July 5, 2018 - Issue #3
Legislative Sessions start today
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GC79 and ECW Triennial open today
Photo: Presiding Bishop Curry gave a passionate and rousing opening address to the bishops and deputies yesterday afternoon. And tho she admitted he was a tough act to follow, we also heard an inspiring talk from PHoD the Rev. Gay Jennings. (Watch on-demand
on the media hub (select HOD, then event post), or
link to ENS story for more info.)
Later, after the bishops left, Secretary of General Convention the Rev. Cn. Michael Barlowe led an orientation session for deputies on how to use the virtual binder. The PHoD and others also gave instructions on: electronic voting; the rules of order; how to use the electronic devices to reserve and hold a place in the queue to speak to a resolution; parliamentary procedure; how to address the chair; and other helpful tips.
Deputies learned that amendments, and amendments to amendments, must be germane to the original resolution. That means, using their example, you can take a resolution that urges Sunday sermons be limited to 10 minutes and amend it to say they're limited to five minutes, and amend the amendment to say they're limited to two minutes, but you can't tack on a requirement that the next meeting will place in Seattle (or New London!) for example. Also, for the first six minutes after a resolution is presented, people can debate the pros and cons before any amendments will be considered. If there aren't enough of one side, the PHoD can cut debate off earlier. After six minutes, deputies can offer any amendments.
The daily schedule, or "calendar" is published in advance on the
virtual binder and lists the resolutions that will be considered as a group (the consent calendar) and individually (the legislative calendar) for that day. Deputies on legislative committees are encouraged to place resolutions on the consent calendar when they thought that would be effective, but it's relatively simple for deputies to get them off the consent calendar and onto the other one. The consent calendar for any session is supposed to be available 24 hours in advance; the legislative calendar is supposed to be ready the evening before.
And, to ensure that deputies have the opportunity to debate the big issues, there will be several "Special Order of the Day" occasions. This means that at a specific time, they'll discuss resolutions on certain predetermined topics. Evidently there are special rules for debate, which they likely review beforehand.
If these topics interest you, note the time and go to the
Media Hub to watch a livestream of the session!
- July 6 (Friday) from 4-5 p.m. Special Order for resolutions on Prayer Book revision
- July 7 (Saturday) from 11 a.m. - noon, Special Order for resolutions on Trial Use of Marriage Liturgies
- July 8 (Sunday) from 4:15-5:15 p.m., Special Order for resolutions on Palestine & Israel
Now that you know all about this stuff ...
.... the first legislative session starts at 8 a.m. today, followed by Opening Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. Then, GC legislative committee hearings continue, and a second legislative sessions opens at 4:30 pm. The worship, and sessions in both Houses, will be
livestreamed.
In a separate hall, in the same Convention Center, the
ECW Triennial opens at 1 p.m. with a "distribution of crosses."
Want more news?
Link
to Episcopal News Service articles. The Media Hub will also have a link to a half-hour program "Inside General Convention" starting today, 4:30 p.m. English; 6:30 p.m. Spanish.
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While the Presiding Bishop was delivering his opening remarks, a pigeon flew around the huge hall where the deputies gather. No, not quite a dove with its traditional association with the Holy Spirit, but it worked for the crowd here and was exciting enough to
garner its own hash tag. (photo from Ben Robertson)
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Resolution count update:
- July 3, 10:15 p.m. resolution count: 323
- July 4, 10:15 p.m. resolution count: 335
- July 6, 5:30 p.m. Filing deadline
Photo: Legislative hearing by Committee 13, considering resolutions on Prayer Book Revisions. Four people from ECCT spoke on various resolutions at Committee 13's meeting on the morning of July 4. Others from ECCT served on their own assigned committees or spoke at other hearings.
Virtual Binder (search for resolutions, hearings, committee information, etc.)
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Bishop Griselda of Cuba gives testimony on Resolution
A052. There's a new, related resolution:
D060
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Bishop Laura Ahrens serves on the Constitution & Canons Legislative Committee
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Bishop Ian T. Douglas serves on the Governance & Structure Legislative Committee
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Deputy the Rev. Carlos de la Torre in the House of Deputies
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Bishop Audrey Scanlan of Central PA, formerly of ECCT
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Bishop Ian T. Douglas with Canon Robin Hammeal-Urban, center and the Rev. Canon Lee Ann Tolzmann
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Last night the Union of Black Episcopalians held its
50th anniversary Gala Celebration at the JW Marriott. As a sponsor of an ad in the souvenir program, ECCT was given a table. From left, Bishop Ian Douglas, Kristin Harris, the Very Rev. Miguelina Howell, Gloria Rogers (ECW Province 1 Rep), Delores Alleyne (ECW Province 1 President), and ECCT Deputy the Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell. Not present for the photo (in the other room): ECCT deputies A. Bates Lyons, the Rev. Linda Spiers, and the Rev. Jonathan Folts. The Rev. Rowena Kemp (
GFS Chaplain) and Lois Frankforter (
GFS President) were set to attend but got delayed due to flight complications for some of the girls of GFS who were coming to Austin for related ECW Triennial events.
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5:15 p.m. (CT) Listening Session
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The special listening session was quiet, deliberate, and intimate. After opening music and prayers, three bishops at a time - men and women - stood behind the altar in the GC79 worship space while one of them read one of the testimonies that had been submitted in advance to the House of Bishops about personal experiences of sexual harassment or exploitation in the Church. The audience listened and held a time of silence, and a simple sung chant, between each of the stories. It ended with a litany and the Lord's Prayer.
The session was livestreamed and you can watch it on-demand on the
Media Hub.(Choose Worship, then select the event post.) The bulletin with the prayers and music are on the
Convention app, under worship (scroll down).
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A couple of blocks from the Hilton Austin is Lady Bird Lake. There's a wonderful path around it - for running, walking, or biking - with many places to put in a kayak or other small boat. There are picnic tables, benches, and multiple places to park nearby. Very people friendly. I went for a great run early this morning.
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This is on the sidewalk outside of the JW Marriott here. I was walking next to Kristin Harris at the time (she's married to Bishop Ian Douglas) and she said it reminded her of the lake here.
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Detail from the inlaid "river" or "lake" in the sidewalk next to the JW Marriott in Austin
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ECCT Digital Associate (and Deputy) Alli Huggins asked our ECCT Youth Team to do an
Instagram takeover. They might!
They also gave us photo at left, with a group of others on
Google photo share, thanks to chaperone the Rev. Rebekah Hatch.
Foreground, the Rev. Curtis Farr and the Rev. Rebekah Hatch. Back left, the four ECCT Youth Team members with James-Paul Cosman Forbes, far right, ECCT member and part of the (separate) Official Youth Presence.
The Youth Team will join the deputies and bishops at a 9 p.m. meeting tonight, to discuss resolutions they want to follow.
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Upcoming events (Central Time)
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TODAY
July 5: Opening worship; opening legislative session, more legislative committee hearings
July 5: Opening celebration and distribution of crosses for the ECW Triennial
July 5, 6:30 p.m. Darien-CT - based American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem will host a reception to welcome the Archbishop of Jerusalem
July 7: 5:30 p.m. Episcopal Revival Worship (PB Curry preaching) at Palmer Center; followed by 7 p.m. Diocese of Texas event
July 8: 7:30 p.m. ECCT Dinner (ticketed)
July 13: Final day
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Livestream and on demand:
- Worship (including 7/4 Listening Session)
- HOB and HOD sessions
- TEConversations
- Daily newscasts (4:30 English, 6:30 Spanish)
Links to:
- Episcopal News Service (ENS) articles
- Calendars/Schedules
- Legislation (Virtual Binder)
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Resolution info
- "Virtual Binder" - all resolutions to date (gear image at top right allows you to switch between Houses and between Spanish and English.) See the infographic for help deciphering the terminology.
- "Blue Book" - reports from all the official committees, commissions, and task forces that have worked since the last General Convention in 2015, with all of their proposed resolutions ("A" resolutions)
- ECCT's graphic depiction of how a resolution moves through General Convention. Key steps, terminology, in the process.
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Link to glossary & terminology:
Here
or click on image. Let me know of others to add.
Contact Karin Hamilton by
email
or cell, 860-608-6969
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Karin Hamilton | Canon for Mission Communication & Media | khamlton@episcopalct.org | 860-608-6969
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