our Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves who was born and raised in Florida was there to welcome Bishop Griselda Delgado Del Carpio to the House of Bishops
• Lesser Feasts and Fasts and the calendar of saints are a step closer to revision
• Thurgood Marshall, Pauli Murray, and Florence Li Tim-Oi are now permanent saints of the church
• Bishop Mary was re-elected as Vice President of the House of Bishops.
• Passed a resolution to “Establish an Advisory Council on Disability and Deaf Access” – to reduce exclusion in the life of the church
• In addition to resolutions supporting immigrants and their families, a thousand Episcopalians protested at the ICE Hutto Detention Center in Taylor, Texas, on 8 July 2018.  Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon at the event was inspiring: We come because we are people of love. America Means Welcome. America is great because America is good.

Part of General Convention is spending casual time with the remarkable people who attend – and visiting Exhibit Hall booths of programs and institutions and vendors. I bought so many books I had to ship them home in a separate box – which has not yet arrived. Pictures below are of some of the other giveaways and publications I collected. On my flight home from Texas to California, I spotted Dr. Catherine Meeks of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing who gave a remarkable talk at GC79. The Rev. Rob Fisher of our Deputation reported that he spent his flight home reading The Agile Church, which he bought at the GC79 Exhibit Hall.

These blog posts and other GC79 news are on the Diocese of El Camino Real website. Here is my complete set from GC79 as the official diocesan  blogger:

• Episcopal General Convention, Austin Texas, Day 1, 4 July 2018
• Day 2, Episcopal General Convention, 5 July 2018
• Day 3, Episcopal General Convention, 6 July 2018
• Day 4, General Convention, 7 July 2018
• Day 5, General Convention, 8 July 2018
• Day 6, General Convention, 9 July 2018
• Day 7, General Convention, 10 July 2018
• Day 8, General Convention, 11 July 2018
• Day 9, General Convention, 12 July 2018

On 16 July 2018, Episcopal News Service published a summary of GC79.

Note that the GC79 Virtual Binder will only be available online through Labor Day (3 September 2018).

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Images Copyright 2018 by Katy Dickinson.

Day 9, General Convention

This was the eighth legislative session day of the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church “GC79” (in Austin, Texas).  I am with the Deputation of the Diocese of El Camino Real (Central California).

Today was a hard march through dozens of complex resolutions.  Everyone is very tired.  Some of the major resolutions passed today include:

• Use of expansive-language version of Eucharistic prayers
• More resolutions on Israel-Palestine
• $134 million three-year budget

Sometimes the House of Deputies took refuge in silly songs and pigeon jokes but mostly we stuck seriously to business.  The House of Bishops ended today’s session early because the Deputies had not finished enough to pass along.  Both houses meet again starting at 8 am tomorrow for the final legislative day.

Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows (of Indianapolis) gave an inspiring sermon at the closing worship service, ending with “You know what to do.  You have got this.  Now go!”  The El Camino Real Deputation met after the service to eat a pecan pie given to Bishop Mary by the Bishop of Texas.  It was delicious! Bishop DeeDee Duncan-Probe (of Central New York) stopped by to greet Bishop Mary, as well as El Camino Real former-Chancellor Nancy Cohen, and me – she knows Nancy and me from when we were at All Saints’ – Palo Alto together.

These blog posts and other GC79 news are posted on the Diocese of El Camino Real website.

If you want to receive Katysblog posts by email, please sign up using the Sign Me Up! button (upper right). Images Copyright 2018 by Katy Dickinson.

Day 8, General Convention

This was the seventh legislative session day of the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church “GC79” (in Austin, Texas).  I am with the Deputation of the Diocese of El Camino Real (Central California).

Today, the GC79 legislative calendar was so full that we had to add an after-dinner session.  Very long day!  Bishop Griselda Delgado Del Carpio was welcomed with a sustained standing ovation and joyous singing to the House of Deputies after the enthusiastic passage of a historic resolution welcoming the church of Cuba as a diocese of the Episcopal Church.  We considered the budget for the first time in a joint session of the House of Deputies and House of Bishops.  The House of Bishops rejected the Isreal-Palestine resolution but passed a “Marriage Rites for the Whole Church” resolution with a small amendment.

Marriage Rites now return to the House of Deputies for a final vote.  The House of Deputies today agreed on a plan for liturgical and Prayer Book revision plus a great many less-controversial resolutions (including one welcoming nursing mother Deputies).  We are proud of El Camino Real Deputy Jeff Diehl who appeared briefly on the House of Deputies big platform as Co-Chair of the Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation committee today.

Deputies in wheelchairs and Deputies who find it hard to hear spoke passionately in support of a resolution to “Establish an Advisory Council on Disability and Deaf Access” – which was passed.  Deputy Sarah Watkins of Texas said “nothing about us without us.”  She and Deputy Charis and others made the point that there had been nine such resolutions passed in General Convention since 1985 but little effective change has been made – perhaps because few who are themselves impaired have been represented in the groups making the decisions.  There have been signers for the deaf at House of Deputy and House of Bishop sessions and worship services but not at most other meetings.  There was an interesting moment during Tuesday evening’s worship service when flute player Dakota Wind from Standing Rock spoke silently in Lakota signs with the GC79 deaf interpreter on the stage.

These blog posts and other GC79 news are posted on the Diocese of El Camino Real website.

If you want to receive Katysblog posts by email, please sign up using the Sign Me Up! button (upper right). Images Copyright 2018 by Katy Dickinson.