Day 1 – June 21, 2024
So, technically this General Convention has its first of six legislative days starting on Sunday. So why did our deputation work to get to Louisville by noon today, Friday?
On legislative days, the deputation votes on matters of concern to The Episcopal Church. But lots of preparation precedes those votes. First of all, some deputies serve on legislative committees that review proposed legislation. I’m on Legislative Committee 14, Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations. We’ve been meeting virtually since March to work on legislation related to that topic. In addition, your deputation has been meeting since March to go over the content of all of the proposed pieces of legislation. We need to have something to vote on, and we need to understand those proposals.
Today we picked up our badges identifying us as deputies and alternates. We then had two sessions to learn more about important topics for this General Convention. The second item was one we knew would be a given this General Convention. The Most Reverend Michael Curry has completed nine years as Presiding Bishop, and he will be a hard act to follow. We knew his term was ending this year, so determining his replacement was completely predictable.
This afternoon we heard a Q&A by the five bishops being considered for Presiding Bishop. If you’d like to know about them, resources can be found here: https://generalconvention.org/nominees-for-the-28th-presiding-bishop/. The Bishops were allowed to offered prepared opening statements and then each answered three random questions pulled out of a fishbowl. It was a fun and collegial session and I’m sure any of the five Bishops would do a great job as Presiding Bishop.
Later in the Convention the Bishops will gather and determine their pick for Presiding Bishop. That choice will then go to the House of Deputies for a confirming vote. As in 2015, I will be casting a vote for our Presiding Bishop. (Honestly, I did a brilliant job last time, so rest assured that I’ll choose well.)
Before that we had presentations by the three individuals running for President of the House of Deputies (HOD). In 2022 in Baltimore, we elected Julia Ayala-Harris from the Diocese of Oklahoma as President of the HOD and the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton from the Diocese of Olympia-Washington as Vice President. After two complicated years, the Vice President chose to challenge the President for the position of President of the HOD. Zena Link from the Diocese of Western Massachusetts has also placed her name for consideration. The Episcopal News Service (https://episcopalnewsservice.org/) has some articles explaining some of the underlying issues.
The three individuals took questions about their sense of call and plans for the future of the HOD. The session was civil but not as collegial as that of the Bishops. The deputies will vote on the President next week, and then there will be a vote for Vice President. The House of Bishops will vote to confirm our selection.
(It may help to explain that the Presiding Bishop has a nine-year term, and it’s common for the President of the HOD to serve three consecutive three-year terms. It is uncommon to be challenged in this way, but this is not the first time that it’s happened.)
The deputation has dinner together and discussed their impressions of the various candidates for these two vital positions. The deputies take their duties very seriously and strive to vote in the best interest of The Episcopal Church.
Tomorrow has more meetings and in the evening there will be a Revival at the YUM Center. Stay tuned!