"The Way of Love" permeates the work of the 79th General Convention

 

Southern Virginia's deputation (L to R): the Rev. Willis Foster; the Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander; Sam Webster; the Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly; the Rev. Julia Messer; Clare Harbin; Bishop Hollerith; Alice Webley; the Rev. Ronald Ramsey; Isabel Burch; Toni Hogg; the Rev. Cameron Randle. Not pictured: the Rev. Mark Wilkinson.

 

The 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church has been meeting in Austin, TX since July 5, and participants (including Bishop Hollerith and our diocesan deputies) actually began arriving July 2 to begin committee work. Bishop Hollerith and deputies from Southern Virginia are putting in very long days in committee meetings and legislative sessions. General Convention continues through Friday, July 13. Below are just a few of the highlights of #GC79 thus far. For much more on the work of General Convention, visit the diocesan #GC79 blog, Facebook and Instagram. You can watch and follow the work of General Convention live on the Media Hub and the GC79 app.  

 

The Way of Love

 

The 79th General Convention opened July 5 with a festival Eucharist that included a rousing sermon by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. He talked about the Way of Love and how Episcopalians can intentionally move forward in that way. He called for not just GC participants, but all Episcopalians, to "meditate on the life and teaching of Jesus" before all of their work, and in everything they do. The Episcopal Church has created resources to help us do just that - The Way of Love: Practices for Jesus-Centered Life. This new "rule of life" is to turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest.  

 

TEConversations

 

This General Convention includes something new and different, TEConversations (The Episcopal Church Conversations), held during joint sessions of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. The three TEConversations were: Racial Reconciliation; Evangelism; and Care of Creation. Each session began with powerful presentations by speakers, followed by guided conversation among the deputies and bishops. There are videos of all TEConversation speakers and discussion guides you can use in your parish. These resources are great for small groups, youth groups or adult forums.   

 

Public witness by Bishops United Against Gun Violence

 

	Bishops at public witness;   Bishop Hollerith at top right.

Bishop Hollerith was one of the bishops taking part in the July 8 Public Witness event at Austin's Brush Square held by Bishops United Against Gun Violence. Hundreds of General Convention participants attended the event. Many of the clergy present were wearing orange stoles - the color associated with gun safety and the blaze orange worn by hunters.  

 

Speakers included Phil and April Schentrup, whose daughter, Carmen, was killed in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas on Ash Wednesday of 2018. Since Carmen's death, both April and Phil have spoken out publicly against gun violence, as well as pushed hard for solutions that bring our country together. Phil and April generously shared their story of grief and pain, and urged the church to advocate against gun violence and promote public safety so that our nation can live together in peace.

 

Prayers at detention center encourage women held there

 

	Deputies (L to R) the Rev. Julia Messer, the Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander, the Rev. Cameron Randle, Clare Harbin at Hutto prayer service.

Nineteen busloads of General Convention participants - over 1000 people - including Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and House of Deputies President Gay Jennings, traveled to the Hutto Immigration Detention Facility in Taylor, TX, to hold a prayer service outside the detention center.  

 

Grassroots Leadership, a non-profit organization that works with communities across this nation to abolish for-profit private prisons, helped facilitate this public witness. They reported to General Convention that on Sunday afternoon, "A woman called from Hutto after today's prayer and told us they were glued to the windows until the last bus left the detention center. Women inside were crying, saying they knew they weren't alone after seeing so many people there."  

 

Organizers of Sunday's prayer service plan to provide follow-up advocacy resources and opportunities. One step that both Houses of General Convention were encouraged to take was to donate to Grassroots Leadership's Hutto Deportation and Defense Bond Fund. Gifts to the fund "will be used to release people detained and ensure they remain free. Bonds on average are $1,500-$10,000. Funds will be used for bond, basic needs, and commissary so women can call their children and community, and other emergency needs."