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
 |
|
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.
|
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.
|
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."
