79th General Convention - Austin Texas - July 5-13 2018
June 1, 2018 - Pre-General Convention issue
Upcoming event: Q&A with the Deputation, Wed. June 6, 5-7 p.m.
What values and priorities will guide The Episcopal Church in the days and years ahead?
Up to four elected lay deputies and up to four elected clerical deputies from each of the more than 100 dioceses in the U.S. and overseas, along with our bishops, are meeting in Austin, Texas this July 5-13 to shape the policies, practices, and budget of The Episcopal Church, through voting on resolutions and through elections. Their work is done in the context of prayer and worship.

Passionately held values meet Rules of Order. How Episcopalian!
Daily email reports from General Convention
  • The Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT)'s Canon for Mission Communication Karin Hamilton will send back daily reports by email to keep you informed.
  • Curated news, images, photos, videos, posts (and shares and reposts) with a focus on ECCT people and issues, plus links to other contributors and broader Episcopal sources for more.

  • This is the first of two "pre-General Convention" issues.
  • General Convention enewsletters will start July 3 and end July 14.
  • Weekly enews subscribers will automatically receive these.
  • Others can sign up to receive only these daily reports.
  • Updates also on ECCT's social media (scroll to bottom) and web pages during GC*
  • TEC will host a "media hub" to stream the worship and post news; we will link.
  • Join the conversation using #gc79
*What is "GC" ? Check out this glossary , which includes acronyms and church terminology, and is likely to grow over time. Every email report will include a link to the glossary.
Are you going to Austin? Let me know!
Have a topic or resolution to track?

I'm compiling a list of those who will be attending all or part of the time. If you're planning to attend as a volunteer, exhibitor, guest, or in another capacity, I'd like to include you if you're not already listed , and say hi to you in Austin. Email me: khamilton@episcopalct.org .

Also, if you already know of a resolution, or a topic, that you want to track, especially any obscure ones that may not otherwise make the news, and you don't want to sort through the daily legislation, let me know - I'd be glad to help: khamilton@episcopalct.org . Here's a link to the "Virtual Binder" to read the list of resolutions (as of this date) in English, and here in Spanish . See the last two text blocks below if you need an assist in deciphering the language or the process.
June 6 public meeting: All welcome.
Attend in person or online
Join the elected deputies and the bishops in person at The Commons , 290 Pratt Street, Meriden or online (details posted here ) for conversation about the upcoming General Convention. Wednesday June 6, 5 - 7 p.m. All are welcome. You can email the chair of the deputation, the Rev. Molly F. James, with questions: ecctdeputation@gmail.com.
Why should I care about this?

The basic reason is that we're all in this together. We're a hierarchical church that together makes a common witness to the world. Local is essential, and, it's part of something bigger. Decisions will likely have an impact on your local parish staff, your priests and deacons, and your bishops. It will have an impact on the way The Episcopal Church - your Church - engages the world.

There are a lot of internal issues of the institutional church that GC addresses. That's because this is the time and place, and these are the people, to do that. Who are we as Episcopalians? What do we care about? What should we be doing, and how, when, and with whom? For example:

  • We're going to revise the Prayer Book sometime. Not yet. This GC will consider resolutions for how we'll go about that work. Two very different approaches are offered
  • Should we add a new commitment to the Baptismal Covenant about caring for creation, on a trial basis, or will this suggestion go on hold during any revision process? What about marriage rites? Liturgies for racial reconciliation? Care for creation? More saints for the calendar?
  • If you're a parish leader, GC will be considering several changes to the parochial reports that parishes must submit annually. Which ones will be approved? When will they go into effect?
  • If you're involved with Title IV (clergy misconduct) matters, or might get involved in the election of your next bishop diocesan, you'll definitely want to follow the proposed changes in the canons. There are LOTS of changes to the canons (which function like an operating system).
  • Church planters have asked for $6.8 million. Will GC say yes? (Will ECCT plant a church?)
  • What should the Church's investment portfolio include - and exclude?
  • Should we set up a Task Force on the Theology of Money or any of the other proposed task forces?
  • How should we build capacity for Becoming the Beloved Community?
  • What kind of support, including funding, will there be for ethnic ministries? Youth ministry? Young adult ministry?
  • How can we address the opioid epidemic?
  • And so many more. See the last two text blocks, below, for links to the full listing of resolutions. The final filing date for them is 5 p.m. on July 6.
Nope, I need more convincing.

But what if you aren't keen on internal issues?

By virtue of your baptism you're "co-missioned" to participate in God's mission of restoration and reconciliation. It's likely that God has put a concern, or a passion, on your heart. It may get expressed in the way you interact with and care for others, or some other way. It may be through the church, or it might not.

One of these resolutions may help you raise an issue locally, or advocate for it, or maybe there's a grant associated with it, or an opportunity to serve on a task force; or it might help a friend or family member. It might inspire you to take action locally, or inspire an artistic or liturgical expression.

Here are a few of the larger topics that GC resolutions will address: criminal justice; discrimination; the environment; gender identity; health, immigration; international relations; national concerns; sexual misconduct; and weapons. Here's a list of the topics, with their associated resolutions to date.
How do resolutions move through General Convention?

ECCT's graphic showing how a resolution moves through General Convention has been updated for 2018 and is available as an infographic for digital use and as a printer-friendly version. Important buzz words from the Virtual Binder are referenced! Link here .
OK, I'm curious. Where do I link to learn more?

  • General Convention website. Legislative info, worship material, schedules, etc.
  • "Virtual Binder" of all resolutions to date, (here in Spanish). See the infographic for some help deciphering the terminology.
  • "Blue Book" - two volume PDF with reports from all the official committees, commissions, and task forces that have been at work since the last General Convention in 2015, with all 173 of their proposed resolutions ("A" resolutions)
Karin Hamilton | Canon for Mission Communication & Media | khamlton@episcopalct.org | 860-608-6969