By Michael Funston
Sunday of General Convention, or as I like to call it “Middle Sunday,” can be a bit of respite from early morning committee hearings, legislation and a speed walk from hotel to convention center to lunch and back again. However, the last two conventions that I have been present this Sunday has meant a gathering of the Bishops United Against Gun Violence.
Bishops don orange stoles and families of victims of gun violence speak about how gun violence has touched their lives and call us to action. We say many prayers but over and over again we hear that our thoughts and prayers are not enough and that we must act.
After this public witness nearly a thousand Episcopalians boarded buses and headed to Hutto Immigration Detainment Facility near Austin to pray for justice and be a presence and witness for the many families who have been separated and detained in these facilities. Since Patrick and I are both here as deputies we decided to skip the gathering at Hutto to spend the morning with our two kids, whom we have only seen at lunch and bedtime these first few days of convention since we both have been serving on legislative committees.
We understood how privileged we were to be able to make that decision and be with our kids unlike so many families who have been torn apart and still remain separated. The Very Rev. Don Compier, deputy from Kansas, went to Hutto and described the experience as full of grace, as everyone sang in English and Spanish, shared their sunscreen and umbrellas and engaged in rich conversation. “Bishop Curry spoke as prophets do, calling our nation to be its best self, that goodness makes us great and that America is welcoming all,” Compier said.
Deputy Jennifer Allen, also from Kansas, attended as well and said, “I felt my soul lifted up by the love of the voices as we turned around, facing the detention center and sang directly to the detainees. The high chain link fences and austere building gave a stark reminder that our country is far from welcoming to the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free. We have much work to do.”
Due to the extended time for debate and amendments on A068, there has been much anxiety over how the House of Deputies will ever get through the record breaking 443 submitted resolutions this convention. The Rev. Gay Jennings, President of House of Deputies, began the Sunday afternoon legislative session by saying “Be not anxious about the legislative calendar” and called us to repeat after her, “the Consent Calendar is our friend.”
We proceeded to elections for 12 members of the Board of Trustees for the Church Pension Group, eight members to Executive Council, Treasurer of General Convention, four Trustees of General Theological Seminary, four members of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops, and President of the House of Deputies.
After three hours of elections the House of Deputies heard a presentation on Episcopal Relief and Development. Then we began the Special Order of Business for Resolution B012: Marriage Rites for the Whole Church, which is a compromise resolution around the future of marriage rites for same-sex couples. We began with time for questions from the floor on the resolution and then proceeded to debate.
We left the House of Deputies with 23 deputies still waiting to debate B012. We will continue debate tomorrow and hopefully vote.
Sunday of General Convention, or as I like to call it “Middle Sunday,” can be a bit of respite from early morning committee hearings, legislation and a speed walk from hotel to convention center to lunch and back again. However, the last two conventions that I have been present this Sunday has meant a gathering of the Bishops United Against Gun Violence.
Bishops don orange stoles and families of victims of gun violence speak about how gun violence has touched their lives and call us to action. We say many prayers but over and over again we hear that our thoughts and prayers are not enough and that we must act.
After this public witness nearly a thousand Episcopalians boarded buses and headed to Hutto Immigration Detainment Facility near Austin to pray for justice and be a presence and witness for the many families who have been separated and detained in these facilities. Since Patrick and I are both here as deputies we decided to skip the gathering at Hutto to spend the morning with our two kids, whom we have only seen at lunch and bedtime these first few days of convention since we both have been serving on legislative committees.
We understood how privileged we were to be able to make that decision and be with our kids unlike so many families who have been torn apart and still remain separated. The Very Rev. Don Compier, deputy from Kansas, went to Hutto and described the experience as full of grace, as everyone sang in English and Spanish, shared their sunscreen and umbrellas and engaged in rich conversation. “Bishop Curry spoke as prophets do, calling our nation to be its best self, that goodness makes us great and that America is welcoming all,” Compier said.
Deputy Jennifer Allen, also from Kansas, attended as well and said, “I felt my soul lifted up by the love of the voices as we turned around, facing the detention center and sang directly to the detainees. The high chain link fences and austere building gave a stark reminder that our country is far from welcoming to the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free. We have much work to do.”
Due to the extended time for debate and amendments on A068, there has been much anxiety over how the House of Deputies will ever get through the record breaking 443 submitted resolutions this convention. The Rev. Gay Jennings, President of House of Deputies, began the Sunday afternoon legislative session by saying “Be not anxious about the legislative calendar” and called us to repeat after her, “the Consent Calendar is our friend.”
We proceeded to elections for 12 members of the Board of Trustees for the Church Pension Group, eight members to Executive Council, Treasurer of General Convention, four Trustees of General Theological Seminary, four members of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops, and President of the House of Deputies.
After three hours of elections the House of Deputies heard a presentation on Episcopal Relief and Development. Then we began the Special Order of Business for Resolution B012: Marriage Rites for the Whole Church, which is a compromise resolution around the future of marriage rites for same-sex couples. We began with time for questions from the floor on the resolution and then proceeded to debate.
We left the House of Deputies with 23 deputies still waiting to debate B012. We will continue debate tomorrow and hopefully vote.