Summary of the 80th General Convention of
The Episcopal Church
The 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church was held July 8-11 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The 80th General Convention is now one for the history books, and not just for the decisions made but also for how the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way the church conducted its business.
The gathering, which was postponed a year because of COVID-19 and shortened from eight days, conducted what Presiding Bishop Michael Curry referred to as “matters essential for the governance and good order of the church.” Still, 412 resolutions were filed for consideration.
Legislative committees acted online most of the resolutions before gathering in Baltimore. That cleared the way for the House of Bishops and House of Deputies to devote the in-person gathering only to legislative floor sessions. They passed most of the resolutions in batches through consent calendars. Bishops and deputies had floor debates only on more controversial measures or on actions that they wanted to raise to greater prominence.
Among those essential actions, the bishops and deputies passed a $100.5 million budget for the next biennium (the 81st General Convention is scheduled for the summer of 2024), approved the 1st reading of a constitutional change to clearly define the Book of Common Prayer, continued the church’s commitment to reckoning with its history of racism, and agreed to the reunification of two dioceses in Texas. The Episcopal Church in North Texas is unified with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. New leaders of the House of Deputies were elected. Julia Ayala Harris succeeds the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings as House of Deputies president. The Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton will serve as vice-president. The Episcopal Church’s next presiding bishop will be elected in 2024, at the next meeting of General Convention.
General convention is held once every three years. It was expected to be held in 2021, but because of concerns about COVID, the General Convention was postponed until 2022. The next General Convention is scheduled to be held in the summer of 2024.
In 2022, even after being delayed a year, COVID-19 hovered over the gathering. About 1,200 attended – typically as many as 10,000 people participate – and they had to provide proof of vaccination and conduct rapid tests in their hotel rooms each morning.
|
|
|
The Guild Hall Players present: The Light In The Piazza: Remaining shows are Friday, July 22 & Saturday, June 23 at 8:00 pm. Sunday, June 24 the production is at 7:00 pm. This is a ticketed event. The cost is $12 general and $10 for students. You can make reservations by calling the church (316) 683-5686.
Deacon Jeff Roper will speak to St. James Outreach Committee about his prison ministry on Tuesday, July 26 at 3:00 p.m. in the Guild Hall. We look forward to learning about his ministry at the Winfield Correction Facility. All are welcome. Please join us if you can.
Our seminarian, Maddy Bishop, who is attending Princeton University for her education before ordination, will be in town soon and will preach at all services August 20 and 21. Additionally, there will be a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on the evening of Sunday, August 21 at 5:30 p.m. to help Maddy with her expenses for life at school (books, rent, etc.). Dine-in or drive-up and take away.
|
|
The Lessons appointed for the Seventh Sunday After Pentecost, Proper Twelve, Revised Common Lectionary, Year C
|
|
 |
Parish News and Updates
Creation Care Committee
There are many ways you can make a positive difference for the environment: Check out the ideas in this article: Click here.
|
|
|
|
For those helped by Breakthrough/ESS, please drop off a bundle of water bottles – any size – in the front entry. The water received by Tuesday will go to Breakthrough/ESS on Wednesday morning. Your generosity makes a difference and is very appreciated! |
|
|
With much gratitude, we received 75 donations/pledges for a total of $470,354 for the campaign. Of this, $287,560 (over 60% of pledges made) has already been received. More funds are yet to be received this year as the first year of pledges are fulfilled. Additional pledges will be fulfilled in 2023 and 2024. Thanks to you, the campaign was big success, and we are moving forward with intended improvements. Repairs to the exterior stone and brick have begun. Soon we will award the contract to reroof the Guild Hall and Education Building, and we are engaging structural engineers to evaluate two potential elevator locations. Five percent of funds raised in the campaign were designated for Outreach. Improvements to St. Francis Ministry’s family resettlement facilities are already underway. If you would still like to donate or pledge (up to 3 years) to this historic effort, any additional funds would, of course, be welcome. You may contact our bookkeeper, Susie Stallings, for pledge form details, or one-time check donations may be placed in the offering plate with “100 Anniversary Fund” designated in the memo line.
|
|
|
Father Dillon is offering Morning Prayer by Zoom at 9:30 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Morning Prayer Zoom Link.
YAW (Young Adults Wichita) is a ministry of the Wichita Minster led by Father Dillon. It includes members from St. James, St. John’s, Good Shepherd, and St. Stephen’s. We meet weekly, currently Mondays at 6 p.m. (time/dates subject to change). If you know anyone interested in participating, please connect them with Dillon at 256-762-5110 or at dillongreen7@gmail.com. If you aren’t a young adult (18-35) and want to be involved, we are always looking for people to provide meals for the group each week. Instructions are to prepare for six to 10 people. If you’re interested in helping out that way, please contact Dillon.
|
|
|
|
Parish Prayers for the Week of July 22 |
|
Parish Prayers
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Scottish Episcopal Church
In the Kansas Cycle of Prayer:
Pray for St. Aidan’s, Olathe
St. James Church prays for these individuals as well:
Our seminarian, Maddy Bishop;
Those serving in the military:
J. David Anderson-Lusk, Will Corkins, Maureen Tanner.
Those who have died:
John Luerding, Jean Crutchfield, Nancy Tapp, Don Foster, Don Yoder;
Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity: Gary, Terry, Deb H., Paula, Woody, Bill and Jeri, Tom G., Tom T., Jayne P., Barbara H., Dana F., Suzy R., Ashley M., Phil S., Helen B., Marcia & Lowell, Bill & Carolyn, Dave W., Carole, Kitty, Laura S., Bob & Sue, Marge R., Pam M., Dal, Gus, Joan J., Martha L., Betty, Sage, Joseph B., Sam & Beth, Jerry M., Joy J., Jonathan.
For the sake of privacy, we do not list the last names of those who are on our prayer list because of trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or adversity. We do our best to include last name initials in the event that two parishioners with the same first name exist.
If your prayers have been answered, let us rejoice with you. Please contact the office to let us know we can remove your prayer request. If you have prayers you would like added to the prayer list, please contact the office at office@stjameswichita.org or 316-683-5686.
Loving, Liberating and Life-Giving
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
