Day 7, General Convention 2009, July 13th

Dear Ones,

We are clearly into the second week of General Convention 2009 and I must say it feels as if I have been here for months.  This is such a busy venture.  It is exciting in many ways, and exhausting in many others.  By now, many of you have heard of the vote of the House of Bishops yesterday on D025.  This is the resolution which brought together many of the other resolutions proposed dealing with B033 from the last convention which called on the Episcopal Church to "exercise restraint in moving persons whose manner of life" continued to be a struggle for others in the communion, from the episcopate ordination process.  These were brought together in this one resolution by the World Mission Committee who brought it forward from the House of Deputies to the House of Bishop's yesterday. 

There was first, time in table conversations, 20 minutes which expanded to 30 minutes, then a long series of comments from the floor.  Roughly seven or so bishops called for a roll call vote when the vote was taken.  Both Bishop Rivera and I voted in the affirmative. 

I do not have access electronically right now to the text.  It was amended in the House of Bishops and will be now sent back to the House of Deputies.  I am quite sure you can find the text online and I urge you to read it all.  I honestly find it to be an exquisite and generous compilation of all the different resolutions that came forward.  It also does not go back to B033, but instead looks forward.  Several things are important to me here.  First, I think it is time for this Church to be honest about where it finds itself now.   Second, it must acknowledge that not everyone is in that same place, in fact there are many and varied places people find themselves in this debate.  Third, this resolution does in fact, open up access once again to gay and lesbian people, to the discernment process for the episcopate. To interpret this any other way would be dishonest.  However, I would urge those who find this troubling to note that the resolution is clear that there is a definition on the "manner of life" and that the full process, as outlined in Canon will still, of course, be honored.  In other words, the consent process, elections, etc. 

It is interesting to note that today I have heard from both ends of the issue and the same phrase has been used.  This is "not being faithful to the Gospel."  From both sides, in other words one person said it was not being faithful to pass such a resolution and another saying the same if we had not. 

There will be much discussion about this, and indeed we are not finished here.  I urge a patient generosity and prayers for all in this.  In our diocese, and among our clergy, we have those representing all points of view on this.   I do want to point out the announcement below regarding my invitation of the Very Rev. Victor Atta-Baffoe, Dean of St. Nicholas Seminary, Cape Coast Ghana.  The Dean sits on the Anglican Covenant Design Group and has been present at General Convention. We will have him here directly after convention.  Details below.  Not in the details, he will be preaching at St. Margaret's, Bellevue on the 19th and at St. Andrew's, Seattle on the 26th. 

I wanted you all to be aware that Fred Jessett's mother Louise died this past week as well.  Please keep them all in your prayers.

On a much lighter and celebratory note, Margaret Niles, wife of Stephen Garrett of Christ Church, Seattle was elected yesterday to the Church Pension Fund Board! Congratulations Margaret!

Your deputation continues to amaze me with their energy and attention to all that is going on.  A few other things did occur yesterday including the passing by the House of Bishops of the Denominational Health Plan by an overwhelming affirmative vote.  The Young Adults Festival was also held and my visit there was fantastic, quite full and alive! 

Keep the prayers coming!

Blessings,

+Greg

SAINT MARK’S CATHEDRAL,

SEATTLE

WELCOMES WEST AFRICAN THEOLOGIAN TO DISCUSS ANGLICAN COMMUNION RELATIONS ON JULY 22

Canon Victor Atta-Baffoe, Diocese of Cape Coast, Ghana , participates in special Evensong service and program on global church’s Covenant process

Contact: The Rev. David Mesenbring, (206) 323-0300, ext. 217, dmesenbring@saintmarks.org

- Wednesday, July 22, 2009

- Evensong: 6:30 p.m., Program: 7 p.m.

- The Nave, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral,

1245 Tenth Avenue East

(Capitol Hill), Seattle 98102

 

SEATTLE—At 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, Saint Mark’s Cathedral welcomes the Very Rev. Victor Atta-Baffoe, Dean of St. Nicholas Seminary in Cape Coast, Ghana and Canon Theologian of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Coast, for a discussion on the Anglican Communion that will be moderated by the Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Bishop of Olympia. Rickel also will lead a special Evensong service preceding the program at 6:30 p.m., which commemorates the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene.

 

Atta-Baffoe will share his “insider perspective” as a member of the Anglican Covenant Design Group (formed in response to the 2004 Windsor Report) on the state of tensions surrounding the Episcopal Church’s efforts to become more inclusive. In the Report, the Anglican Communion “recommend[ed], therefore, and urge[d] the primates to consider, the adoption by the churches of the Communion of a common Anglican Covenant which would make explicit and forceful the loyalty and bonds of affection which govern the relationships between the churches of the Communion. The Covenant could deal with: the acknowledgement of common identity; the relationships of communion; the commitments of communion; the exercise of autonomy in communion; and the management of communion affairs (including disputes).”

 

Atta-Baffoe comes to

Seattle

after the conclusion of the Episcopal Church’s General Convention, where he is a guest speaker. In 2008, he was a facilitator on “Listening and Dialogue on the Anglican Communion and Homosexuality” at the Lambeth Conference in

London

. He also serves on the Inter-Anglican Doctrinal and Theological Commission of the Anglican Communion and is Chairman of the African Network of Institutions of Theological Education Preparing Anglicans for Ministry.

 

The Very Rev. Atta-Baffoe will be in Seattle from July 19-30. If you are interested in interviewing him or inviting him to speak to your congregation or organization, please contact the Rev. David Mesenbring at 206-323-0300, ext. 217 or dmesenbring@saintmarks.org.

 

Comments

[Kevin Johnson]

Thank you to you and +Nedi for supporting the resolution.

I'm not sure that all understand that the good news it carries is not so much for those on the "in", but for those who have not yet joined us, those that are unable to join us, but live in hope, and for those yet to come.

Thanks be to God!

[Bob Chapman]

I'm not sure how D025 can be described as revoking or moving beyond B033. Being granted admission to discernment (D025) is not the same as being granted consent at the other end (B033).

Besides, there is not a right to ordination--only discernment.

There was a time a diocese got pretty much who they called as bishop. No one wanted to interfere with that process. You could be next.

Western Michigan changed that for us. Now consents have been withheld (and for good reason). What makes anyone think consideration of the wider church won't be a factor in granting consents in the future?

Since a bishop is for the whole church, and not just the diocese, this is actually a good thing in the long run.

Just don't start celebrating until the first partnered gay man or lesbian receives consents in an episcopal election after this date. It may be a while.

[Bob Chapman]

Don't post at 11:31 pm. You make silly mistakes. Of course, I meant to say "Northern Michigan," not "Western Michigan."

This is why God created editors.