Dear St. Paul’s family, Thank you for allowing me to serve the wider church by attending our General Convention in Austin as a diocesan deputy earlier this month. I will be giving a forum on my experience on August 12, but I wanted to give you a flavor of General Convention 79 (#GC79) right away. … READ MORE…
Dean Penny writes Day 8 of #GC79: a long morning of legislative business debating and voting on the budget, and resolutions on responsible investment regarding Israel, caring for the children of Palestine, expanding the language of the Eucharistic prayers, and a whoe variety of stuff. I spent the lunch hour getting to know the Dean … READ MORE…
Dean Penny writes, #GC79 day six: committee hearings are starting to wind down. I surfaced a bit late to sit in on one, so I met instead with a former dean, who now works for a senior housing organization, to exchange ideas and share experience. A little shopping in the exhibit hall, then I sat … READ MORE…
Dean Penny writes, Happy Monday! And #GC79 day 5. Committee deliberations were back this morning and I returned to the Safeguarding committee where it was Groundhog Day, as they once again discussed the wording of the resolution about clergy dating. At the morning legislative session we completed debate on the resolution extending trial use of … READ MORE…
Dean Penny writes, #GC79 Day 4: being Sunday, the day didn’t begin with committee hearings, but with a prayer service by Bishops Against Gun Violence, attended by about 500 people. We heard from the parents of Carmen Schentrup and from a remarkable 14-yr-old from Waco called Abigail. Then we piled on to 12 buses and … READ MORE…
Dean Penny writes, #GC79 day 3 started with a hearing of the Safeguarding committee, discussing resolutions including one updating definitions around sexual misconduct. What are the boundsries for clergy dating lay people? The discussion was almost over when a Spanish-speaking committee member spoke up through an interpreter, making me realize how infrequently our Spanish-speaking friends … READ MORE…
Dean Penny writes, Short report from day 2 of #GC79: Safeguarding committe discussed whether the resolution condemning sexual harassment should be aimed at clergy and church employees only or at all church members too. Church members were added. A joint session of the Houses heard powerful testimony from a former skinhead white supremacist, an Austin … READ MORE…
Dean Penny writes, Day 1 of #GC79: 822 deputies from 107 dioceses in the House. All the deputies named Michael were dispatched to the House of Bishops to convey our greetings, along with baseball caps embroidered with “Michael”. In return, two bishops adorned with tiaras returned the greetings. We had a wonderful opening Eucharist service … READ MORE…