A summing up

From Alternate Bruce Garner

The gavel sounded yesterday afternoon and General Convention 2009 became a part of our history.

It was a remarkable convention for a number of reasons.

Most remarkable, perhaps was the absence of rancor and nastiness of previous General Conventions. Having attended every convention since 1991, it was a refreshing change for our discussions to be polite, respectful and considerate.

Many things were accomplished.

The process of implementing a denomination-wide health care plan was begun with the passage of an enabling resolution.

Lay employees of the church were brought into a pension plan.

We condemned the sin of racism again (as we will have to continue to do for a long time to come).

We condemned the sins of human trafficking and the exploitation of commercial sex workers.

We embarked on the revisions of Lesser Feasts and Fasts as it begins to morph into "Holy Men and Holy Women." Similarly, we asked for more liturgical resources in electronic format and available online.

We addressed the all sorts and conditions of humanity that caught our attention whether for good or not so good reasons. We took care of the business of the church that we are required to do by canon as well as that which we noticed through day to day living.

And of course we had our discussions about issues of human sexuality. In one resolution we affirmed our commitment to the Anglican Communion while we also described where we are as a church on the issue of ordination of lesbians and gays as bishops. We gave each other space to be where they are and where we might want to go.

In another resolution we began the process of gathering and studying materials that will lead to liturgies for blessing same gender committed relationships.

We aren't through discussing matters of human sexuality but we are trying to come to grips with some of the realities lesbian and gay members of our church face each day.

Perhaps the blockbuster issue for us was the financial state of our church. We have not been spared the impact of the economic recession. We passed a budget for the upcoming triennium that has us facing the loss of both programs and staff. Over two dozen employees of the Church Center will lose their jobs.

Part of our financial issues arise from the overall economic conditions around our country and the world . But part are the result of a substantial number of dioceses not paying their full asking of the church. Their failure to meet their financial obligations is having a negative impact on us all.

This General Convention reiterated for me that there is room for all in our church. Some may not feel welcomed because their views are in the minority, but they also have a tendency to exclude themselves. The bottom line is that we gather around a table that is not ours. It belongs to God and it is God who issues the invitation to be there. None of us can exclude others and we are bound by our Baptismal Covenant to make sure that we provide the respect to which all are entitled.