From July 6th to 16th, I was in Anaheim, California, at General Convention -- as an exhibitor not a deputy. In addition to representing TMEC, our own organization, I also represented NNECA, the National Network of Episcopal Clergy Associations. If you are not familiar with NNECA, by the way, I encourage you to visit their website at www.nneca.org and learn more.
Convention was an exciting and exhausting ten days. Other people will describe the decisions that were made. I wanted to give you some of the “back story” or human interest side of things.
Imagine going to a very large Convention Center near one of our largest cities and finding it converted into “Episcopal Central,” with countless booths and displays highlighting the various ministries of the Church. It was as if the whole world had suddenly become Episcopal! Interspersed among the booths and information desks in the enormous Exhibit Hall were vendors selling items of interest to Episcopalians -- elaborate silver chalices to brightly colored African garments to olivewood figurines from Israel to what one passer-by described as “ecclesiastical bling.”
The deputies and bishops were overwhelmed with constant meetings. So, you might wonder, who would be exploring the Exhibit Hall and stopping at our TMEC booth?
Well, many deputies and bishops did stop by during their breaks. However, they of course were not the only ones in Anaheim. The Daughters of the King (DOK) and the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) were also meeting. In addition, there were family members, local visitors, and a veritable army of volunteers who did the many things necessary to keep all things running smoothly.
The TMEC booth--staffed by myself, Barry Miller, Steven Van Voorhees, Gary Goldacker, Frank Hegedus, among others -- provided ample opportunity for conversation about our important ministry. Delegates, bishops, and visitors alike expressed support and interest in our work. Many signed up for our mailing list.
At 11:30 am each day, life in the Convention Center slowed down as nearly everyone went to worship -- which was always wonderful. However, the Sunday Eucharist was extraordinary. Imagine a football-field sized room filled with 8000 Episcopalians! The procession was led by an African drum corps from a local church. Then came all the bishops -- in full regalia -- followed by the two former Presiding Bishops and our current Presiding, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. It was glorious.
So what do I conclude? Three things.
First, I have enormous respect for the deputies and bishops. They work diligently to understand the issues and materials presented to them and are busy every second of Convention. While I might not always be happy with their decisions, I know those decisions are thoughtful, the result of study and prayer. Second, I re-learned that Episcopalians are a joy-filled people. We like each other. We like to gather and to be together. Our Church is small, and so we do not forget those we knew in the past. Third, worship in our Church is genuine, varied and expressive. We treasure the old and experiment with the new. We sing and pray with gusto. We know that worship is central, not peripheral, to our Christian identity.
My ten days in Anaheim were packed with conversation, people, and worship. I am truly grateful for this experience.
Best of all for us: TMEC is not alone. General Convention reminds us all that we are all part of the Lord’s grand scheme of things, part of the Episcopal Church.
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