I personally avoided the topic this morning at coffee hour like the black plague.

Yes- -I preached on making choices as per the Gospel and praying for faithfulness. Used the decisions at GC as examples and the Babushkas in Russia (ala NPR this morning). I explained what the inclusion and blessing resolutions were about. One comment - a man said "it seems like we continue to muddle along" (a compliment).

In my sermon this morning, I wondered what John the Baptist might have said if he had arrived at General Convention.

After church, a few folks asked me if I was going to follow up on our pre-GC adult fora with a class about what happened. Yes, I'll offer a class in a couple of weeks. Show and tell with my binder.

Our rector gave a thumbnail sketch during the announcements covering three points (1) reassertion of baptism before communion, (2) same-sex blessings and (3) non-action on the Anglican Covenant noting the dismissal it had received in other provinces. And he expressed his willingness to discuss General Convention with any member of the parish.

Not a conversation so much, but a local deputy that usually works the weekend and comes to church in uniform showed up at the church I attend instead of his usual Episcopal church saying he couldn't go there anymore when he was in uniform, which is most weekends. He had to leave, so no more info. I take it they passed the resolution banning weapons?

Chris Harwood

Didn't hear anything during Mass. The preacher, as usual, stuck with the propers. Skipped coffee hour so I could get into the air conditioned comfort of my car ASAP (it's really muggy here).

I am a Deputy from Wyoming. Today I preached about General Convention - that whole scene from Samuel seemed a lot like General Convention: sending the chosen people, singing and dancing and making lots of noise, sharing food and heading home.

Since we use Power Point in our liturgy, I was able to use some pictures of GC to help people imagine the scene. I shared the Five Marks of Mission, and then talked about the legislative work we did with the Marks of Mission for context. That part of the sermon seemed to go on a long time - there were lots of important topics covered besides blessings.

To close, I read quotes from several of the sermons I heard at GC, with pictures of the preachers.

Some things that stood out: 1. One parishioner said it felt as if she had been at General Convention herself.

2. We had visitors today from The Episcopal Diocese of the Virgin Islands - a retired priest, his wife, and a friend. He thanked me for sharing what happened in Indianapolis - he says he doesn't always hear the news in any detail.

Kay Flores [full name added by editor]

"Since we use Power Point in our liturgy..."

For what?

Responding to Bill Dilworth: our service is on Power Point. We project onto the walls using two projectors. We've worked hard and thoughtfully on this - and we think it works. Your mileage may vary. :)

Rather than type all the details about how we have worked it out, let me point you to a conversation I joined a couple of months ago I engaged in a conversation with folks from all over - read it here: http://liturgy.co.nz/luddite-liturgy/9547

(Editor, I hopefully have fixed it so both my first and last names appear when I post. But just in case, I am Kay Flores.)

I visited a friend's parish today on the opposite end of PA. He preached on Father Stan Rother, John the Baptist and GC. (He noted three GC items - transgender acceptance, same sex blessing rite and church structure.) The three topics were tied together by the distinct possibility of suffering for the Gospel yet continuing to live it. Or so I understood. I rarely remember sermons but this one stuck more or less.
Shelley Huston

Can anything be more exciting that General Convention? The beheading of John the Baptist seemed more appropriate to supermarket tabloids than the Bible. Yet, that Bible story, with the spineless Herods who could not be relied to support those he admired, is a precursor of Jesus in His passion, adored by Pilate and Herod yet supported by neither. Of course I reported on D016 approval of the Contemporary English Version. A vicar of a church with 30 in church, and another with 15...in ten weeks time could approach GC and have a new Bible translation authorized. Neat! Something good now to read when the Gospel of John has "the Jews" for hoi Ioudaioi. And the general convention: moving HQ from NYC. What do we need a HQ for. What is the direction of the church? Passage of A049. Fine. 6% of the population is gay or lesbian, whether Episcopalian, continuing Anglican, Baptism, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish...and TEC has found a way. Subject to the permission of the Bishop. (Plus Florida has already said no) and no clergyman having to preside that doesn't want to. Really, more interest in 3-- 6 -- 9 -- 12 years, if/when we find a way to bless senior same gender couples who want a blessing without compromising pension rights.
I do have some email chatter in one of my congregations. I'll make it my business to love everyone in Jesus' name.

Les Singleton (added by ~ed.)

There was no mention of GC at our parish, which isn't surprising: the head of the Baltimore maritime chaplaincy was our preacher, and that's what she mostly preached on. The interim tends to pretend that the national church isn't there, so I knew he wouldn't mention it.

Regarding your question, Chris H: a number of Deputies spoke on the floor of the House to say that in their settings there were legal issues and liability issues about "gun free zones" that they felt prevented them from establishing that expectation. The resolution was amended, and the wording was changed to "violence-free zones," as apt and more broad. It passed in Deputies. I don't know what happened in Bishops.

Marshall Scott
(Deputy from West Missouri)

Marshall, I want to check the fate of that amendment more closely. Are you certain it passed? Because if it did, it seems very unlikely that the amended legislation made it back to the HoB, which had already passed the Gun Free version. That said, the resolution the Deputies voted on "requests" that parishes and other Episcopal workplaces take a certain action. It doesn't compel.

Jim and Chris H: I am mistaken. The amendment was moved, but when I check my notes it appears that in fact the amendment failed (probably because this was a concurrence with the House of Bishops, and any amendment would have meant that nothing was passed - no time for it to return to Bishops). In Bishops the words "calls for" were changed to "requests;" but not the change I had focused on. I apologize.

Marshall Scott

Good morning...actually, not much was said;it seems that the beautiful convention was more of a mountain peak experience for those in attendance. Thank you for all of your hard work. :)

Please sign your name when commenting on the Café. Thanks ~ed.