July 8, 2018
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, assisted by interpreter Dinorah Padro, preaches at a revival meeting attended by an estimated 2,500 Episcopalians and friends from General Convention and local congregations. “The only reason to be born is to live,” said Curry. “God wants us to have life … God wants all of his children to have life."
General Convention tackles evangelism and revival with presentations and a practical demonstration
Most of the Los Angeles deputation joined thousands of their fellows, plus people from Austin-area churches, for an old-fashioned revival with an Episcopal Church flair -- which is to say that there was joy, enthusiasm, laughter, music, applause, impassioned preaching, and all done decently and in order. An Episcopal News Service story about the revival is here.
Earlier in the day the convention also heard about revivals when it came together for a joint session on evangelism.The first speaker was Bishop Alan Scarfe of Iowa (pictured above as he appeared on the big screen), who when he was elected to that post was rector of St. Barnabas' Church, Eagle Rock (Los Angeles). Scarfe and his diocese have recently had much experience, successfully holding 40 revival meetings in 2017 at different congregations.

Scarfe described how each host church suited the basic format of a revival -- scripture, prayer, testi -- to its own style, with different kinds of music, including bluegrass and choirs as well as praise bands. On church provided a bounce house for the kids, but Scarfe took a turn too. 

“Bouncing up and down in the name of Jesus, and I never laughed as much in my life," he said, jumping a few times by way of illustration.

Other presenters included church planter the Rev. Daniel Velez-Rivera and the Rev. Lauren Winner, author, lecturer and associate professor of Christian Spirituality at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. An ENS story on the presentations is here. On-demand video of highlights is here.

More photos from the revival will be posted on the Episcopal News website soon.
Deputies approve resolution calling for
prayer book revision; measure goes to House of Bishops

The House of Deputies on July 7 adopted a resolution that would set the stage for the revision of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

The outcome of Resolution A068 was decided in a vote by orders, with each diocese casting one ballot for its lay and one ballot for its clergy deputies. To prevail, the resolution needed 56 yes votes in the lay and in the clergy orders.

The results were:
* Clergy: 63 yes, 30 no, 17 divided (the deputies were split 50-50)
* Lay: 69 yes, 26 no, 15 divided.

The resolution now goes to the House of Bishops for its consideration. As with all resolutions, it must be approved by both houses to pass. For more about the debate, the vote and its implications, see the ENS story here.
Diocese of Los Angeles expats and friends
Plenty of people around the convention have ties to the Diocese of Los Angeles, although many minister in other places.
Canon Iyad Qumri, center right, has guided hundreds of Episcopalians from the Diocese of Los Angeles and elsewhere on visits to the Holy Lands. Here he is flanked by his two sons, Sami and Rami, as Bishop John Harvey Taylor takes the photo.
The Rev. Robert Maldonado, former vicar of St. Simon's Church, San Fernando, is now serving as a priest, and a deputy, in the Diocese of Oregon.
Austin transport

This is the way some Austin people get around. Scooters and bikes also are common, and are available at stands set in strategic places. One must share the sidewalk when walking.
Reporting and photos, except as noted, by Janet Kawamoto
Stories from Episcopal News Service
ENS has a team of reporters covering every aspect of General Convention. Following are links to some of their articles: more are here. (Click on the headlines to read the articles.)

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry brought a rousing “God is love and gives life” message to Episcopalians and others gathered here during a revival to standing ovation after standing ovation every time he told the crowd to live. “The only reason to be born is to live,” said Curry. “God wants us to have life … God wants all of his children to have life ... God wants you to live. God wants us to live. Got wants this world to live … live, live, live.”

The House of Deputies on July 7 adopted a resolution that would set the stage for the revision of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The outcome of Resolution A068 was decided in a vote by orders, with each diocese casting one ballot for its lay and one ballot for its clergy deputies. To prevail, the resolution needed 56 yes votes in the lay and in the clergy orders.

Bishops and deputies gathered July 7 for the second joint session of the 79th General Convention for a 90-minute program of speakers, video, music and discussion highlighting some of the leading edges of the Episcopal Church’s push for evangelism.

Few issues were as primed for spirited debate heading into the 79th General Convention as immigration. The Episcopal Church’s triennial gathering is being held in the capital of this border state amid a continuing uproar over a Trump administration policy of “zero tolerance” toward immigrants coming into the country, a policy that involved until recently the separation of children from their parents in detention.

Philip and April Schentrup, Episcopalians whose daughter Carmen was one of 17 students and educators killed by a gunman at Parkland, Florida’s, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School appeared before the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies on July 7 to ask them to continue their work to end gun violence.

 In the midst the process of crafting the Episcopal Church’s 2019-2021 budget, a legislative committee took testimony about the need to change that process so all Episcopalians can have greater input in decisions about how the church spends its money.

For years, CM Almy has donated vestments to the Episcopal Church for the General Convention. This year, it received a special request from the presiding bishop himself.

The Committee on Churchwide Leadership held a rather lively discussion on the morning of July 7 of Resolution A149, which calls for reorganizing the board of directors of the College for Bishops.

"In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah imagines a world in which “not even fools shall go astray.” In the next ten minutes I may provide you with ample evidence that this world is not yet with us. But I hope not."
Keeping up with General Convention

This is communication central for the convention. It includes links to livestream and on-demand video of various events, including worship and the July 7 revival.


Daily broadcasts in English and Spanish, anchored by the Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija.

News, commentary features and Twitter.

News of the Episcopal Church Women meeting concurrently with General Convention.

For true church nerds: this is the information used by bishops and deputies as they go about their work at the convention, including texts and progress of all resolutions. It is updated regularly.

You can follow social media updates from General Convention by following and posting with the hashtag #GC79. ENS is maintaining a feed that pulls in Tweets and Instagram photos: visit ENS here for daily reports.