As deputies, bishops, visitors, and others have had time to rest and reflect on their experiences at General Convention, several are writing blogs, editorials, and news articles. We will be sharing some of those as they emerge.
Andrew Gerns, rector of Trinity Church in Easton, PA, also works at the blog Episcopal Cafe. His blog is Fun ‘n Games in the Kingdom of God. The Editorial, Where is the generosity in leadership we need? appeared there before being posted on Episcopal Cafe.
Excerpts: The 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Chuch has wrapped up a few weeks ago and we have seen some remarkable work done in some remarkable ways. In the midst of the usual parliamentary processes, the Episcopal Church’s main leadership council has made set a course towards evangelism and mission in an interconnected world. . .
As we go into the world, we are being charged to experiment in Christian communities that look and act differently for the sake of Christ’s mission. We are putting serious money towards trying out ways of being the church that breaks out of the buildings we’ve grown up in. We are being encouraged to use our resources and facilities in new ways. Even from across the country peering at the convention through a live stream and Twitter, I think that I was not alone in believing that God is egging us on towards something new in the Episcopal Church
But while the convention was charging us to go in one way, there were signs that we have serious signs of dislocation that threaten to keep us stuck in spiral of institutional struggle and scarcity thinking.
Read it all at Episcopal Cafe.
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The Rt. Rev. Pierre W. Whalon is the bishop in charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. He wrote an essay for ‘Anglicans Online, putting the recent actions of General Convention on the marriage canons in the context of the wider Anglican Communion.
Excerpt from Marriage, The Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion:
Has The Episcopal Church changed its doctrine of marriage? Reading various statements during and after the 78th General Convention, it would seem that once again, that church based in America and present in sixteen other countries is threatening the fragile unity of the Anglican Communion by leaving behind the “faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
Why is The Episcopal Church singled out, however? Our church is in the same position as the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Church of Ireland, the Church of Wales, the Church of Canada, the Church of Australia, the Church of Southern Africa, the Church of Brazil, the Church of Mexico, and the Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia. Not to mention the Church of England itself. Each of these churches of the Anglican Communion is trying to discern a way forward that includes gay and lesbian people as full members of the Church, as their secular governments have legitimized same-sex marriage. If that is straining the bonds of our Communion, it is not purely an American issue, by any means.
What follows, Gentle Reader, is my attempt to explain what we did decide, which is to begin the process of amending the marriage rite in the Book of Common Prayer. Then I will turn to the situation in the Anglican Communion as a whole
Read it all at Anglicans Online.
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Social media was all over General Convention 78 or #gc78. Here is a reflection on Twitter at General Convention written by Katherine Karr-Cornejo, Ph.D., of Spokane, Washington. Follow her on Twitter @KarrCornejo.
At the House of Twitter also appeared at Episcopal Cafe.
Excerpt: Following and using the #gc78 hashtag opened up a world beyond my own deputation (fabulous though they are). I could follow commentary from the House of Bishops when I was in the House of Deputies; I could read about testimony in committee meetings that I was unable attend. I shared observations from the meetings I attended and participated in; I could read and think about perspectives that weren’t physically present at Convention. As a new attendee and participant, the House of Twitter was immensely helpful in not only helping me to have a better sense of what was going on, but also helping me to feel welcome and entirely a part of the process.
Read it all at Episcopal Cafe.
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