This past July 8-11, the Episcopal Church held our tri-annual General Convention (GC) gathering of bishops, clergy, and delegates from across the province for worship, prayer, and discernment on the issues facing our dioceses and congregations. Parishioner Michael Fitzpatrick has curated links to highlights below so that we as a community at St. Mark’s can explore and grow together with our episcopal sisters and brothers and siblings from across the church. Feel free to email Michael with questions at m.c.fitzpatrick@outlook.com .
After a man was shot to death two blocks from the Baltimore Convention Center where the General Convention was being held, an impromptu march of Bishops Against Gun Violence was organized by those attending the conference.
https://livingchurch.org/2022/07/09/bishops-mourn-gun-death-nearby/
Central resolutions considered at convention focused on issues of racial justice, indigenous respect, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
https://livingchurch.org/2022/07/09/bishops-address-racism-global-conflicts/
The House of Deputies elected Julia Ayala Harris of the Diocese of Oklahoma to serve as president of the House through the next Convention. The PHOD, as they’re known, can be re-elected for two additional terms.
https://livingchurch.org/2022/07/09/bulletin-harris-elected-to-lead-house-of-deputies/
The House of Deputies elected the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton of the Diocese of Olympia to serve as the HOD vice-president.
https://livingchurch.org/2022/07/11/indigenous-priest-elected-vice-president-of-deputies/
Convention passed a first reading of a resolution that will allow for a more expansive conception of the Book of Common Prayer, which is the foundation for all our liturgies.
The House of Bishops issued a statement during the final day of the 80th General Convention naming the climate crisis as the overarching issue that affects all the other issues of social justice that Convention has considered.
The House of Bishops engaged in a challenging conversation surrounding the fallout of the recent Supreme Court Dobbs decision concerning abortion access, as well as the urgency of addressing climate change. They came to a place of political advocacy rooted in faithfulness to Gospel, and all are encouraged to read the reflections of the bishops summarized here from the conclusion of Convention.
https://livingchurch.org/2022/07/11/bishops-being-political-but-from-a-faithful-point-of-view/