We're getting started!

From Bishop Alexander:

We're getting started! The bishops and deputation from the Diocese of Atlanta are here and busy! All of us have now arrived, some Sunday afternoon and everyone else today. Even though convention doesn't actually begin until tomorrow, today was filled up for almost everyone.

All of our deputies are on committees or have significant duties in their house. Deputy Richard Perry works with the Committee on Dispatch of Business.That means he helps keep the flow of legislation moving, particularly when things need to move from the deputies to the bishops.

Deputy John Andrews, the chair of our deputation, serves on the Committee on Small Churches, Deputy Alicia Schuster Weltner is on the Committee on Canons, Deputy Rick Callaway is on the Committee on Structure, and Deputy Janet Patterson serves on the Committee on Ministry. Deputy Vicky Partin is following legislation related to economic justice; Alternate Rob Wood is following legislation on theological education. Deputy Claiborne Jones brings her years of General Convention experience to bear on a variety of subjects and is helpful to many of us when it comes to process. Mac Thigpen is also here as an alternate from Atlanta and we are grateful for his General Convention experience. Arthur Villarreal is here as a first-time alternate and is preparing to step up in support of our deputies at any time.

Sam Candler is the co-chair of Committee 13 - Prayer Book and Liturgy, one of the busiest committees! He and his legislative committee win the prize for dealing with the most resolutions of any committee at convention.

In the House of Bishops, I chair Committee 7 - Ordination and Resignation of Bishops, and Bishop Whitmore is the bishop from Province IV on Program, Budget and Finance, one of the hardest working groups at the convention. They have to make the financial decisions to recommend to convention for funding the mission and ministry of the church nationally and internationally.

RPM Bowden, a long-time deputy from Atlanta is here as a member of the Executive Council of the church, together with Bruce Garner, also from Atlanta, who is also an elected member of that body. Bruce is doubling as an alternate from Atlanta as well.

There's a great delegation to the Triennial of the Episcopal Church Women. Needless to say we are all proud as we can be of Kay Meyer from our diocese who is the national president of the ECW and is presiding over the triennial with style and grace. Our own director of communications, Nan Ross, is serving as editor of the ECW Triennial Today.

So, YOUR deputies and bishops are already up and running with the business of General Convention and the opening gavel is still to come down. Please be in prayer for us, for the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies, for all who gather here from every corner of our beloved church.