By Eliana Seidner
Eliana is a member of the youth delegation from the Diocese of Kansas that attended a portion of General Convention. A 2018 high school graduate, she will be a student at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the fall.
I attended General Convention for the first time ever this year. While it was all great, I definitely had a few favorite moments.
Our first day at General Convention was a lot, as one day feels like a week. It was in the afternoon legislative session, in the House of Bishops, that the most beautiful thing happened. We were able to witness the Presiding Bishop welcome Cuba back home.
The coolest thing about that whole process was that the Bishop of the Diocese of Cuba was sitting behind us the whole time! It was such an emotional, heart-warming thing to be able to experience. The next day we were able to see the President of the House of Deputies finalize the welcoming of Cuba.
Another one of my favorite parts has been that every time we go anywhere in the Convention Center, someone recognizes us because of the sunflowers we've been wearing around all week and that the Kansas deputation has been wearing around all Convention! I love that everyone will remember Kansas just because of that. Even though our group was small, I feel like it was a good sized group.
I also think it is really cool that Michael Funston wrote an amendment and it was passed. Not a single person opposed it, either.
At Convention the days are very long and the nights are way too short; however, it was a great time overall. The only thing I wish was different is for youth to have seat, voice and vote. I think their opinion is important and they deserve it.
I am very glad I had the opportunity to attend GC79 and would definitely do it all over again. I hope one day I can be a deputy and really make a difference!
Eliana is a member of the youth delegation from the Diocese of Kansas that attended a portion of General Convention. A 2018 high school graduate, she will be a student at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the fall.
I attended General Convention for the first time ever this year. While it was all great, I definitely had a few favorite moments.
Our first day at General Convention was a lot, as one day feels like a week. It was in the afternoon legislative session, in the House of Bishops, that the most beautiful thing happened. We were able to witness the Presiding Bishop welcome Cuba back home.
The coolest thing about that whole process was that the Bishop of the Diocese of Cuba was sitting behind us the whole time! It was such an emotional, heart-warming thing to be able to experience. The next day we were able to see the President of the House of Deputies finalize the welcoming of Cuba.
Another one of my favorite parts has been that every time we go anywhere in the Convention Center, someone recognizes us because of the sunflowers we've been wearing around all week and that the Kansas deputation has been wearing around all Convention! I love that everyone will remember Kansas just because of that. Even though our group was small, I feel like it was a good sized group.
I also think it is really cool that Michael Funston wrote an amendment and it was passed. Not a single person opposed it, either.
At Convention the days are very long and the nights are way too short; however, it was a great time overall. The only thing I wish was different is for youth to have seat, voice and vote. I think their opinion is important and they deserve it.
I am very glad I had the opportunity to attend GC79 and would definitely do it all over again. I hope one day I can be a deputy and really make a difference!