Day 2 at General Convention

Dean Penny writes,
Short report from day 2 of #GC79: Safeguarding committe discussed whether the resolution condemning sexual harassment should be aimed at clergy and church employees only or at all church members too. Church members were added. A joint session of the Houses heard powerful testimony from a former skinhead white supremacist, an Austin hip-hop poet, a distinguished scholar and founder of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial HeLing, and the Rev. Nancy Frausto, a deputy from Los Angeles and a Dreamer. Then we had conversations among ourselves about confronting racism.

I attended a luncheon hosted by the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes and started to think about whether I want to attend the CEEP conference. In Boston. In February. Hmmm.

Sat in on the Christian Formation Committee’s discussion of resolutions calling for greater support for transgender and non-binary gendered people. Wonderful testimony from brave young people and a fortuitous encounter with the incoming national president of Integrity.

 Legislative session started the debate on revising the Book of Common Prayer - to be continued tomorrow. I was surprised to learn that the committee is recommending going ahead with a 12-year project of revision.

Finally, dinner with the deputation at an excellent restaurant on Congress Ave, near the bridge with the million bats. I must get down there at sunset one evening! A brutally hot day, but not as dangerously dry as it is in San Diego today.

Grateful for all the hard work going on here in the service of the Gospel.