Tag Archives: General Convention

Before the start of meetings today at the 78th Episcopal General Convention (GC), the Bishops held a public march against gun violence.  Several members of our Deputation from the Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR) walked with them despite the heat (80 degrees Farenheit / 27 Celsius at 8 am in the morning!). Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry carried part of the banner and addressed the crowd of over 2,000 at the end of the historic march. You can hear Bishop Curry’s talk on this video.

After the march, we participated in an extended version of the daily worship service, followed by the regular House of Deputies legislative session. Today was the United Thank Offering ingathering for 2012-2014. We were proud to have Nancy McGuffin come forward to represent ECR and for Katie Reeves to be one of the UTO speakers. UTO raised $4,378,326.16 to support mission and ministry throughout The Episcopal Church and in invited Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the developing world.  After the morning legislative session, several of us in the ECR Deputation went to lunch and then toured nearby Temple Square.

We ended the day joining the closing worship service at the House of Bishops, followed by a Deputation meeting over dinner with Bishop Mary.

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Images Copyright 2015 by Katy Dickinson

Today was the second day for the Deputation from the Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR) in Salt Lake City at the 78th General Convention (GC) of the Episcopal Church. There are 898 in the House of Deputies and about 300 in the House of Bishops at GC. Salt Lake City is at 4,327 feet above sea level. We are still adjusting to the altitude and heat here. ECR blogs from GC will be posted in the 78th General Convention category of the diocesan website.

Our morning was taken up with introductions to the GC leadership, an address by the outgoing Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, an introduction to the iPad “Virtual Binder”, voting tools and rules, and guidance on parliamentary procedure. Bishop Katharine’s moving talk included many Star Trek references (since one of the big discussion topics for GC is called TREC). Two of her more serious thoughts were: “No matter who you are afraid of, we need each other” and “We are never whole when we exclude members of the wider community.” My favorite orientation quote is from the Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe (Executive Officer of the General Convention): “This is an iPad, within it is software, the virtual binder is on but not exclusively in the iPad”.

We had an hour and a half for lunch during which we checked out the exhibit hall some more, including seeing the Homeless Jesus sculpture which is briefly visiting GC. During the afternoon, we heard the four candidates for Presiding Bishop (PB) answer eight rounds of questions in eight topic areas. The candidates to be 27th PB are:

• The Rt. Rev. Thomas Breidenthal, 64, Diocese of Southern Ohio
• The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, 62, Diocese of North Carolina
• The Rt. Rev. Ian Douglas, 56, Diocese of Connecticut
• The Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, 61, Diocese of Southwest Florida

Last month, my fellow ECR blogger, Rev. Tom Sramek, Jr. wrote an article profiling the four candidates: “Who Will Lead Episcopalians?”.  The PB election will take place this coming Saturday. My favorite quote from Bishop Michael Curry: “I’m not the Pope, I don’t have all the answers.  The truth is, the Pope isn’t the Pope either.” ECR Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves arrived late this afternoon.

Images Copyright 2015 by Katy Dickinson