Monday, July 9, 2018
By Matthew Townsend On the eve of a vote that could further divide Episcopalians theologically, a diverse panel gathered at the JW Marriott in Austin to consider how to maintain “Communion Across Difference.” The event, sponsored by TLC and hosted by its editor,...
Monday, July 9, 2018
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald About 900 Episcopalians traveled on 14 buses to a remote Texas field July 8 to send messages of hope and solidarity to more than 500 migrant women detained a federal facility. Holding signs, waving arms, and singing songs under the blazing...
Monday, July 9, 2018
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald Participants hopping from one hotel to the next for General Convention meetings got a sobering reality check July 7 as Bishop Samuel Enosa Peni of Nzara, South Sudan, briefed the World Mission Committee on the deteriorating situation in his...
Sunday, July 8, 2018
By Matthew Townsend The journey to reunification of the Episcopal Church of Cuba (La Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba) and the Episcopal Church may seem a long one — at least in Austin. You have to leave the convention center, cross the street and the Capital MetroRail...
Sunday, July 8, 2018
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald Bishops unanimously approved an “equity and justice” working covenant July 8 that commits them to “listen to and take to heart the stories that reflect the biases deeply embedded in our structure.” The House of Bishops’ new working covenant...
Sunday, July 8, 2018
By Kirk Petersen Hundreds of Episcopalians and others gathered in Brush Square Park early July 8 to hear emotional witness from the family of Carmen Schentrup, who died in a Parkland, Florida, mass shooting on Ash Wednesday. The event was sponsored by Bishops Against...
Saturday, July 7, 2018
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald The House of Deputies overwhelmingly approved a comprehensive $8 million revision to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer in what some see as a first step toward adding same-sex marriage rites and feminine language for God. The vote, counted by...
Saturday, July 7, 2018
By Kirk Petersen The House of Bishops has begun a rapid recovery from the discomfort of July 6, with a presentation on the logistics and costs of translation and interpretation, and an expression of gratitude from the bishop who had compelled the house to focus on the...
Friday, July 6, 2018
By Kirk Petersen On a voice vote, the House of Bishops overwhelmingly approved a resolution authorizing “director and officer fees” for the president of the House of Deputies, a demanding job that has always been filled by a volunteer. Since the House of Deputies...
Friday, July 6, 2018
By Matthew Townsend Additional deliberations within the Episcopal Church in Cuba committee suggest reunification of the Cuban church with the Episcopal Church may happen — but not anytime soon. On July 6 Committee 6 set aside two resolutions discussed the day before —...
Friday, July 6, 2018
By Kirk Petersen Years of frustration from Spanish-speaking Episcopal leaders boiled over July 6 in the House of Bishops, as the Bishop of Honduras twice interrupted the scheduled order of business to express anger over the lack of Spanish translations in a committee...
Friday, July 6, 2018
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald Deans of Episcopal seminaries rose July 6 to voice opposition and, in one case, qualified support for a proposal to launch an exploration of a host of issues and challenges facing theological education. Under Resolution A007, a new committee...
Friday, July 6, 2018
By Kirk Petersen After hours of sometimes wrenching testimony and debate, a General Convention committee has approved a revision of Resolution B012 that would ensure same-sex marriage rites are available throughout the Episcopal Church while postponing the emotional...
Friday, July 6, 2018
On the evening of July 5, several dozen Episcopalians offered two-minute testimonies to the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance in the JW Marriott in downtown Austin. This gathering, among the first public meetings of PB&F in Austin, gathered...
Friday, July 6, 2018
By Matthew Townsend Resolutions proposed by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage have produced quite a bit of work for General Convention. Three packed-to-the-rafters meetings of Committee 13 held on July 5 discussed revising the Book of Common Prayer to include,...
