Disciple: Preview: The 79th General Convention

By Diocesan House

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The 79^th General Convention of The Episcopal Church (TEC) is taking place July 5-13, 2018 in Austin, Texas.

The three years since the last gathering have held many changes for the Diocese of North Carolina, most notably the election of Bishop Michael Curry as Presiding Bishop and the election and welcome of Bishop Sam Rodman as our XII Bishop. But while we have experienced a great deal of transition, our forward movement in mission areas never slowed, and it is this momentum we carry with us to Austin to join with the rest of the Church as we — and all Episcopalians — look ahead at the work we’re ready to do.

Did You Know? Justin Mullis (St. John’s, Charlotte) will represent Province IV as a member of the General Convention Official Youth Presence. He will have seat and voice by the rules of the House of Deputies and can participate in committee hearings and floor debates.

HOT TOPICS

The following are only a handful of the topics to be discussed at General Convention. Learn more and follow them all at bit.ly/GCVirtualBinder.

Budget
The 2019-2021 budget is based on The Jesus Movement with evangelism, racial reconciliation and justice, and environmental stewardship as priorities. It may be difficult to make direct comparisons between line items in prior budgets and projected costs in the coming triennium because the new budget reflects how the TEC staff is organized by department, rather than how funds are spread across the Five Marks of Mission and other areas as in past budgets.

Revision of the Book of Common Prayer
Conversation on this topic is expected to center around next steps following the report of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. The report offered two suggestions: start work on a full prayer book revision, with a minimum nine-year timeline, and live more fully into the prayer book as it exists now. The latter suggestion asks Episcopalians to understand better the current prayer book and go deeper into it, fund better (and more) translations, align needed resources, and get a better understanding from all churches of what is used and not used. Both options have budget implications.

Evangelism and Racial Reconciliation (Becoming Beloved Community)
These are ongoing priorities of the Episcopal Church. Conversation is expected to continue on their budget implications and continued efforts.

Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Gender Bias
At the House of Bishops meeting in March, the bishops accepted a statement on the topic of sexual harassment, exploitation and gender bias. The statement affirmed the need for additional conversation and action in all of these areas and recommitted to the work. In January 2018, as part of the committee work that takes place between General Conventions, a Church-wide committee (a sub-committee at General Convention) was created to examine needs. To date, no resolutions have been put forth. Expect more conversation, as well as time and space set aside to invite the sharing of stories, during this summer’s gathering.

Gun Violence
At the House of Bishops meeting in March, the bishops accepted a statement supporting the efforts of students in Parkland, Florida, and youth across the United States for their leadership in working for reform to prevent future gun violence. Bishops also pledged to “recognize the urgency of this moment and recommit to working for safe gun legislation as our church has called for in multiple General Convention resolutions.” Expect more conversation on this topic.

Israel
This topic has been a source of much contention over the years. Conversation at General Convention is expected to center on a look at recent political actions and their effects on those living in the region. Expect legislation to be introduced to clarify positions and suggest forward-looking action.

Salary for President of House of Deputies
Traditionally an unpaid position, President of the House of Deputies has grown into a full-time job. The demands of the position and its lack of compensation (it’s currently expenses only) limits the number of people who might be called to serve in it. Conversation at General Convention will center around it becoming a paid position to remove barriers for anyone who might wish to be considered for the position in the future.

Cuba
Until the rise of Fidel Castro, there was an Episcopal Diocese in Cuba as part of TEC. With a change in government, the discussion at General Convention is expected to center around if and how to invite the ongoing Church in Cuba back into the TEC fold. At issue: the Church in Cuba is its own province in Anglicanism, so it may or may not be interested in a TEC return. Also, should an invitation be extended and accepted, where in the existing Church structure would the diocese reside?

Marriage Rites
This topic continues the prayer book conversation, deciding which liturgies will be available for use and whether liturgies following the 78^th General Convention will replace those in the prayer book. Conversation is also expected to determine how long diocesan bishops will be able to give or withhold approval for the performing of same-sex marriages within a diocese.

Did You Know? The 79^th General Convention of The Episcopal Church marks the first time in history in which women comprise the majority of the House of Deputies.

FOLLOW CONVENTION

There are many ways to keep up with the happenings of General Convention, both before and during the gathering:

Before General Convention

• Bookmark generalconvention.org, the website housing all things General Convention.
• Visit the General Convention page on the diocesan website for full preparation and coverage of North Carolina’s presence.
• Throughout May and June, watch for videos in Please Note and on social media from deputies explaining more about the hot topics and work to be done at Convention.

During General Convention

• Bookmark and follow bit.ly/GCVirtualBinder, the online virtual binder containing all General Convention-related materials, for access to everything deputies and bishops can view. This includes resolutions, committee reports, legislative committee meetings, calendars, agendas, daily journals, elections, floor amendments, communications, the constitution and canons, and, when it is available, the budget. See what our deputation sees as they see it.
• Watch available livestream coverage on the diocesan homepage.
• Follow on Twitter for live updates throughout General Convention (#GC79).
• Read daily recaps on the diocesan website.
• Visit us on Facebook for daily recaps with deputies, live interviews and other interesting things as they happen.
  
  

Did You Know? Canon Marlene Weigert is running for a position on the Church Pension Fund board, and the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple and deputy Alice Freeman are running for Executive Council.

MEET THE DEPUTIES

The deputies representing the Diocese of North Carolina were elected at the 201^st Annual Convention in 2016.

THE REV. KEVIN MATTHEWS
Position: Chaplain, St. Mary’s House, Greensboro

General Convention Committee: 13 Committee to Receive the Report of Resolution A169 (on Prayer Book Revision)

Personal Statement: Matthews’ long-term experience in college and young adult ministry keeps him in touch with the challenges facing our church in reaching out to a population that increasingly sees no value in participating in any form of formal religion and our need to find creative ways to evangelize. As a member of the Commission on Ministry, he worked to see that we ordain people prepared to minister in this post-Christian world in which we live. As a three-time delegate to General Convention, Matthews is experienced in the processes of legislative committee work, preparation of the budget, the nuances of the daily work sessions and the need to ensure resources are appropriately and fairly distributed to support the priorities of the Church.

THE REV. SARAH BALL-DAMBERG
Position: Associate Rector, Church of the Holy Family, Chapel Hill

General Convention Committee: None assigned

Personal Statement: Ball-Damberg has served as a campus minister, vicar of a small mission, and deacon and associate rector of program-sized churches. The combination of these positions and her work with the Diocese has given her perspective on the hopes and concerns of a wide range of communities of faith. They have also taught her to listen for how God is moving in the lives of people of many different ages, backgrounds and experiences. She served as a first-time deputy to the 78^th General Convention in 2015 and looks forward to building on that experience to serve faithfully and effectively on behalf of the Diocese and the Episcopal Church as we discern together where and how Jesus is calling his church to follow him.

THE REV. JAMIE L’ENFANT EDWARDS
Position: Rector, St. Clement’s, Clemmons

General Convention Committee: None assigned

Personal Statement: As a first-time deputy in 2015, Edwards was a student of the vast workings of General Convention. Typically, a deputy is not even assigned to serve on a committee until his or her second General Convention, so there is a tacit assumption deputies will be elected to serve multiple times. Edwards looks forward to continuing the work begun in 2015 by serving the Church more even more fully in Austin.

THE REV. HELEN SVOBODA-BARBER
Position: Rector, St. Luke’s, Durham

General Convention Committee: 16 Churchwide Leadership

Personal Statement: Svoboda-Barber had the opportunity to be a part of General Convention as a deputy, volunteer and youth observer from the Dioceses of Kansas and Ohio. She found the Holy Spirit showing up in the intense long days on the legislative floor, in the passion of early morning hearings, in the diversity of vendor booths and, of course, during the outstanding worship. Having served congregations of various sizes in three dioceses, Svoboda-Barber brings a depth of knowledge of congregational life as well as connections with many in the wider church. She carries the concerns of our congregations to General Convention and the work of General Convention to our congregations.

Also serving in the Clergy Order:
First alternate: The Rev. John Gibson
Second alternate: The Rev. Deb Blackwood
Third alternate: The Rev. Miriam Saxon

ALICE FREEMAN
Parish: St. Mark’s, Wilson

General Convention Committee: 08 Social Justice & U.S. Policy

Personal Statement: Freeman loves the Episcopal Church and considers this an especially exciting and invigorating time to be a part of a movement that proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ. She believes each of us has a role to play in bringing others to clarity and peace. Her career experience has mostly been in the area of administration, budgeting, strategic planning and thinking. She has used that experience in the Church serving on and as Diocesan Council, Nominating Committee, Senior Warden, Episcopal Church Women, Penick Village Board and General Convention. She believes in consensus building and looking for ways to make things happen instead of looking for reasons why things won’t work. She knows that to be effective and get things done, one must establish relationships and trust.

MARTHA ALEXANDER
Parish: Christ Church, Charlotte

General Convention Committee: 06 The Episcopal Church in Cuba

Personal Statement: Since 2003, Alexander has been a deputy from the Diocese of North Carolina to the General Convention. She has served on committees while attending the conventions and, at the 78^th General Convention, was chair of the Legislative Committee on World Mission. One of the many skills Alexander brings is the knowledge and workings of the General Convention and the Episcopal Church. She is committed to learning, discussing and reflecting on the issues before us, as well as keenly listening to the many creative voices within the Church as we work together to solve them.

JOSEPH FERRELL
Parish: Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill

General Convention Committee: 04 Governance & Structure

Personal Statement: Ferrell has served as a deputy from North Carolina to the five most recent General Conventions. He had an interesting committee assignment in each of these, most recently on the Committee on Constitution and Canons. He considers it an honor and great privilege to have participated in some of the most challenging and far-reaching decisions the Church has faced in modern times, and he is committed to continuing that progress.

ATHENA HAHN
Parish: Church of the Nativity, Raleigh

General Convention Committee: Vice Chair, 13 Committee to Receive the Report of Resolution A169 (on Prayer Book Revision)

Personal Statement: The Episcopal Church continues to go through a time of restructuring and transition. General Convention will discuss and vote on legislation related to a wide variety of important topics including race and reconciliation, the role of provincial structures in the Church, and possible options for future revision of the Book of Common Prayer, to name a few. Hahn offers a unique and experienced millennial perspective on the issues the Episcopal Church continues to examine.

Also serving in the Lay Order:
First alternate: Marlene Weigert
Second alternate: Jeanne Kutrow