The General Convention from a Distance - Part Two

Today, the 77^th General Convention of the Episcopal Church concludes its triennial gathering in Indianapolis. On Tuesday, the representatives of our denomination made decisions that will certainly affect the Church in the days and weeks to come. I listened the entire afternoon via the General Convention Media Hub to the presentations and debate over the formal call for the restructuring of the Church and the passage of a resolution allowing for the blessing for same gender couples. Many in the Church are elated at these decisions and many others are dismayed  - particularly over the authorization of a rite of blessing.

To be honest, my reaction to all of this news and other events over the course of the week coming from Indianapolis has been a “mixed bag.” I do not want any of my readers to misread what I am about to say below as “lamenting” or “raining on the parade” for I love the Episcopal Church with all of my being and have tried to the best of my ability to serve it well. My response to all of these recent actions is more one of concern. Let me explain what I mean.

Structure of the Church. With a unanimous vote of the House of Deputies (a rare thing indeed these days), the Deputies of Convention resolved to establish a Task Force under the Joint Rules of Order, whose purpose shall be to present the 78th General Convention with a plan for reforming the Church’s structures, governance, and administration. The decision was met with a thunderous ovation and singing(!) from those gathered. The resolution grounds its action in the belief that “the Holy Spirit is urging The Episcopal Church to reimagine itself.”

While I am in complete agreement that the Institution is severely broken and in need of immediate transformation, I have been around the Church way to long to get overly excited about the prospects of reforming our structure, governance and administration. The organization is too entrenched, too addicted to control; too captivated of a top-down management system; too set in our own way; and too fearful to let go and trust the Holy Spirit.

An example coming out of this convention. The HOD (House of Deputies) resolved to put the Church headquarters in New York City up for sale. The HOB (House of Bishops) said, not so fast. With millions of dollars in debt on the building at 815 Second Avenue, the Bishops decided to look at ways to relocate "Headquarters" but not to sell the eleven story building. While there had been talk earlier in the week about being “Crazy Christians”, these actions spoke volumes that it's “business as usual” regardless of where the Spirit might be leading the Church.

This resolution on restructuring calls for the creation of a special task force of up to 24 people who will gather ideas in the next two years from all levels of the church about possible reforms to its structures, governance and administration. Their work will culminate in a special gathering of people from every diocese to hear what recommendations the task force plans to make to the 78th General Convention. Its final report is due by November 2014.

Membership on the Task Force shall be appointed jointly by the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies by September 30, 2012. The group is to reflect the diversity of the Church, and shall include some persons with critical distance from the Church’s institutional leadership.

My reluctance to get up and cheer for this plan is that I have served on far too many “task force” in years past and have been dismayed by the lack of results that have come forth from such work. This opportunity for change and restructuring only has a “snow balls chance” if the task force is not made up of the “establishment”. We are in need of out of the box thinkers, risk takers, mission minded investors, who believe more in the power of the Holy Spirit than they do in the institution. Let's be perfectly honest, those types are few and far between in our denomination. If the leaders of the Church are serious about this process than NOTHING is off the table for consideration. But, I am not so blind anymore to believe that there will be such openness and willingness to be led by the Spirit. To my mind, structure will never bring about the Kingdom of God. Naturally, only time will tell. We shall see and hope.

Resolution on Blessing: What was more of a concern to me was what came after the discussion on restructuring. Here, I refer to the approval of both Houses for Resolution A049 to authorize liturgical resources for blessing same-gender relationships. In a vote by orders, the House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops, which authorizes provisional use of the rite “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” starting Dec. 2 (the first Sunday of Advent). Clergy will need the permission of their bishop under the terms of the resolution.

Now, I fully support the right for gays and lesbians to receive the blessing of the Church for their unions. Years ago, in the Diocese of North Carolina, I had the honor of bestowing God’s blessing on a couple who I had known for a very long time. I did it then and I would do it again in a heart beat. That is not my issue.

My concern is how the Convention came to its final decision. In contrast to the vote on restructuring which was unanimous and brought the Convention together like I have seldom seen before, the debate over Resolution A049 was clearly split from the start with a minority report brought to the floor of the HOD from the Hearing Committee. There was passionate and spirited debate from both sides and it was pretty clear from the beginning how the vote would end.

Here is a sampling of opinions that I heard over the web broadcast. Copied thanks to the Episcopal News Service:

“The Very Rev. David Thurlow, a member of the Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music Committee and a deputy of the Diocese of South Carolina, gave the deputies a minority report: “For 2,000 years, the church has had clear teaching regarding marriage,” he said. Noting the committee’s concern about ecumenical relations in other areas, such as maintaining use of the Revised Common Lectionary, Thurlow said, “we haven’t taken heed of the universal voice of the church universal or the Anglican Communion.” “This resolution marks a clear and significant departure — theological, doctrinal and in worship — from the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this church has received them,” he said. It introduces a “new theology of human sexuality.”

“The signs outside our church say all are welcome,” said Deputy Pete Ross of the Diocese of Michigan, who urged passage. “Do we need an asterisk?”

The Rev. Charles Holt, Central Florida, commented on the unanimous house vote on a major structure resolution earlier in the session. “That actually very much moved me in a very powerful way. It was the first time I felt united with this group. But then, just a few minutes later, we’re going to receive … something that deeply divides us on very, very core values.”

“Passing this resolution,” said the Ven. David Collum, deputy of the Diocese of Albany, “is just the majority wielding power against those with minority views saying, ‘We don’t care.’”

“Some of the house’s young deputies recounted personal stories as they urged passage. Newark Deputy Caroline Christie, 18, recalled wondering as a child why her two aunts couldn’t marry. “There was no difference in their relationship except that they were both women. As I grew, I began to realize it was an issue of discrimination. … Same-sex couples should be able to be blessed by the church.”

“Deputy Ian Hallas, 22, of Chicago, likewise spoke about family: his sister and her civil union. “The love that she shares with her partner is unconditional and speaks to the ideal relationships all of us should strive to have,” he said. “I often get asked by churchgoers and non-churchgoers why I am a part of this body,” he said. “The reason I return is for my sister. I seek to assure that she not only has the same rites as myself but also the same privileges.” (Episcopal News Service, July 10)

What came next was the Institution at its legislative worst – a complex and lengthy parliamentary discussion that followed a request to divide the resolution. That was simply, to my mind, political gamesmanship. There was nothing loving or compassionate at all at this point of the discussion. Folks were trying to maneuver their way through a resolution without speaking the truth in love to one another. It was clear that the House was not of one mind like it had been less than an hour earlier.

You cannot legislate love…. Period! When the Church tries to legislate love, it usually winds up pretty ugly. Why when it comes to these matters can’t we simply follow the example of Jesus who loved “wastefully”? Why do we have to “legislate” who is worthy of God’s love and who is not? Don’t we all fall short of the glory of God? Aren’t we all in need of love and acceptance? Why is it so difficult to find common ground when it comes to the issues of our sexuality? Why is it so hard to show mercy, grace and compassion to one another? In order to win, why does it have to come down to resolutions and legal ease?

At the end, when the vote was announced, many in this Church celebrated. I am not there yet for I grieve for the casualties of our actions on both sides of the debate.

Finally, I want to close with a positive statement in praise of the House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson. I did not know much about her before this Convention. But the more I have listened to her, watched her guide the HOD through the last week, the more I am impressed by her leadership and example. On Tuesday, especially, she showed tremendous poise, humility, authority and humor as the House wrestled with many difficult decisions. She has a marvelous gift to be able to acknowledge her own limitations while leading that is an example for all of us in the Church. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Love One Another - Brian