Dean Penny's Recap of General Convention

Dear St. Paul’s family,

Thank you for allowing me to serve the wider church by attending our General Convention in Austin as a diocesan deputy earlier this month. I will be giving a forum on my experience on August 12, but I wanted to give you a flavor of General Convention 79 (#GC79) right away.

The Episcopal Church holds its General Convention every three years. Each diocese (there are 111) sends four clergy and four lay deputies, elected by the diocesan convention, plus at least one alternate from each order of ministry, plus at least one bishop, so it’s a large-scale affair. We have a bicameral system, with the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops sitting separately for all legislative business. All officers of each House are elected by the relevant House from among its members.

General Convention is a combination of education, legislation, and inspiration, with wonderful worship services every day, a ton of resolutions (over 500) to consider, and opportunities to listen, learn, and discuss important issues. We had three joint sessions where both houses came together to hear speakers on Racial Reconciliation, Evangelism, and Creation Care. The Austin Convention Center is enormous: some people even used rented scooters to get from one end to the other. Many smaller meetings took place in one of three hotels. I walked nearly 5 miles on the first day.

There are some 25 committees, which meet each day to hold hearings, deliberate, and massage resolutions into a form that may be acceptable on the floor. A resolution must be approved by both houses to take effect. Committee members worked incredibly hard, meeting at 7:30 am or even earlier before the legislative sessions got underway, while our deputation would caucus each evening between 9 and 10 pm, so it made for very long days.

I will talk about some of the resolutions on August 12, but here I’ll just mention some events that have stayed with me: the opening worship, where our Presiding Bishop exhorted us to adopt the Way of Love, employing seven spiritual practices; the Listening Session, where bishops read the (anonymous) testimony of people who have experienced sexual abuse and harassment in the church; the testimony of the family of Carmen Shentrup, who was murdered at Marjorie Stoneham Douglas High School on Ash Wednesday; the rally and prayer meeting at Hutto Detention Center which holds some 500 women, many separated from their children at the border; the joyful welcome of the Episcopal Church of Cuba back into The Episcopal Church after 50 years in the wilderness; and the passing of resolutions broadening support for same-sex marriage and for transgender and non-binary persons.

It was a prayerful and inspiring two weeks, and I am deeply grateful for all that our church does to share God’s love with the world.

Your sister in Christ,
Penny

General Convention Day 8

Dean Penny writes

Day 8 of #GC79: a long morning of legislative business debating and voting on the budget, and resolutions on responsible investment regarding Israel, caring for the children of Palestine, expanding the language of the Eucharistic prayers, and a whoe variety of stuff. I spent the lunch hour getting to know the Dean of Reno, Nevada, although my lunch didn´t actually arrive until 5 minutes before an appointment with a bishop, so I ate in the visitors´ area of the House of Bishops, having swapped roles with our alternate again for 24 hours. I listened as the bishops debated the same resolutions we had debated in the morning, making many of the same comments.

I spent the afternoon going between the two houses to observe, but sadly missed the moment when the head of our deputation, the inimitable Pauline Getz was awarded the House of Deputies medal for her long service as parliamentarian, deputy, executive council member, and committee chair. In the House of Bishops I was lucky enough to catch the Passing of the Torch (literally) from the diocese of Texas, who hosted this GC, to Maryland, who will host the 2021 convention. The soundtrack, naturally, was Chariots of Fire as the bishops ran in slow motion.

Worship this evening featured the Rt Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, first woman of color to be elected a diocesan bishop, as preacher. Then a few of us walked down to the river to see the nightly spectacle of millions of bats flying out from their roost under a bridge: fantastic! We ended the evening in our hospitality suite for a last get-together as a deputation. Tomorrow holds a full schedule of legislative business all the way from 8 am to 6:30 pm when we catch our shuttle to the airport. I imagine the House of Deputies will start to empty out after lunch.

General Convention Day 6

Dean Penny writes,

#GC79 day six: committee hearings are starting to wind down. I surfaced a bit late to sit in on one, so I met instead with a former dean, who now works for a senior housing organization, to exchange ideas and share experience. A little shopping in the exhibit hall, then I sat in as an alternate on the joint session on Creation Care. Lunch with the deputation, then back onto the floor for legislation including questions of equity for lay and clergy on pensions and for transgender and non-binary people.

Meanwhile the bishops were welcoming the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba back into the Episcopal Church, with much rejoicing #cubasi #cubaahora. I left worship early to walk through the heat to the Berkeley at Yale dinner. good to catch up with various folks including my former Dean who was my adviser. ended the day celebrating the birthday of deputation leader Polly Getz with chocolate cake. I have two more evenings to see the bats at sunset.

General Convention Day 5

Dean Penny writes,
Happy Monday! And #GC79 day 5. Committee deliberations were back this morning and I returned to the Safeguarding committee where it was Groundhog Day, as they once again discussed the wording of the resolution about clergy dating.

At the morning legislative session we completed debate on the resolution extending trial use of the new marriage liturgies and adopted it with an amendment that returned control to bishops, thus robbing the resolution of most of its effect. It now goes to the house of bishops. Other votes on a variety of resolutions followed.

We were treated to a wonderful speech by a member of the youth presence - the church will be in good hands when they take over!

At lunchtime I switched roles with our alternate and I had a lunch meeting with some of the organizers of our New Camino workshop in May, to discuss followup plans. Then back to the house of deputies to sit in the alternate area and observe some of the debate on resolutions addressing investment policy and the Israel/Palestine conflict.

After a downtown walk it was time for worship - disappointing music this time but an engaging sermon by Prince Singh, Bishop of Rochester. Then the deans gathered for our traditional dinner: about 25 of us plus the Bishop of Texas and his wife. I was the only female dean present. It was fun to catch up with happenings in Omaha, Phoenix, Bethlehem, Eau Claire, Salina, Sacramento, Portland ME, Houston, and elsewhere. I missed friends including Miguelina Espinal Howell of Hartford CT and Randy Hollerith of Washington DC who had other commitments tonight.

Troy Mendez tells me there is a new resolution calling for TEC to embrace the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba without waiting for a constitutional amendment. I hope I get to vote for it!

General Convention Day 4

Dean Penny writes,
#GC79 Day 4: being Sunday, the day didn’t begin with committee hearings, but with  a prayer service by Bishops Against Gun Violence, attended by about 500 people. We heard from the parents of Carmen Schentrup and from a remarkable 14-yr-old from Waco called Abigail.

Then we piled on to 12 buses and out to the Hutto “residential center” - actually a prison holding about 500 women. When I saw it my first thought was “Orange is the new black.” About 1200 of us gathered in the hot sun to sing, pray, and hear inspiring words. The inmates could hear us and sent messages of appreciation.

 In the afternoon we had a long legislative session, mostly doing elections to various boards but also starting debate on the resolution that calls us to continue trial use of the same-sex marriage liturgies. To be continued in the morning.

 There were several competing events this evening. After supper I took in a portion of Carly Hughes’ sermon at the Integrity Eucharist, staying long enough to hear the announcement that the organization will now be known as The Episcopal Rainbow. I was sorry to miss the Latin Fiesta, but I ran out of steam. Tomorrow is Camp Shirt Day.

Day 3 at General Convention

Dean Penny writes,
#GC79 day 3 started with a hearing of the Safeguarding committee, discussing resolutions including one updating definitions around sexual misconduct. What are the boundsries for clergy dating lay people? The discussion was almost over when a Spanish-speaking committee member spoke up through an interpreter, making me realize how infrequently our Spanish-speaking friends make what is obviously a huge effort to be heard. In this case the comment was extremely important and caused the resolution to be sent back to a subcommittee for a significant revision. There has been quite a bit of discontent over inadequate interpretation and translation services this week.

In our legislative session several people offered amendments to the prayer book revision resolution, a compromise resolution offered by the committee, and the measure was approved. If the House of Bishops concurs, a process of revision will be launched that will take at least 12 years.

This afternoon we had a joint session, a TEC Talk on evangelism, with several speakers including the awesome Daniel Velez Rivera and Lauren Winner. I had a joyful reunion with old friend and now Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe over a cup of tea, and then it was onto the buses for a Revival service at the Palmer Center - a huge crowd, terrific, Spirit-filled praise, Gospel, and bluegrass music led by, among others, Sandra Montes, and an amazing double-act sermon by ++ Michael Curry and his Spanish interpreter. The much-ballyhooed Texas BBQ afterwards was a big disappointment, with not nearly enough food and a lack of organization.

Rumor has it that my former bishops Peter Lee and James R. Mathes are in town - I will be looking for them tomorrow. Meanwhile we are all praying for those affected by the fires back home. Oh, and did I mention that Westboro Baptist is picketing our meetings this weekend? A good opportunity to practice the Way of Love.

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.

Report from general convention

Dean Penny writes,

Day 1 of #GC79: 822 deputies from 107 dioceses in the House. All the deputies named Michael were dispatched to the House of Bishops to convey our greetings, along with baseball caps embroidered with “Michael”. In return, two bishops adorned with tiaras returned the greetings. We had a wonderful opening Eucharist service with another knock-em-dead sermon from ++ Michael. I sat in on the Prayer Book committee hearing on the revised Book of Occasional Services. Lunch courtesy of the Church Pension Group with a presentation on changing demographics. A significant factor in our declining numbers is that Episcopalians don’t have enough babies. Transportation to church is a significant challenge for our parishioners of color. In some (all?) diocese an immigrant may not enter the ordination process without a green card.

After lunch, more committee hearings: on the proposed restoration of the Diocese of Cuba to full membership in the Episcopal Church, with impassioned testimony from Bishop Griselda and el muy reverendo José Angel Gutiérrez, Dean of the cathedral in Havana. They are anticipating that, although they have done everything the Episcopal Church has asked them to do, we will delay accepting them once again. Then on to the hearing on non-discrimination in hiring and deployment, before returning to the floor for another legislative session. We spent time on resolutions to allow joint deliberative sessions of the Houses of zdeputies and Bishops, and on compensating the Preaident of the House of Deputies for her hard work (both passed). Dinner at a local BBQ joint with Holly and Darren Herring, and a conversation about choir tours (which Darren organizes).