From Deputy Rick Callaway
The opening Eucharist today reminded me once again how I become immersed in this event we know as General Convention. This is my fourth as a Deputy, and each time I have experienced becoming more and more in tune with the convention by degrees. It is much like wading into a pond, gradually moving out away from the bank into the deeper waters. Baptismal imagery, isn't it? Here we are taking counsel for the Church; lay and ordained with our varieties of gifts and agendas, and all being brought into the event by the Spirit to do the work given us to do. God, how blessed I am to be an Episcopalian, and what a privilege it is to serve in this way!
I have seen a lot of old friends from seminary, from my other larger church work with deployment, congregation development and administration. So this is like a reunion. It's part county fair, too: the sales booths in the market place, the folks with flyers urging your vote or support for a cause or a candidate. And, it's the legislature of the church's mission. Whew. Plenty going on!
The committee I am serving on, "Structure," has already moved several resolutions to the House for consideration because we met several hoursat work on Tuesday before convention opened. One of those --Atlanta readers take note --was a resolution to place Atlanta, along with three other cities, into consideration for the Convention in 2015. Not time to start polishing the good silver, yet, though. The committee that makes the final recommendation has some work to do, but we're on the list for the first time in a generation. I was glad to have a small hand in that.
There is some concern being expressed in my committee and others about the cost of supporting many of the "standing" committees and commissions of the General Convention and the Executive Council. We have hearings on resolutions that will help us get a hand on the size of the committee and commission structure. We'll see if we can regulate ourselves !
In her sermon this morning, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefforts Schori likened the mission of the church to the body of Christ with mission as the heart. She spoke of the various parts staying in shape so that the heart can be in the best possible condition to do its work-- keeping all the parts alive.
She ended the sermon gently comparing the beating heart rhythm with the word "mission. "Can you hear it?", she said, softly repeating the beating rhythm, "Mission...mission...mission."
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