Ten General Conventions
In 1994, a pillar of our diocese, Barbara Bright, asked me if I would consider running for Deputy to General Convention. After she finished trying to scare me out of it, I agreed to run, and this diocese elected me as one of four lay Deputies representing the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. A Deputation consists of four lay Deputies and four clergy, plus four Alternates in each order (and, oh yeah, our bishop(s)!).
So my first General Convention was in 1997 and was held in Philadelphia. That summer, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold was elected the 24th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Griswold was preceded by Bishop Edmond Lee Browning who was a long-time family friend of ours, so it was very wonderful to get to chat with him in the hallway. We used to call him “Red” Browning because when we first knew him his hair was very red!
Over the years, I have had a number of amazing opportunities to be a part of the history of the Episcopal Church. In 2006, we elected the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, who was our first female Presiding Bishop. You must remember that she later became our Assisting Bishop (San Diego) to serve between Bishop James Mathes and Bishop Susan Brown Snook. At the time of that election, I was on the platform, serving as Parliamentarian. In 2015, I was present for another historic moment when we elected the Most Rev. Michael Curry, the first Black Presiding Bishop of the Church (aka the “wedding preacher”). This year, on June 26, 2004, we will elect the 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and I will participate in that process as well. Wow!
I was present when we consented to the election of the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, the first partnered gay bishop of the church. I was there when we approved the blessing of same-sex unions. During those years, we rewrote the disciplinary Canons (Title IV) twice. We approved additional liturgies. We added all kinds of fascinating people to the official church calendar. We brought the Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba back into the fold. We approved the triennial budget of the Episcopal Church. We took a stand on many social issues, including gun control, care of creation, health care equity, immigration justice, and school vouchers, too many to remember off the top of my head.
Because of my participation and presence (thanks to you), I have had the chance to serve 7 ½ years on the Executive Council of the whole Church, serve on a wide variety of Commissions and Committees of the Church, serve as Parliamentarian of the Church twice, learned a lot about dismantling racism in our Church and in the world, and made countless new friends many of whom will be lifetime friends.
The main General Convention Eucharist is one of my favorite moments. Worshipping with 10,000 Episcopalians is unbelievable! The music alone sets my heart on fire. I sat at the table with the son of a South American bishop. His perspective was both heartening and heartbreaking. He was in absolute awe at the number of Episcopalians gathered there.
This summer is my 10th General Convention as one of your Deputies to General Convention. I cannot thank you enough for giving me that opportunity. You have given me a front-row seat to some of the most important moments in the life of this church I love so much. My Dad, a priest for 62 years, I know is smiling, and so is my brother, who, while retired, has been a priest for more than 40 years. What can I say? It’s in my DNA!
To learn more about General Convention or to follow along with our deputation, visit www.edsd.org/gc2024