Thursday - Public Narrative, Discussion of B033

(Report from Thursday)
I must apologize for a lack of time (and open eyes) to commit to writing all the details of today's events. I took the day "easy," but I'm still exhausted!

This General Convention has healthily undertaken to use conversation and storytelling as a means by which to discuss both our individual/collective calls to mission and our feelings on certain controversial issues facing our church. This morning held the first of our three "Mission Conversations." I served as a coach for the conversation - which utilized a practice called "Public Narrative" - and worked with some members of the Diocese of Atlanta. I very much enjoyed getting to know them and hearing their stories, though I feel I failed them as a coach in a few ways. I really just love hearing people talk about their lives and experiences, so I forget that my role is really to help them focus their thoughts and uncover an impact-ful story. The stories are meant to be motivating and persuasive - calls to action. I don't think I helped them learn to develop their stories in that way - just yet. I tried my best. I need to work on coaching.

I received lots of positive feedback on my testimony to the Committee on Prayer Book and Liturgy. People said thank you many times over, and I am very glad I had the strength to speak to the matter. Jewish-Christian Relations (and interfaith relations in general) are one of my passions.

I co-signed on a new resolution that was just drafted yesterday; I will post more information on the resolution as soon as it is distributed in hard-copy. The resolution speaks to the gross expenditures of this Convention - what with deputies staying in luxury hotels and eating lavish meals, using the newest technology and amenities. (I don't know how many millions are being spent on this Convention). I will vote for the passage of the resolution, though I do not think it will be popular with the houses. For the largest bicameral legislature in the world, we really do need lots of technology to carry on our work. However, we don't need luxury hotels. Maybe this resolution will be more of a call to conscience. I hope so.

The most exciting part of the day was the beginning of the "Committee of the Whole" - a special order of business to discuss, without legislation, a matter before the house. We are discussing the resolutions that concern Resolution 2006 B033, which called for a moratorium on the election of bishops with suspect "manners of life." There has been a lot of pain for the past three years over that Resolution, from both conservatives and liberals. There are more than five resolutions before this Convention that call for the repeal of B033. It is going to be interesting to see what happens with respect to those resolutions. There are several paths we could take:
1. No action
2. Vote to uphold B033
3. Vote to repeal B033
4. Construct new resolutions (particularly ones that affirm that we have partnered gay and lesbian people serving in all offices of the church, already, and that we re-affirm our place and relationship in and with the rest of the Anglican Communion)

As part of the process we're engaging to discuss B033, members of the World Missions Legislative Committee addressed the house with the committee's report. They gave the history of B033, the actions that have taken place in TEC and the Anglican Communion since 2003, and gave their opinions of possible ways forward. The final part of the address was to ask each member of the House of Deputies to rise up out of their seats, and go sit next to someone they did not know. We were given 30 minutes for conversation with this person. Three questions were presented as a way to focus our conversation, but primarily, the 30 minutes were wide open.

I spoke to a priest from the Diocese of West Virginia named Kevin. When he entered seminary, he told me, he had been opposed even to the ordination of women. He had a change of heart and mind while at seminary, realizing that he had no good reason for believing the sacrament of ordination should be withheld from anyone - women, or a gay person, celibate or partnered. Jesus' commandments do not support that. We had a very fruitful and meaningful conversation. I shared my story of Poland with him, and he helped me parse through my feelings on B033 and other matters relating to LGBT Episcopalians and same-sex relationships.

Immediately after the House adjourn, the "lottery" opened for the chance to address the House during the entire Committee of the Whole discussion. I felt moved to go get a number to see if I might choose a low enough number to be able to address the House. I pulled 17. It looks as though I might have the chance to address the House of Deputies. (woah). I'm going to spend the morning sifting through my thoughts and try to construct something that needs to be said. There is so much that others say - much more eloquently, with personality, humor, and poignancy - what can I say?