Dear Ones,
I've decided with the pace of things, and having the great fortune of having my family along for this, unlike at Lambeth, I am going to post in the morning of each day for the day before. I know I owe you a bit more on Day 2 and will start there and "catch up", something which is quite difficult to do around here!
Day 2 was really a start. Lots of committee hearings and meetings. I am serving as Secretary for Stewardship and Development Committee. We have had some very interesting resolutions and it appears we will be able to get through all of those that were in our bins when we arrived and most likely even those that will come to us next. The Genesis Covenant has already come before us and been moved to the House of Bishops, I expect that to come before that body this morning.
Wednesday night, July 8th, was the Global Forum as I told you. I introduced the evening and then the Presiding Bishop. She spoke for a time and then she introduced the Archbishop of Canterbury. He spoke eloquently, without notes, regarding this current economic crisis in relation to our call as Christians. I highly recommend watching this rebroadcast on the Episcopal Church site, www.episcopalchurch.org
Day 3, Thursday was much a replay of the day before, beginning with hearings which blessedly began an half hour later, so my day started at 7:30 a.m. The night did not end much earlier although some from the night before, so a bit of a shorter day, but still exhausting. We celebrated Eucharist with Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles presiding and the Archbishop preaching. Bishop Bruno, since being consecrated, has always asked a youth to stand beside him at the altar. He has never celebrated a Eucharist where a youth was in the house that one of them did not stand with him. This happened today too. The music is good, and Dent Davidson, who many of you know and love, is leading us. I am singing in the choir, as is Nedi, and a few others from around Olympia.
Day 3 was another session of our public narrative process. At this session we learned to craft a two minute story of self, timed, questioned. It is a bit of a daunting task but I must say I have done it twice now and it is helpful. This basic idea is much like our Indaba tables at our convention but a bit more rehearsed in the beginning.
Each House, Deputies and Bishops, had a legislative session at the end of the day and we are beginnning to use every bit of our time and not getting it all done. This was the case for the House of Bishops. Interesting discussions as well. On this day, at 5 p.m. was the resolution filing deadline so no new resolutions will come forward after that time.
That evening, as a member of the Mission Funding Task Force, I along with five other bishops hosted a dinner regarding this important endeavor and attempt to raise 250 million dollars for endowments for mission in the Episcopal Church. This has never been done, even in the face of many people of means in this Church who wish to leave a legacy in such a way. It was a very good dinner and conversation.
And then, blessedly, a little time with my family and to bed. See you tomorrow!
Blessings,
+Greg
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