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Saturday, July 25, 2009

Sermon, July 19, 2009 by The Rev. Frances A. Hills, Rector

I don’t know how many times I’ve driven by St. James since the wall collapsed last year. I don’t know how many times I’ve parked the car and walked up to the building, around the building…
Prayerfully, thoughtfully wondering…

What will happen to this place?
What will happen to us, the people of St. James?
What does the future hold?

And I’ve also gazed up at St. James’ clock tower and thought of that famous speech of Joshua after they crossed into the Promised Land and built a stone monument, ”When your children ask their parents in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’…”
What do these stones mean?

A couple of weeks ago we got the official report back from our engineering firm. We shared it with the congregation last Sunday. We also wanted to let the wider community know what we’re dealing with as a congregation. So last Thursday, St. James hosted a public meeting at Berkshire Community College-South County Center, right across Main St. from the church building. Forty or so came to the meeting, and about two-thirds of us were parishioners. We did an expanded form of the report we gave here last week.

After the meeting, I noticed several walked across the street to St. James, and others stood on the sidewalk and just looked across to the church. No doubt they were asking similar questions to mine and wondering similar things…

What will happen to this building?
What will happen to our congregation?
What does the future hold?

What do these stones mean…

To me personally?
To the congregation?
To the Town of Great Barrington?
To the Diocese of Western Massachusetts?

In her sermon at the closing Eucharist of General Convention, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori spoke of “The blessings of leanness.” She said, “People get creative wandering in the wilderness. They get creative when they don’t have great structures behind them. They get creative when they don’t have big fat bank accounts.” She was referring to the Episcopal Church in general, but it felt like she was speaking directly to us at St. James. God knows we’ve gotten creative, and God knows we’ll need more of that gift as we move into the future!

I must admit it’s not every day that I’m actually thankful for the words attributed to
St. Paul in the Bible. However, today’s words from the Letter to the Ephesians, although they address a very different situation, are balm to the ears. They remind us of the SOURCE of the creativity and strength we’ve received and continue to need. The SOURCE is the cross of Jesus. Ephesians tells us that through the cross, Jesus has brought together both God’s Chosen People . . . the ones who were “near” and those who did not worship the God of Israel… the ones who were “far off”. By Jesus’ death and resurrection, the “far off” and the “near” miraculously come together and become the Church. They share Jesus’ “peace”. Paul says Jesus has taken the wall, the hostility, that stood between these groups and broken it down. He’s torn down a wall in order to create a new, united humanity, reconciled to God.

It’s like the African concept of Ubuntu, which was the theme of this year’s General Convention. It means, “I in You and You in Me.” The Chosen (the “near”) and the Pagans (the “far off”) are united in Christ as the Church. Ubuntu. So the people with all their different backgrounds and points of view (Paul says) “are all members of the household of God built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.”

So no matter what our situation at St. James, we can just relax. No matter what we decide we should do about the building; no matter what time, talent, treasure and energy; no matter what infusions of creativity it takes to get to God’s preferred future for us: We’re standing on the solid foundation of those who have gone before…united together in Christ. Ultimately our solid ground is Jesus Christ, the cornerstone.

It is in Jesus’ masonry—not the bricks and mortar—that the whole structure of the church
Is joined together. It is in Jesus’ grace—not in all our hard work—that we grow into a holy temple. It is in Jesus’ Spirit—not in a particular building—that we are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. It is in us, God’s people, that God dwells.

It is we who are God’s holy temple. So, I hope we will take our companionship with one another very seriously…God dwells in and among us! I in you and you in me. Ubuntu.
Together as Christ’s body we will receive the creativity God gives us. We will entrust ourselves to God to show us the future God wants for us, and to answer those questions we ask as we gaze up at the building. Christ is indeed the cornerstone, solid and secure, and we are being built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
I in You and You in Me. Ubuntu. Amen.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Thank you, John

Many thanks to John Cheek for giving us a window into General Convention. The descriptions and photos helped us to enter into the pageantry, worship, arduous debate, friendships, history and challenge that is GC.
Ted

Saturday, July 18, 2009







Our work is done! Thanks be to God! Even God rested on the 7th day. We had to wait for the 11th!
Frank Wade our chaplain evoked William White priest in Philadelphia in the early days of our church believed in the ministry of all the baptized, Priests , Deacons and Lay. It was the foundation of the polity of our church which is still unique in the AC.
We powered through a huge consent calender with 58 resolutions.
I will point out that Secretary Straub wore a different colorful Sport Coat every day. His outfits are all perfectly coordinated and he is unflappable and often very funny
Our Eucharist began with Jeremiah 1:4-10, the Gospel was John 21:15-17. 'feed my sheep"
The sermon was given by the PB. You have heard many words . Jeremiah put words in your mouth. She also invoked William White who modeled the gift of Anglicanism. The tension of disagreement keeps us alive. The choice between Inclusion and orthodoxy is a false one. Jesus says , if you love me, Feed my sheep. How will you feed the sheep you see every week?
We concurred in a vote by orders on C056 which authorized gathering liturgical resources ( changed in the HOB from liturgies) for same sex couples. One priest said we were covering the church with shame, but most agreed. One deputy with a lesbian mother said I am an episcopalian because the church accepted her. Prayers were offered before the vote. Tell the story of GC in ways that others can understand. Public narrative may help. Speak peace to a world that desperately needs it.
Our deputation met for lunch and we planned a meeting in August. We will decide how to present our report to the Diocesan Convention in October.
The afternoon session featured a dizzying array of legislation, such as
A099 recruit youth music leaders
C078 rites for loss of a companion animal
D006 amend canons in disagreement between rector and vestry
B029 consent to Episcopal elections
A064 addiction education for ministers.
A055 Tithe as minimum standard of giving. Deputies asked to sign pledge to do this.
D018 address global warming
C061 access to ministry for all amended by Bishops
Bonnie Anderson , our president reminded us that we were deputized to vote our own minds and to exercise leadership in our dioceses.
There were a round of thanks to the many volunteers who made this convention possible.
Frank Wade sent us off with a prayer from the NZ prayerbook.
Lord, it is night.

The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.

The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us, and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities.

In your name we pray. Amen.


Bottom to top pictures. Waiting to speak, Bonnie Anderson President HOD, Back of Secretary Straub's jacket. Top L. My chariot. (I am now walking normally)

Thursday, July 16, 2009

GC July 16




We are nearly there! Only one more day.
This mornings session began with consideration of the triennial budget which we received yesterday. It is a large and very complex document the product of much committee work. We began with a lot of parliamentary maneuvering over how to discuss it. The committee presented it under the rules which only allowed them 10 minutes. They told us some of the bad news. Our short term reserves are almost depleted. GC in 2012 will be shortened . The HOB will have their travel expenses reduced. Normally they meet 3 times a year. Many worthy programs have been cut or eliminated. Quite a few will lose their jobs at 815 2nd avenue in NYC.
The debate was split into canonical, corporate, and missional. Many offered amendments. Micromanaging such a complex document in the HOD is usually a very bad idea. All amendments were defeated and the budget passed as submitted to us.
There was a resolution recommending a single payer health care. It passed by a very narrow margin 51 to 49%.
Resolution Co23 was to work against the defense of marriage act. Many feel it is a civil right. This also passed in a vote by orders , but not without considerable objection. Lay 64% in favor Clergy 55%.
At the morning Eucharist, I ended up at a table with 3 Bishops including Jerry Lamb of re formed San Joaquin, and Carolyn Irish , Utah retired.
The celebrant was the Rt Rev Wilfrido Ramos-Orench Bishop of Ecuador Central.
Our reading was II Corinthians 5:17-20, and the Gospel was John 1:35-42.
Our sermon was given by Brian McLaren author and activist. He spoke about evangelism and about how that is not thought of as being something Episcopalians do. But he urged moderate and progressive Christians to share their faith. He spoke of three distractions.
1.Institutional conflict
2. Institutional Identity. Focus on self preservation
3. Institutional rigidity mentioning in particular the complex path to ordination.
The Bishop celebrated mostly in Spanish but did switch into English at times.
The music, while certainly very good , has not been as memorable this time compared to Columbus. Perhaps it is budget cuts. But there is still a great variety of styles, gospel, spirituals, traditional hymns, and Hispanic music. I will put a favorite Hispanic one on a video at the bottom of this post.
After a quick lunch and a short meeting with our deoutationI raced around the exhibition hall to find some bargains. It closed at 2pm.
The afternoon session was very full. We went though mountains of legislation. Here is a sample.
B031 hope for reconciliation in Honduras. Much discussion of this and whether we knew enough about the situation. Several people from Honduras spoke in favor of it and it did pass.
C014 Domestic violence training for clergy. Testimony was offered, one from a woman who had lost her daughter to this. Without proper training, clergy may make a situation worse.
A number of courtesy resolutions were passed.
In the middle of this , I went to say hello to the rector of All Saints Waterloo Belgium who I visited while in Brussels in April. Kempton Baldridge has a daughter starting at Smith College this fall and is a clergy alternate for the Convocation of American Churches in Europe.
D066 would have give the youth presence a vote. They now have only seat and voice. This was discharged and did not pass.
D075 World mission mission is the heartbeat of the church says the PB.
There were more courtesy resolutions, but we finished a bit after six and have no evening session. Hallelujah!
Pictures at the top. Our own senior deputy Dr Debbie Harmon-Hines and the Rt Rev Barbara Harris, the first woman Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Dr Louis Crew, founder of Integrity, and the Bishop fashion award.

Video below, the not so frozen chosen at daily Eucharist

GC July 15



Today was a grueling slog in the HOD through massive amounts of legislation. We passed the denominational health plan. This was a vital step to help cut costs. It will eventually be mandatory. and should save the whole church at least 10 %. I had attended a one day seminar on this in the spring.
We completed voting on the Executive Council, and Trustees of General Seminary. It took time, even with electronic voting.
Our Eucharist today was paperless with prayers and Hymns projected on video screens. The music mixed the traditional with less well known. I sat at a table with Ron Taylor , retired Bishop of NY now serving in Jamaica. As usual, I picked a table at random as they are not assigned.
Steve Charleston assistant Bishop of California delivered the sermon and it was masterful and compelling, a call to arms about global warming. I want to lift your spirit and serve our planet, this island home. I speak for our mother earth and my ancestors here. The clock is ticking. The alarm is ringing for anyone who would hear it. If it takes a prophet to say it, I am that prophet.
Bishop Taylor leaped to his feet and said to me, "That is the best sermon I have heard in many years".
After lunch we slogged through many resolutions beginning with passing the Lay pension plan making it mandatory for lay employees with more than 1000 hours in a year.
We then had a joint session as our Bishops joined us. See the picture. The PB presided as the budget was presented. "Mission is out reason for existence", said the PB. We must have creativity in responding to the reduced budget. There will be Resurrection. Many reductions in our budget because of reduced income. Our General Convention will be shortened by 2 days and will be mostly electronic. I am glad we are going to computers and internet, because the paper notebooks are cumbersome, slow and expensive. But it will be very difficult to deal with less days of legislation. It is already exhausting!
After the bishop left we ran through a lot of legislation. Here is a sample.
A 074 Inter religious dialogue
D 039 Fix broken labor laws
D 012 support transgender civil rights
A 167 protection from human trafficking
B027 Peace between Israel and Palestine Tear down the wall, end land confiscation, a sovereign state
D 035 Repudiate doctrine of discovery rights of indigenous people
D 054 Eucharistic sharing with Methodists.
Towards the end of this, my head wanted to fall down on my notebook. But we finally finished a bit after 6.
Tomorrow we will probably have an evening legislative session as we are still behind in the calender.
I spoke with our song leader and the hymns in the HOD were pitched correctly today. He said he had a cold.
The bishops in the picture above all have come from our diocese. They are left to right -- John Tarrant (Bishop-elect of South Dakota), Lawrence Provenzano (Bishop-elect of Long Island), John Bauerschmidt (Bishop of Tennessee), Gordon Scruton (Bishop of Western Massachusetts), Mark Beckwith (Bishop of Newark) and George Councell (Bishop of New Jersey)
good morning to you all
John

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

GC 14



This mornings session began with consideration of "Holy Women, Holy Men a monumental addition to our saints calender. This takes up several hundred pages in the blue book. It has attracted some controversy because some think it is focused more on what people accomplished than what kind of lives they lived. It includes WEB Du Bois, Bach, Purcell, and John Henry Newman. This work has been carefully crafted by the Prayer Book Liturgy, and Music committee for trial use over the next trienium. In spite of this , several deputies offered amendments. The floor of our house is not a good place for such nit picking. We have much legislation to get through and this slows things down to a crawl. Nevertheless, we managed to pass it.
Before we broke for worship, we had a number of vip guests visit. Usually this is just seen as an impediment to our legislative work. But this was different. A Jewish Cantor sang a prayer in a fine lyric tenor voice. His artistry was beautiful to hear. Next came an Imam a deep baritone who also came out with mesmerizing sounds. A minister then sang more traditional Chrsitian music. Then they all sang together. It was breathtaking!
I sat right down front for the daily worship. Some lively hispanic music got us in the mood. The first reading was Isaiah 61:1-4. The Gospel was Luke 4:14-20.
The sermon was by Abagail Nelson President of programs forERD . She was very young. Shhe tied the MDGs to Jusus saying the spirit of God is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. The communion was Baisically rite I with the Healy Wiilan service music. The Celebrant was Bishop O Neil of Colorado. The PB sat quietly near the side of the altar.
Ater our deputation lunch, we went back into legislative session. Our first order of buisiness was to concur on the HOB's approval of D025 with slight amendment. The opposition forced a vote by orders and tried various parlimentary maneuvers to slow things down. But we passed it!! Then came C 014 a commission to do a theological study of marriage including Gay and Lesbian relationships. This also passed. There was considerable debate on C067 which called for the disclosure in advance of how much money we spend on litigation of property disputes. This was defeated after a moderate conservative who is also a lawyer argued that it would give away our strategy to people who want to steal from us. Another consrvative accused him of violating the decorum of the house by offering personal attacks.
Just after passing a resolution about the humane treatment of animals, the song leader attempted to get us to sing "All things bright and Beautiful". But he pitched it about a 4th too low to my frustration, so it sounded like a bunch of elephants.
Later after much debate and maneuver, we passed A052 which gives retired bishops seat and voice ,but no vote in the HOB. It was also a vote by orders, a slow process.
We are at least two days behind on our daily agenda and under huge pressure to move things along, so it is frustrating to have so many deputies go to the mic for frivolous reasons.
Our session ended at 5 for provincial caucuses. After that we enjoyed the province one dinner at a restaurant in "Downtown Disney". It was a long walk home after that.
!

GC July 13





Our HOD morning session began with speeches from our youth presence which has seat and voice but no vote. Zach Brown zeroed in on that fact as he deplored the lack of youth involvement. He said you can't grow the church without the youth. Will you let us be leaders?
We then returned to debate about the consent to the Bishop of Ecuador Central, a diocese that is very conflicted. Much testimony was in Spanish with translation sentence by sentence. Their debate time was doubled to make up for this. Most of the testimony was in favor of consent, but the opposition was obviously very unhappy and alleged impropriety in the process. Still most of this testimony was in favor of consent, and we eventually voted for this.
We have also been told that the Venezuela deputation had been refused visas in spite of intervention by the church.
We spent a lot of time voting for candidates for Pension Fund Trustees and the committee for the trial of a bishop.
Our Eucharist featured a wonderful children's 'choir, Young at Arts. They did a great arrangement of both versions of 'This Little light of Mine".
The Gospel was Luke 10:29-37, the good Samaritan. The sermon was by Courtney Cowart Head of disaster response Diocese of Louisiana. She spoke of the dark forbidding road to Jericho known as the bloody way. All angels hold their breath. There is a new reality with one catalyst, a Samaritan. The choice to act with mercy was revolutionary. Two thousand ears later there is another Jericho in a hurrican ravaged city with thousands abandoned. A woman holds a sign, "I am American too". Thirty Seven Million Americans live in poverty. Come , find Ubuntu in New Orleans.
Communion was celebrated by Bishop Singh of Rochester. We used the Missa Appalachia by Johnathon Dimmock, a friend of Meredyth Ward , one of our clergy deputies. The Bishop has a fine singing voice and the setting is beautiful. There were also some fine music to sing during the communion including "Precious Lord"
Our deputation met for lunch and we discussed what might happen with D 025 in the HOB.
Our afternoon session was a long slog and we attempted to shorten it b suspending certain rules to speed things up. We are behind in our calender. We voted several more times in order to get a majority of votes for candidates. WE voted changes in title IV disciplinary canons , a long and complex revision. To my great frustration, several people attempted to make amndments on minor matters which slowed things to a crawl. Such work is best done in a committee, not a house with over 800 members!
We went past the 6 pm quitting timee , but refused to extend it further. We were invited to a reception by the diocese of Long island to celebrate their new Bishop Larry Provenzano who was a menmber of our deputation until his election this spring. It was a very nice party, and just before that, I learned that D025 had passed the HOB with only minor amendments. This is tremendous news! I spoke with Bishop elect Provenzano about the decision and he said that hearts were changed during the debate.

peace and good night
John

Monday, July 13, 2009

Resolution D 025

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112451_ENG_HTM.htm

GC July 12









We began this Sunday with a festive Eucharist at 10am. When I walked in the door, the organ was thundering Holy Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty. After this came a wonderful sequence of drums and dancers with streamers. Then came the opening hymn Christ is Made the sure foundation.
Our first lesson was Isaiah 2:2-4, then Psalm 96 1-7. The Gospel was Luke 10 1-9 which you will remember was used by St James for the Missional Church reflection. Curiously, they left out the part about shaking the dust from your sandals.
Presiding Bishop Katharine preached the sermon. She began by telling us about a truck driven across the country from NYC with electronic equipment used in our convention. Then she spoke about conversations on our list serv about what to bring to Anaheim and how to dry your socks. The gospel says travel light. Our love for order and structure can become an idol. Expect hospitality. Are you open to receive what is offered here? What will you leave behind in order to take what is given you? Offer the shocking news that God's reign is here. Are you ready to go ahead of Jesus?
The offertory sung by the Episcopal Choral Society was a gospel number that reminded me how much our music is enriched by our ethnic diversity.
After communion, the Presiding bishop processed out accompanied by her two predecessors. Everyone cheered as they went by. O , did I mention that there were maybe 7000 people in attendance?
Western Mass was invited to the Tens (The episcopal Network for Stewardship) lunch. Several of us attended includiong Bishop Scruton. Four people were honored. The three living ones offered passionate speeches . "Kamakaze giving, Banishh fear borne of scarcity, Only a Church generous with its resources can speak with moral authority to a Government. We are the hands of God.
Our short afternoon HOD session proved to be very difficult and contentious, though decorum was maintained. Resolution D 025 dealt with where we are 3 years after B033. It states that we want to be full members of the Anglican Communion and that all our baptized are eligible for all orders of ministry including the Episcopate. As we began, three dioceses called for a vote by orders ( lay and clergy) which makes it more difficult to pass a resolution. Other parlimentary maneuvers included attempts to split the resolution into 2 or more parts. All failed , and after considerable debate the resolution passed by about a 2/3 majority in both orders. In our deputation it passed in the Lay and was divided 2/2 in the clergy which is the same as a no vote under our rules. It now goes to the House of Bishops.
We also passed a Strategic vision for reaching Latinos/ Hispanics. This is a huge and very well planned vision for connecting with the 2nd largest Spanish speaking country in the world, the USA.
The session ended with a short prayer.

peace
John

Sunday, July 12, 2009

GC July 11



Hello all,
Saturday was a bit easier. Even my knee is cooperating as long as I remember to elevate it as much as possible. We began with a short legislative session and passed some significant resolutions, including a second one on life long Christian formation.
The morning Eucharist began with the singing of "Christ for the World we Sing". The readings were Proverbs 2: 1-9, Psalm1, and the Gospel was Luke 14:27-33.
The sermon was given by Ray Suarez of NPR. It was energetic and passionate. He loves being an Episcopalian! He immediately attacked the old stereotypes "summer used as a verb" Republican party at prayer", and an old joke about what happens when you cross a Southern Baptist and an Episcopalian. It knocks on strangers doors, but does not know what to say when someone answers. He got really burned about that! He spoke with pride about our prayer book " a jewel of the English language" and the Hymnal 1979. He said he was bilingual, speaking English and church. In speaking about struggling churches in decaying urban centers he said the neighborhoods need us and that we need to reclaim our place in the common culture. Many need what we have got, but we don't yet know them. It was a fiery call to evangelism. He spoke with great pride about our decision to ordain women and the struggle for the full welcome of GLBTs.
Spanish is often used interchangeably during the service indicating the growing number of Hispanics among us.
After our lunch break, we returned for a second public narrative session. This one focused relating stories based on our common experiences. We invited a small table to join us. There were two Chaplains on Air force and one army, she was a Kenyan and offered us the African perspective on ubuntu the theme of the convention. For Africans "I" does not exist they speak of everything as "we". She also told us how disappointed she was when first attending church here in the USA because it was so solemn and not exuberant and joyful like at home.
The shorter afternoon session featured addresses by several from Ghana, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa. One of these was Dr Jenny Te Paa, Principal of Te Rau Kahikatea at St Johns College in Auckland , NZ who had give a sermon in Columbus in 2006 She urged us to act without fear and noted how much our participation was valued and needed in the Anglican Communion. I will see if I can find and post a link to her speech which was difficult for us to hear because of bad microphone pickup coupled with her accent.
We voted for people on the court for the trial of a bishop and did a second ballot for the pension fund trustees. The doo hickies worked well this time thank God.
We adjourned and went out for a bit of dinner.

peace
John

Saturday, July 11, 2009

GC July 10







It was nearly a 15 hour day. beginning at 7:30. My knee was worse and kept me awake in the night. I had overdone the walking and not kept it elevated or iced. Will not make that mistake again!
Our morning session in the HOD was mostly taken up with debate as a committee of the whole. About 50 people spoke for 2 minutes each. Let me remind everyone that the house rules forbid applause or other signs of approval or disapproval unless specifically authorized. This makes a profound change in the debate process. Many spoke in favor of changing or moving beyond B033. Some spoke in favor of it for the sake of the Anglican Communion, but they were clearly in the minority.
The daily Eucharist followed our morning session. There was a large children's choir. The lesson from Ephesians 4: 1-6 was read in Hawaiian. The Gospel was Luke 10: 25-28.
The sermon was delivered by Bonnie Anderson President of the House of Deputies. It had astonishing relevance to our St James. She related a story about visiting a church in the reorganized Diocese of Fort Worth. The majority of the diocese has chosen to leave TEC. This parish has lost its building and meets in their small town's aging arts center. The stage was set for a production of Hansel and Gretal. The altar was positioned in front of the boiling pot of the witch. But when the Altar Guild had finished, it became a sacred space. She was moved by a sense of openness, lack of fear, and welcome. She said that such communities need to be open to the changes that newcomers bring. We are moving to full communion with the Moravians. Welcome them she said let them teach us how to sing ourselves. Take on unity as Christian practice.
The deputation met for lunch and we then had a very long HOD session from 2 until 6 with essentially no breaks.
We passed a number of resolutions with little debate including (Lee will be glad to hear) the one on Lifelong Christian Formation. We also began the voting process for Pension Fund trustees with the dreaded "doo hickies" with which we had endless trouble in Columbus in 2006. (see above photo). Things went more smoothly this time.
We also heard of some controversy surrounding the election of a new Bishop in Ecuador Central. There will be more debate about this. The diocese has a history of difficulties.
After the session, I grabbed a quick bite and headed to the Integrity Eucharist in the big ballroom of the Hilton. There was a reception outside. I went in and is usual for us folks in the scooters was ushered right to the front where I had a fantastic seat right in front of the Altar and next to the VIPs which included former PB Browning, Bonnie Anderson and others. There was an atmosphere of joy and exuberance. Just as Bonnie Anderson had described in her sermon, the space had been transformed. There were liturgical umbrellas from St Gregory of Nyssa, streamers, and a beautiful altar surrounded by candles, and incense filled the air. Louie Crew the founder of integrity gave the opening invocation and was followed b the rev Susan Russel the current president. the R Rev Gene Robinson Celebrated and the R Rev Barbara Harris preached a memorable sermon in her inimitable style punctuated by "Amens" and "Tell it sister". Before this we renewed our Baptismal vows and had the thanksgiving over water. The Gospel procession went on for about ten minutes. It was a South African traditional song punctuated by great drumming. Huge streamers accompanied the gospel book which went several times all around the room. See the video below.
After the sermon, there were prayers for the ministry of all the baptized. All who have led in the fight for equality of GLBTs were invited to come forward. Then all the GLBT clergy and families were invited and those no longer with us were remembered. I wept.
The offertory was a Kenyan Folk song performed b All Saints Pasadena choir. See the video below.
Bishop Gene celebrated communion after a brief speech honoring the former PB Browning for being first to welcome all to Gods table.
I received from Susan Russel and Elizabeth Kaeton.
We Processed out to "We are Marching in the light of God" with the streamers umbrellas and incense. In spite of the brutal day, I felt as light as air. What a joyful spirit filled end to the day.

peace
John

Thursday, July 9, 2009

GC July 9

This post better be good as it will also appear on the diocesan website. I am the designated deputation blogger today
Today began a bit later for me with a public narrative process at tables of 8. This is a way of telling a story of self, a story of us, and a challenge. It is highly structured and we have only 2 minutes to do this. Then the others at the table offer suggestions on how to improve or clarify what you have done. I have found the process very useful. Many Episcopalians are not good at Evangelizing, and this project offers a way to refine a personal story of Faith. Some of us, however, are not convinced and consider it a waste.
The above process segued into Eucharist. The choir was made up of Bishops and spouses and they sang an anthem in Welsh. John Bruno Bishop of Los Angeles presided and conducted most of it in Spanish. There was a bilingual program.
The Archbishop of Canterbury offered what was called a meditation. He began by stating the obvious. Our process in the Anglican Communion has been difficult and will not get easier. He thanked us for our willingness to engage and acknowledged the deep bonds between us.
He spoke of how God's word brought light to the darkness, and how Jesus faced death (nothingness). He quoted William Stringfellow who he called perhaps the greatest American theologian who said that Jesus looked death in the face and declared it overcome.
The deputation met for lunch, and I went off afterwards to the Prayerbook Liturgy and Music Committee and heard testimony on several resolutions involving Gay Marriage and same sex blessings. The vast majority of the speakers were in favor of some form of this, but there were a number of dissenters. Some of this was deeply moving, especially that of a 17 year old girl who described her experience as an Episcopal camper. When she was ten, she went to camp and met and made many friends. One boy was gay . He told them that this one week was the only time he felt like he was accepted. They spent several summers together at camp Later as a teenager he committed suicide.
After the testimony we had a session of the HOD. After quickly passing some resolutions, we attempted to start voting for the pension fund trustees. But problems with the electronic voting devices forced us to postpone it.
Instead we entered into a " committee of the whole" in order to debate how to deal with B 033 the resolution passed in the final hours of GC 2006. Under pressure to respond to the Windsor report, we at the urging of our new and old presiding Bishop agreed to "refrain from elevating to the Episcopate anyone whose manner of life presented a challenge to the wider communion. Many of us want to move on and declare that all the baptized and eligible for all orders of ministry. We reached picked a partner and had a 3o minute discussion on what to do about this.
The house was adjourned and I called it a day.
M knee is a bit better today. I can walk a bit, but still use the scooter as much as possible.

peace
John Cheek

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

GC Jul 8



Our day began with a session of the House of Deputies at 8am. Much of this was rather mundane stuff. We have agreed to meet as a "Committee of the whole" later this week to debate how to move beyond B 033 from GC 2006. This was our response to the Anglican Communion and the Windsor Report where we agreed to refrain from elevating to the Episcopate anyone whose "manner of life" presented a challenge to the wider communion. These sessions will allow for extended debate on how to move forward. We will not be able to pass resolutions during this time.
Our first Eucharist followed this session. I sat with one of our clergy deputies, Meredyth Ward. Exuberant African drums ushered us into the space. Our old Testament reading was Ezekiel 36:24-25 from which PB Jefferts Schori took much of her sermon. "A new heart I will give you". Pumping keeps TEC's heart healthy. We will turn to stone unless we reach out to the unchurched. We will receive new life in our heart like a pacemaker. Her final whispered words " Mission is heartbeat".
The offertory Hymn was Hallelujah, we sing our praises" a South African melody accompanied by great drumming.
But the highlight of the morning was the magnificent gospel style piano playing of "Breathe on me breath of life". It was a moment of transcendence. The music just slowly rocked along with an irresistible inevitability and 3000 people stayed perfectly together. We also sang another favorite of mine " I want to walk as a child of the light".
We walked out feeling very light indeed and I spent a good while perusing the Exhibition hall talking with many different people. Folks seem extra friendly to someone in a "scooter".
The deputation met again for lunch and we agreed to attend several committee meetings. I went to Prayerbook, Liturgy, and Music where they discussed a number of projects including a proposed world music collection, revision of Enriching our worship, prayers for women who have had stillbirths or abortions and a project to remove anti Judaism references from Christianity. Over all this is the pressure of very limited funds.
The afternoon session of the House of Deputies featured the confirmation of the Election of two Bishops, both of whom have served as priests in our diocese. John Tarrant former rector of St Pauls Stockbridge was elected bishop of South Dakota. and Larry Provenzano elected this time as one of our clergy deputies (rector St Andrews Longmeadow) Bishop of Long Island, where he grew up. See the T shirt in the above photo worn by his deputation.
Immediately after this session which ended about 6 pm we rushed over to the Hilton Ballroom to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury speak. He was introduced by our PB Bishop Katharine who got a huge ovation from the large assembly. Rowan's subject was about how to carry out the Gospel in a time of scarcity. or as he put it 'The economy of salvation. Much of his talk centered on the emptiness of the promise of wealth built on thin foundation and how we could not return to the old ways. We then heard from 3 young people including a native American, and an African doctor about how the experienced and carried out the work of the Gospel.
It has been a long day, but a good one.

peace to you all
John

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

GC July 7


Well, today did not turn out quite like I had imagined. I had had some pain in my knee which got worse during my travel yesterday and this morning I could barely walk . A visit to the first aid station at the convention center produced a possible diagnosis of a strained ligament or tendon. Our senior deputy Dr. Debbbie Harmon Hines convinced me to rent a "scooter". This has made m life much easier and given me a vividly real perspective on the importance of curb cuts and automatic doors. It hurts like hell, but the scooter is a lot of fun to drive!
This morning Eliot Moss and I took a cab in and after getting our credentials, we sat around drinking coffee while I iced my knee and the committees met for the first time. Our deputation joined by Bishop Scruton, had lunch together.
This afternoon featured an introduction to "Public Narrative" , a process we will use during our meetings. After that, we met in the house of deputies for an orientation session. A humorous skit with players in funny hats demonstrated proper parliamentary procedure and decorum. The players enacted their parts with gusto.
I have come back to the hotel early to get some needed rest. The house of deputies meets tomorrow morning at 8.

peace
john

In Anaheim

I have arrived in Anaheim as has my roommate (the Rev)Eliot Moss
My ride in from the airport on the super shuttle was fun as the van was filled with Episcopalians including the new Bishop of Virginia and deputies from Kentucky, Arkansas,and Florida.

peace
John