[by the Rev. Roman Roldan, Clerical Alternate, Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana]
We started day two of orientation and preliminary work in subcommittee meetings at
7:00AM. The Diocese has assigned me to the Evangelism Committee, after which I spend
some time in the exposition hall before our first plenary meeting at 9:00AM. My first impression
upon entering the exposition hall is that this is a rather large family gathering. There are hugs,
loud greetings, and excited small group gatherings taking place everywhere. Even though 46%
of the delegates are new to this convention, and first and second time delegates account for
66% of the entire House of Deputies, most of the people here have been to many church
meetings and synods and know each other. In fact, I am quite surprised that I know a fair
number of folks from around the country. It is great to reconnect with many friends I have not
seen in several years. I am also surprised by the sheer number of accents and languages.
There are folks from Central and South America, Liberia, the Diocese of Europe, and guests
from around the globe.
The 78th Convention of the Episcopal Church began promptly at 9:00AM with a
welcome by Fr. Michael Barlow, Executive Director of General Convention. His welcome
focused on what is new and different this convention. Technology is the name of he game. The
thousands of pieces of paper divided into the “blue” book, “red” book, and “other” books have
been replaced with I-Pads, which, at the touch of a button, provide all Bishops and Deputies all
they need for legislative work, liturgy, budgets, and the various reports from committees and
subcommittees. The cost of renting this technology is roughly equivalent to the price of printing
the voluminous reports, with the added benefit to the environment and to deputies who no
longer have to carry the heavy materials from and to hotels and meeting halls.
The technology briefing from Fr. Barlow was followed by an address by Presiding Bishop
Katharine Jefferts Schori. In very general terms, purposely unspecific, the Presiding Bishop
called the joined assembly of Bishops and Deputies to walk courageously into our
neighborhoods, to realize our inter-dependance among the Body of Christ, and to engage God’s
transforming spirit as old outmoded forms of being the church are renewed and transformed into
new ways of being the church. Using metaphors that Star Trek fans would love, Bishop Schori
told us that, “There is abundant adventure ahead on this heavenward trek, and it asks our
courage to engage unknown beings, new challenges and unexpected opportunities.” Jefferts
Schori added that, “We’re bound for the galaxy called Galilee and the edges of the known world,
because that’s where Jesus sent us and that’s where he promises to meet us.”
The trip to this galaxy is a communal trip and not one we undergo alone, hence the need
for interdependence and mutual accountability: “No one goes alone; together we care for those
most in need. Our growing understanding of human interrelationship with the rest of creation
means conscious care for the earth and all its inhabitants, not just the human ones.” The Bishop
issued a call to build a larger society that is mutually responsible and interdependent. This
larger society will take seriously God’s call to love the needy among us, to work for peace, and
to take conscious care of the earth and all its inhabitants.This new wider society will require
courage and trust to venture into an unknown future. She ended her presentation with an
imperative invitation to “go” and be the Church God wants us to be. (For Bishop Schori’s full
sermon, please visit episcopaldigitalnetwork.com). I don’t blame the Presiding Bishop for the
very general call to action that nonetheless lacked specificity. In many ways, it is the job of this
convention to flesh out what this trek will mean for the life of the church.
Following the Presiding Bishop, House of Deputies President, Gay Clark Jennings led us
into a study of the birth of John the Baptist in the Gospel of Luke. Zachariah’s decision to allow
the boy to be named John came as a result of the silence into which God forced him in the
temple. Likewise, we must be silent to all the noise in order to discern the new identity into
which God is calling us. Jennings stated, “Let’s turn down the volume on the Pew Center’s
statistics about the decline of the institutional church, the endless online arguments about what
millennials really want and what one tweeter recently called the ‘church decline industrial
complex.’ Let’s quiet our souls.” She then went to issue a call to action that was very similar to
the President Bishop’s call (To see the full text go to episcopaldigitalnetwork.com).
The highlight of the day for me was the presentation to the combined audience (Bishops
and Delegates) of the four candidates for President Bishop. There were a series of 28
questions, divided into seven categories, which the four candidates had to answer. I expected
many of the questions on structure, same-sex unions, and prayer book revision. What was
surprising to me was the amount of questions that had to do with traditional/conservative
churches and clergy. Is there still room for conservative churches and clergy in this church?
What would you do to outreach to clergy and parishes that feel and think differently than you on
a variety of subjects? How would you build bridges with the Dioceses in the Global South? Etc.
The answers to these questions were encouraging. All four candidates affirmed that there is a
place for liturgically, theologically, and socially conservative churches and clergy in this church.
The tent, they say, is very wide. I, for one, pray that this will in fact be the case.
It has been a busy 12-hour day, but I am glad to be involved in this amazingly
democratic process. I am learning a great deal about the church and about myself. Let’s see
where this journey will take me. More to come tomorrow. Blessings, Fr. Roldan+