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DOMINION ONLINE NEWS & CONVENTION PHOTOS
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July 15, 2009
BISHOP WALKER CONCLUDES WORK AS ACTIVE BISHOP
For The Dominion by Canon Diane M. Porter
When the House of Bishops voted approval of an amended D-025, Bishop Walker cast his last ballot as an active member of the House of Bishops.
Speaking to The Dominion after the session closed, Bishop Walker indicated “ I am very pleased to be listed in the affirmative with those who sought and brought a way forward that both affirmed our place within the Anglican Communion while proceeding according to the Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church in regards to making the ordination process open in all orders to all people.”
And, he continued, “while the House of Bishops did not formally enter into the Indaba process that we experienced at the Lambeth Conference, the Indaba spirit did prevail before, during and after the discussion and vote.
This was my 14th General Convention and 8th as a bishop and I could feel the difference and for that I give thanks to God.
I remember serving on the legislative committee that brought forward the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and I can tell you the tenor and tone of convention has truly changed.”
Until the resolution comes forward on removing the vote from retired bishops, we won’t know for sure if he has voted his last vote but we do know that his last vote as an active bishop was indeed historic.
July 13 - Photos from Lynn Collins
Roy Murphy and The Rev. Abby Murphy, Fr. Provenzano
Fr. Provenzano, The Rev. Christine Peterson-Snyder
Mthr. Clare Nesmith, Jeanne Provenzano
July 11 - Photos from Lynn Collins
Long Island deputation in the House of Deputies
Fr. Larry, Jeanne Provenzano, Louise Baietto, friend of Louise, Mthr. Clare Nesmith
Jeanne Provenzano and Daphne Small, Diocesan ECW President
Bishop and Mrs. James Ottley
The Rev. Susan Russell, Jeanne Provenzano
ECW Triennial delegate Birdie Blake-Reid, Fr. Provenzano
Terry Parsons, Ted Gerbracht
Canon Lynn Collins, Bishop Michael Curry
Bishop Rodney Michel, Father Richard Brewer, Canon James Teets
July 10, 2009
You May Now Take Your Seat
From Canon Diane Porter's Convention Blog
for The Dominion
After receiving the report from the Committee on the Resignation and Ordination of Bishops, the 96 bishops with jurisdiction received their ballots to vote on the approval of Lawrence Provenzano as Bishop Co-adjutor for Long Island. After a great deal of milling around and a report from the Prayer Book Committee on as one bishop called it "The Inflation of the Liturgical Calendar", Bishop Katherine asked for a special order to announce the results.
After announcing his receipt of 96 affirmative votes, Bishop Walker and Bishop George Councell escorted Bishop-elect Provenzano to his seat on the floor of the House of Bishops and after applause, the liturgical calendar discussion resumed. He is seated and working.
It was a joy to see Bishop Walker and Bishop-elect Provenzano sharing a good man hug.
The following was shared with Dominion Online
by Bishop David B. Joslin:
From "That We All Might Be One" blog
by Bishop C. Christopher Epting,
Deputy to the Presiding Bishop
for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations
B033
July 10, 2009 by ecubishop
Preliminary indications are that the House of Deputies at the General Convention will vote overwhelmingly to repeal B033, the resolution from the 2006 Convention asking bishops and standing committees to basically withhold consent to the election of any bishop whose "manner of life" would prove divisive in the wider Anglican Communion.
This has been widely interpreted as applying mainly to gay and lesbian persons (although they are not specifically referenced) and therefore singling them out for unfair treatment. (The likely withholding of consent for Kevin Thew Forrester in the Diocese of Northern Michigan for other reasons challenges this notion, but nonetheless, it is widespread).
It will be interesting, eventually, to see if the House of Bishops will refuse to concur with the Deputies likely vote because, however many of us are sympathetic to the plight of gay and lesbian persons and the unfair burden they are being asked to carry, our role is all about unity — within the Communion and ecumenically — and this brings a different perspective.
There are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit in the Church and in this Convention. We need all perspectives and the balance of the two Houses sometimes provides this.
We shall see.
July 8, 2009
The 76th General Convention Opens
By Canon Diane M. Porter
for The Dominion
The 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church officially opens today, July 8, 2009.
While committee hearings began on Monday, the thousands of deputies, bishops, triennial participants, exhibitors, visitors and press people who have gathered in Anaheim California will begin their official duties after the opening Eucharist.
On July 7th, the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies gave their opening addresses. Their comments as well as all the news from the Convention are available at the official General Convention Media Hub: http://gchub.episcopalchurch.org/
Also available are my edgier comments at my daily blog found at http://daily76gcblog.blogspot.com.
Also on Tuesday, Father Lawrence Provenzano began his march toward confirmation as Bishop Co-adjutor by appearing before the Committee on the Ordination of Bishops at an open hearing.
When the legislative sessions begin, among the items to be considered is the repeal of the moratorium on the confirmation to the episcopate of those whose lifestyle would present a challenge to others in the Anglican Communion.
Several other resolutions to address same sex blessings and marriage equity rights are in the legislative hopper. Other issues before Convention include the mandatory pension for lay church employees, a denomination-wide health care plan, a number of inclusions to the church calendar and our denomination’s response to a number of national issues including immigration, care for veterans, economic justice and domestic poverty to name a few.
The Program, Budget and Finance Committee is facing an all too familiar challenge – doing more with less while retaining the Executive Council’s mission priorities. The budget hearings began with sixty passionate witnesses appealing for their favorite ministry priority.
Today and tomorrow, His Grace, The Archbishop of Canterbury will be in attendance. The Archbishop will address the Convention on global poverty. In addition to Dr. Williams, there are 70 international visitors including 15 Primates from throughout the Anglican Communion.
General Convention, an amalgam of worship, legislative assembly, marketplace, job fair and family reunion, meets every three years and continues through July 17, 2009.
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