by the Rev. Donna Ross, ECR Communications
Coordinator
Monday’s sessions of General Convention’s House of
Deputies at General began early in the morning and
ended close to 7:30 p.m.
In the first of many speeches, the members of one
deputation approached the microphone to appeal to
the Archbishop of Canterbury, stating that their
diocese is unable to accept the election of the
Katharine Jefferts Schori as the next Presiding
Bishop. Speeches that followed underlined the
plurality of opinions held by deputies.
On the most difficult matters facing the House –
finding ways for the Episcopal Church to formally
respond to the Windsor Report – deputies approved
one resolution (with one amendment) after more
than an hour’s debate, but were unable to conclude
debate on a second resolution.
As the legislative session came to a close,
deputies were standing in long lines behind eight
microphones, waiting to speak to the issue on the
floor. (For more than an hour, one young mother
stood at microphone #3 – close to El Camino Real’s
table – holding her baby in her arms. Secure in
its mother’s embrace, the baby displayed more
patience than many of the adult deputies.)
As the time neared 7:30 p.m., the President of the
House asked deputies in line to remember their
places for the morning debate. All deputies were
then dismissed for late dinners, consultation with
one another, and a night of prayerful reflection.
Most deputies from El Camino Real met in their
hotel’s “hospitality suite” for a dinner of
take-out sandwiches; Bishop and Eva Romero, with
their grandson Jonathan Romero, joined us for
conversation and mutual support.
By the time this pick-up dinner was concluded, the
rest of the night was very short, marked by
tossing and turning and moments of prayer for
strength, for guidance, and for the patience and
forbearance that will be needed for today’s
deliberations.
This morning deputies return to their debates and
concluding votes. The deputies from the Diocese of
El Camino Real ask for your prayers.
Episcopal News Service reports the following on
yesterday’s discussions:
The House of Deputies
approved an expression of regret June 19
for "straining the bonds of affection"
within the Anglican Communion for the
actions of General Convention 2003. The
house also ran past its scheduled
adjournment time in order to hear debate
on Resolution A161 to honor a moratorium
on electing gay or lesbian bishops, but
took no action.
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