Whenever the General Convention of the Church meets, we usually make the newspapers. Sometimes it’s for really nice things. Sometimes, the stories are shocking. I don’t want to attack the media, but I do want to make sure that everyone remembers one very simple fact about coverage of the General Convention. 

Church meetings are totally unlike what is reported day in and day out. We are not a political body, with “winners” and “losers.” Rather, we are a group of committed and dedicated Christians. No one who goes to General Convention is paid for their work. We elect deputations, who cannot be instructed on how to vote when they go to Convention. This is purposeful. As a group, and at the moment, we gather to pray, listen, speak with one another, and see if in the midst of our busy human lives, we are able to discern the calling of God. If God is asking us to do something, there are no winners or losers, only feeble human attempts to respond to the wonderful and absolutely outrageous grace of our Lord. 

While matters of the Prayer Book, and even marriage and sexuality, may garner headlines, there are a couple of task forces from the General Convention who have been working quietly behind the scenes on matters of the treatment of women, the creation of safe places for children and the weak within the church, and equality and fairness for those employed by the church. These matters, quite frankly, will have at least as great an impact upon our day to day lives as any headline grabbing activity.

Just like St. Francis Church, the larger Episcopal church is made up of folks from all walks of life. We come from every conceivable point on any spectrum that you may imagine. We sometimes fuss, we often get heated in our disagreements, and we are all too often slow to apologize or forgive. We are truly human. But the wonderful grace of God does not leave us here. Whatever happens in General Convention (and you and I will both be quite proud, and at least once or twice deeply concerned), God does not abandon the Church. I am convinced that the will of God cannot be defeated by the sin of humanity. Even in the Church.
Fr David Krause
WHAT IS THE GENERAL CONVENTION?
General Convention  is the largest governing body of The Episcopal Church, meeting every three years, made up of the Church’s bishops and elected lay and ordained deputies from each diocese.
For a informative dive into the polity and legislative process of General Convention, take a look at this 20-page  booklet  illustrated by Carvel Glen, a member of St. Stephen's, Houston.
The 79th General Convention will meet at the  Austin Convention Center  in Downtown Austin, Texas, from July 3 to 13.  The Episcopal Church Women  (ECW) Triennial meeting convenes in the same location July 5 to 11. Here are the calendars for  General Convention ECW  and  draft GC Schedule .
HOW WILL YOUR
DEPUTATION SERVE AT GC?
Committees are listed on the General Convention  website  where you may also fine each resolution. Eight bishops and deputies from the Diocese of Texas were appointed to the following legislative committees:
  • Rules of Order House of Deputies – Deputy Luz Montes, assistant secretary
  • Safeguarding and Title IV – Deputy David Harvin
  • World Mission – Deputy Susan Kennard
  • Congregational and Diocesan Vitality – Bishop Hector Monterroso
  • Evangelism & Church Planting – Deputy Alex Montes-Vela
  • Christian Formation & Discipleship – Bishop Dena Harrison, chair
  • Ministry & Church Wide Leadership – Deputy Chuck Treadwell
  • Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget & Finance - Bishop Jeff Fisher
WHO IS GOING TO THE GC FROM THE DIOCESE OF TEXAS?
In February, 2016, delegates to the Diocesan Council elected eight deputies (4 clergy/4 lay) who will join Bishop Andy Doyle, Bishop Suffragan Dena Harrison, Bishop Suffragan Jeff Fisher and Bishop Assistant Hector Monterroso at the Convention. Several alternate deputies will also attend to allow deputies some time away from the floor of Convention. 
Deputies Include: 
Luz Montes, San Mateo, Houston
David Harvin, St. Martin's, Houston
Clementine Arana, Epiphany, Houston
Jerry Campbell, St. Alban's, Waco
The Rev. Alex Montes-Vela, St. Mary Magdalene, Manor (Chair)
The Rev. Susan Kennard, Trinity, Galveston
The Rev. Chuck Treadwell, St. David's, Austin
The Rev. Patrick Miller, St. Mark's, Houston
Alternates:
Michelle Umana, St. Paul's/San Pablo, Houston
Sarah Watkins, St. James', Austin
Linda Barry, Holy Comforter, Spring
Katherine Gould, St. John's, La Porte
The Rev. Eileen O'Brien, University of Houston College Mission, Houston
The Rev. Elizabeth Dabney, St. John's, Columbus
The Rev. Robby Vickery, St. James, Austin
HOW CAN I FOLLOW WHAT HAPPENS AT GC?
Beginning in 2015, bishops and deputies transitioned from paper to a  Virtual Binder  using an iPad, which is available online for anyone to review. It will be updated in real time as resolutions move through legislative committees and the floors of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. During Convention, check the diocesan  website  for updates from our deputies and bishops. 
Two daily shows originating from the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church will offer an insider’s view to Episcopalians across the church. More information  here
TEC CONVERSATIONS
WHAT ARE SOME ISSUES THAT WILL COME UP AT GC?
  • Liturgy & Music (Book of Common Prayer and Hymnal revisions, musical resources, regularization, gendered language, marriage task force, trial use liturgies, translations for Chinese and Spanish use)

  • Evangelism (bi-vocational clergy, formation, small church leadership, mission strategy, racial reconciliation, useful metrics)

  • Care of Creation (climate change, environmental justice, water, energy policy)

  • International (Haiti, Cuba, Palestine/Israel, refugees and migration, nationalism)

  • Social Justice (gender wage equity, transgender dignity, racial justice, immigration, voting rights, DACA/Dreamers, deportations, sanctuary cities, addictions)

  • Governance (interim bodies strategy; Program, Budget and Finance resolutions on funding; Constitution and Canons; Title IV- Safe Church; Church Pension Fund; stewardship)
DIOCESE OF TEXAS AND WELLNESS & CARE EXHIBITS
COME TO THE REVIVAL AND BACKYARD BBQ JULY 7
If you cannot attend the Episcopal Revival Worship service on Saturday, July 7— 5:30–7pm at the Palmer Events Center, make sure to watch  online . You are heartily invited to participate in person and join EDOT and the rest of the Episcopal Church for a  Texas Backyard Barbecue  on the grounds of the Palmer Center following the Revival. We’ll have cold drinks, warm hospitality, local snacks, a cash bar and an optional  pre-paid supper . All the details are provided in the links. 
Directions and parking information for the Palmer Events Center is  here . Additionally, buses will be available from the Convention Center hotels to the Palmer Event Center for deputies and bishops. 
PARTICIPATE FROM AROUND THE DIOCESE

  • Attend worship (at the Austin Convention Center unless otherwise noted)
  • Thursday, July 5, Opening Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.
  • Friday, July 6, Eucharist, 5:45 p.m.
  • Saturday, July 7, Episcopal Revival, 5:30 - 7 p.m. (Palmer Center)
  • Sunday, July 8, Eucharist, 10:30 a.m.
  • Sunday, July 8, Worship in Local Churches
  • Monday, July 9, Eucharist, 5:15 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 10, Eucharist, 5:15 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 11, Eucharist, 5:15 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 12, Closing Eucharist, 7:30 p.m.

  • Come as a visitor (purchase on-site)
  • One Day, $50
  • One Day Exhibit Hall only, $15
  • Youth Visitors 12–18, $30 for entire Convention
  • Entire Convention, $140

  • Watch the live stream of General Convention here


  • Follow the Diocese of Texas on Facebook for updates from our General Convention Deputation in English and Spanish as well as St. Francis at stfrancistempletx.