Convention Daily, Issue 5, PDF

DAILY
CONVENTI N
MINNEAPOLIS, MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2003
Deputies OK Robinson election
❍ CALENDAR ●
❍ a.m. / ● p.m.
Bishops’ vote on consent expected today
I will raise them up! ‘One people,
Eucharist shows
‘Wideness in
God’s mercy’
Gold: the color
of our church
BY SALLY VALLONGO
There were pots of gold in the Marriott
Ballroom Saturday night: they were bathing in the light of a human rainbow gathered for food, fun, and
ERASING RACISM
Tomorrow:
fellowship under an
Sunday’s look into emerging banner.
the “Face of God.”
Welcome to the New
Community, the face of the church of the
21st century.
And this community will continue to
grow and become more visible after Convention adjourns, as racial, ethnic, and
cultural diversity continues to expand in
parishes and dioceses.
to page 2
reconciled’
BY NAN COBBEY
usic drew them the instant they entered the
Convention Center. Rousing sounds of a
Sousa march, a massive gospel choir, a jazz
band filled the halls and spilled out the doors. By 9:50
a.m. when the procession started nearly 5,000 had found
their seats in the mammoth auditorium. Most came early
to sway along with the Revelation Choir and tap their
feet to Jazz on the Prairie, a smaller portion of the 50member Eden Prairie Community Band who accompanied almost all the morning’s singing.
Spirited praise came at the Communion as the congregation sang “I am the Bread of Life,” with scores of
hands lifted for the refrain: “I will raise them up on the
to page 3
M
Inside...
2
Welcome,
Puerto Rico diocese
N
otices for the Convention Daily
calendar must be delivered to
Room 211D by 2 p.m. of the
day preceding publication.
Half-hour orientations for visitors
are offered in Room 203B at 8:15
a.m. and 1:15 p.m. today.
dler hugged, and Robinson declared,
“What an amazing day.”
In a vote by orders, lay deputations
voted 63 yes, 32 no, and 13 divided.
Clergy deputations voted 65 yes, 31 no,
and 12 divided. The House of Bishops
to page 4
Build bridges, Nigeria’s
Archbishop of Kaduna
says in sermon
BY SALLY VALLONGO
“We are the new society
God has called into being,”
proclaimed Nigerian Archbishop Josiah IdowuFearon, before more than
6,000 worshipers at Eucharist yesterday morning. “It
is one people reconciled, of
every color and culture, the
one and only family of
God.”
In a 20-minute sermon
to page 3
Same-sex rites
option moved
to Bishops
4
Photos by DICK SNYDER
MARY FRANCES SCHJONBERG
New Hampshire Bishop-elect Gene
Robinson and Sam Candler, dean of St.
Philip’s Cathedral in Atlanta, met in a
Convention Center hallway just after the
House of Deputies consented to
Robinson’s election. Robinson and CanBY
Monday, Aug. 4
❍ 11 a.m. Web presentation in
Episcopal Church Center booth.
Thomas K. “Thom” Chu, Ministries
with Young People.
● 12 noon. Complete showing of Mary
Donovan’s video “Revelations from
Ground Zero,” Fontaine Auditorium,
St. Mark’s Cathedral. (to 2 p.m.)
● 1 p.m. American Anglican Council
briefing lunch, Central Lutheran
Church.
● Lunch break. Children’s curriculum,
Christian Educators’ booths 198199.
● 1 p.m. The Consultation’s second
open meeting, location to be
announced.
● 1:15 p.m. Brown bag lunch with
the church’s Episcopal Migration
Ministry staff, Richard Parkins,
director.
● 3:30 p.m. Web presentation in
Episcopal Church Center booth.
The Rev. John E. Denaro, Episcopal
Migration Ministries.
● 5 p.m. Storytelling with Rose
McGee, Christian Educator’s
booths 198-199.
● 5:30 p.m. Locally Grown Organic
Meal at Gethsemane Episcopal
Church. $25. Sponsored by the
Episcopal Ecological Network, the
Diocese of Minnesota’s Environmental Stewardship Commission,
Land Stewardship Project, and
others (to 7 p.m.).
● 6 p.m. Book launch: Restoring The
Ties That Bind: The Grassroots
Transformation of the Episcopal
Church by William Sachs and
Thomas Holland, Church Pension
Group hospitality suite, Room M101
C, Convention Center (to 7 p.m.).
● 6 p.m. Reception and dinner to
honor interfaith guests, Horizons
Banquet room, Millennium Hotel.
$40. Sponsored by Office of Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations.
● 6 p.m. Refreshments and conversation about Sophia Network,
future projects and work of
liturgical revitalization, Millennium
Hotel, 14th floor, Satellite 7. (to
8 p.m.)
● 8 p.m. “… and all that Jazz!”
Dancing and cash bar offered by
Episcopal Church Women, Hilton
Hotel, 8 p.m. The Jim Cullum Band
from The Riverwalk in San Antonio.
q
BOOK SIGNINGS
❍ 11 a.m. Signing by Margaret
Wurtele, author of Touching the
Edge at St. Mark’s Cathedral, 519
Oak Grove St. Lunch available.
● Noon - 1 p.m. Percia Hutcherson
signs the book Every Little Bit:
The Remarkable Life of Percia
Hutcherson, written by Ruth
Nicastro, at Episcopal Life, Booth
122.
continued on page 2
2
episcopallife CONVENTION D AILY / Monday, August 4, 2003
convention
DAILY
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Why must the church continue to confront racism?
Roy Lawrence,
exhibitor,
Salina,
Kansas
No.5, Monday, August 4, 2003
The official newspaper of the
2003 General Convention of
the Episcopal Church,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
July 30 - August 8, 2003
Convention Daily is produced by Episcopal Life, the
national newspaper for Episcopalians. Jerrold Hames, Editor.
Editorial offices: 815 Second Ave. New York, NY 10017.
FAX (212)949-8059 INTERNET www.episcopal-life.org
MANAGING EDITOR
“Our society
has to learn to
accept everything [as equal]
– as it was meant to be – and until we
do, we are not going to live in a free
society.”
Michael
Johnson,
exhibitor,
Galveston, Texas
“We have to
continue to
confront racism
because racism
is a sin and it still exists.”
The Rev.
Joyce Holmes,
Avon, Fla.,
visitor
“In God’s eyes,
we are all
created equal
and the color
of our skin represents the creativity of
God, not the dehumanitization of
human beings.”
Jerry Hames
EDITOR
Bob Williams
Diocese of Los Angeles
REPORTERS
Mary Frances Schjonberg
Diocese of Newark
Sally Vallongo
Diocese of Ohio
Sharon Sheridan
Diocese of Newark
Michelle Gabriel
Episcopal Life Intern
ART DIRECTOR
Jerry Fargo
with production assistance from
Theo Barnes
PHOTOGRAPHER
Richard Snyder
Diocese of Nevada
POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to
Episcopal Life, P.O. Box 1337, Belmawr,
NJ, 08099-1337
ISNN:1050-0057 USPS: 177-940
✁ Subscribe to the
Award-winning
The National Newspaper for Episcopalians
✍ I would like a
❑
❑
1-year subscription at $14.95
2-year subscription at $26.95
(Surface mail postage outside USA add
$14 per year)
NAME_____________________________________
ADDRESS___________________________________
_____________________________ APT._________
CITY______________________________________
STATE__________ ZIP________________________
Send payment to:
Ω
Episcopal Life Circulation Office
Box 1337
Belmawr, NJ 08099-1337
1234567
1234567 P.O.
1234567
1234567
1234567
TONIGHT, ON
GENERAL CONVENTION
NEWS
9:30 on downtown hotel TV
channels, to be repeated in
continuous loop after 11, also
streamed as video on-line
and archived at
www.episcopalchurch.org
Continuing coverage
of consent to election of
New Hampshire Bishop-elect
Gene Robinson
Airing newscasts:
Doubletree, Channel 2
Hilton, Channel 27
Holiday Inn, Channel 77
Hyatt, Channel 8
Marriott, Channel 59
Millennium, Channel 13
Radisson, Channel 2
GOLD
from page 1
Saturday night, this preview — presented by bishops of Chicago, Connecticut, Los Angeles, Michigan, Southern Ohio,
and Southeast Florida, among others; by
the Ethnic Congregational Development
Office; and by the Eighth Province —
Intercultural Ministry Development — had
everyone dancing the Electric Slide.
“As I look around, it looks like a mosaic
of beautiful people,” exclaimed Juanita
Betz-Peterson from the Diocese of Lexington (Ky.).
Deep red walls hung with bright-colored woven cloth framed party-goers in
everything from casual to trendy to traditional dress, including dashikis, caftans,
and guayabera shirts. There was clerical
attire, as well.
Arthur Williams, retired bishop from
Ohio, since January interim director of
ethnic clergy development in New York,
was an organizer of the New Community
event. Pleased by the turn-out, he and his
wife, Lynette, watched the party unfold.
“The work is to celebrate diversity in
the Episcopal Church. To bring resources
together so that more people can move into
the center of the church,” Williams said.
Children scampered about, old friends
hugged, and, in one corner, guests pushed
tables and chairs together to accommodate several dozen guests.
Beverly Scipio, a deputy from Ohio,
commented: “The time has come when
people from every nation and tongue can
sit at the table of brotherhood and truly
reflect the kingdom of God without shame
or apology.”
Food and music were effective ice-
LETTERS TO
THE DAILY
Once deacons themselves?
In the bishops’ discussion of direct
ordination Friday, I was struck by the
professed ignorance of many bishops.
The fact that many of our bishops have
only a rudimentary understanding of
the diaconate is profound. They are
right to point out that diakonia is
essential for priesthood, but many fail
to understand that said diakonia is
conferred at baptism. To say otherwise
cheapens our baptismal vows and only
further serves to diminish the diaconate.
Their message to the Committee on
Ministry was clear: as a governing body,
the bishops of our church do not have a
clear understanding of the diaconate
and need more education, perhaps even
an official study on the matter. Yet
there is already plenty of literature on
the subject and hundreds of deacons to
learn from. Call me naive, but I am
WELCOME BACK, BISHOP CARRANZA: At New Community celebration, national Latino
ministries officer Daniel Caballero (left) greets Bishop Assistant Sergio Carranza of
Los Angeles. Carranza was re-seated in the House of Bishops Wednesday after a
hiatus that began in 1995 when the Church of Mexico became an autonomous
Anglican province. Elected bishop of Mexico in 1989, Carranza — from the family
of Mexico’s late constutionialist president Venustiano Carranza — retired from his
Mexico City-based diocese last year and began assisting in Los Angeles in January.
Photo by JANET KAWAMOTO
breakers. The buffet featured a global
array of hors d’oeuvres. Vernon Tinsley
had programmed an evening of live music
— reggae, jazz, third world, gospel, pop,
and gentle funk.
At one point the dance floor resembled
the multicultural Church of the Electric
Slide, with dozens of smiling people in all
skin and hair colors united in the lively
line dance.
“It’s beautiful to me to see the groups
here,” said Helen Batts, a deputy from
West Tennessee. “I didn’t know what to
expect. This reminds me of a beautiful
bouquet.”
disappointed in the bishops.
However, there is a deeper issue in
our church. Too many dioceses do not
allow deacons to serve at all! Of course
many of our bishops do not understand
the diaconate, because if they did, the
bishops would be tripping over themselves to develop diaconal programs in
every diocese. Just imagine having a
corps of trained, mobile servant leaders,
who serve directly under you and truly
know the meaning of diakonia and can
help to foster it throughout the church.
Moreover, imagine that these same
leaders are for all practical purposes
volunteers. Well, that’s just the tip of
the iceberg.
Diakonia is essential to mature
Christianity, and without it 20/20 will
never happen. The presence of a deacon
in every parish, mission and outreach of
the Episcopal Church should be the
“minimum” standard!
Philip Schaffner
SEE STORY
Young Adult,
PAGE 4
Diocese of Minnesota
Puerto Rico diocese
joins ECUSA
The Diocese of Puerto Rico and its 30,000
baptized members were officially made
part of the Episcopal Church with a unanimous vote Saturday by the House of Bishops — following Deputies’ approval Friday.
Applauded in the House of Bishops as
its newest member, Bishop David Alvarez
said: “The Church in Puerto Rico will
contribute in our identity as a Spanishspeaking diocese to the growing Hispanic
ministry and, more importantly, in helping the Episcopal Church develop an identity as a multicultural, multilingual
church.”
Puerto Rico miembro
pleno de ECUSA
Al ritmo de “En mi viejo San Juan” el
Rvdmo. David Álvarez, Obispo de la
Iglesia Episcopal de Puerto Rico celebró la
aprobación final en la Cámara de Obispos
de la resolución A141, con lo cual se
otorga membresía plena a la diócesis
portorriqueña en la IX Provincia de la
Iglesia Episcopal.
“La Iglesia en Puerto Rico contribuirá
con nuestra identidad como diócesis de
habla española al creciente ministerio
hispano y contribuirá a que la Iglesia
Episcopal desarrolle su identidad de Iglesia
multicultural y multilingüe,” dijo Álvarez.
For full reports by Giovanni Figueredo
and Richelle Thompson:
www.episcopalchurch.org
3
episcopallife CONVENTION D AILY / Monday, August 4, 2003
Photos by DICK SNYDER
EUCHARIST
from page 1
last day.” Contemplation deepened with
the singing of “There’s a wideness in
God’s mercy.”
Overhead, on a 34-foot screen behind
the altar platform, images emerged, faded
and emerged again in a muted, sometimes
mystical, sequence of color and shape.
Photos of sculptured stone and wood alternated with bright collages of Africa,
icons, artists’ personal visions of heaven
and of earth.
The 200-plus choristers from 20 different Minnesota Episcopal congregations
lived up to director Howard John Small’s
challenge during their early morning rehearsal: “Give it your love as you sing.”
They did. So did the Creekside Ringers
from St. Stephen’s Church in Edina as
they interpreted a haunting Japanese folk
tune before the service and, during the
procession of 200 bishops and 400-plus
clergy, created an cascading cacophony of
bells that sounded like a peel ringing out
from on high.
On more than a dozen fabric-draped
tables waited the glass chalices and handmade birch bark baskets ready to be carried forward at the Offertory by members
of the Youth Presence. One table in the
back of the hall, draped in green, held
gluten-free bread for those who might
otherwise not be able to receive Communion. An equally thoughtful offering
of the worship planners stood at the corner of the altar platform. As soon as the
music began the signers for the deaf started
interpreting lyrics, alternating, first one,
then the other, the graceful, expressive
ballet of hands.
As the procession ended and all bishops and clergy took their places, Presiding
Bishop Frank T. Griswold declared to his
gathered flock: “Bendito sea Dios: Padre,
Hijo y Espiritu Santo.” The response,
“And blessed be his kingdom, now and
forever” came in a number of languages in
addition to the Spanish provided in the
service booklet.
The service ended the way it began,
with spirited music, the uplifting sound
of joined voices: “Guide Me, O Thou
Great Jehovah” brought the service to a
close and John Philip Sousa’s “Minnesota
March” accompanied the crowd back into
the world… back to their historic time of
decision.
SERMON
from page 1
notable for diplomacy, clarity, and fervor,
the chief pastor of the Kaduna province of
the 17.5-million-member Church of Nigeria, undoubtedly satisfied those who
have been praying, like Bishop IdowuFearon himself, for the unity of the church
at a time of crisis.
“Our church family takes the Episcopal Church very seriously. When America
sneezes, the rest of the world catches a
cold. America, don’t sneeze too much,”
he said.
Drawing from the second reading,
Ephesians 4, Idowu-Fearon described it
as a turning point for Paul – and, by
inference, the church. “Paul is moving
from theology to its practical and concrete
applications. I beg you to lead a life that is
worthy of that call.”
Those who may have anticipated more
pointed comment from the archbishop
on issues heating up Convention had to
content themselves with reading between
the lines of his eloquent message.
“They had hardened their hearts, they
became callous, they gave themselves to
immorality,” he said, of the pre-Christian
life Paul describes. Idowu-Fearon called
for Christians to “put off the old life,
turning away from it in distaste, and put
on the new life.”
More pointedly, he continued: “It’s
not possible to change the heart, but it is
possible to change the behavior . . . Changing one’s dress, one’s attitudes, and one’s
behavior are essential to becoming Christian. But we are mistaken if we think it’s
all up to God. The way you behave is the
way you become.”
Deputy Sandie Brochak from Southern Ohio said: “He made some good
points – very pertinent to what’s going on
here. There’s more of a subtle message,
but if you were looking for it, it was very
direct.”
Still, the archbishop refrained from
any detailed directives reflecting the more
conservative stance of the Church of Nigeria, second largest, after the Church of
England, of the member provinces of the
Anglican Communion. Instead, he called
for kindness, compassion, and forgiving
among Christians.
Referring to his five years of collegial
work with Frank Griswold – they met at
the 1998 Lambeth Convention – IdowuFearon said, “Frank, you’ve taught me a
lot. I’m beginning to understand American culture.”
New York Bishop Mark Sisk praised
the sermon: “I’m grateful that he spoke
kind words about the presiding bishop.
He deserves kind words. [Idowu-Fearon]
spoke out of his African context, recognizing our American context. It was splendid.”
A former military school student in
leadership training, the archbishop said:
“I’m the only general from my class still
serving in the army – of Jesus Christ.”
In Nigeria, he noted, becoming a Christian marks a major change in a person’s
entire life. “Public baptism marks the
passage from the realm of estrangement,
paganism, and darkness to the realm of
Christianity.” Noting that he had found
Christ at age 12, he said, “I’ve never been
the same since.”
In the spirit of Anglican unity, IdowuFearon concluded: “We have to repent
and to come to Christ and be reconciled
to him. Then, we will be able to build
bridges.”
HONORED
At a reception Saturday,
about 60 Episcopal Communicators honored two
long-time colleagues. Sonia
Francis helped to found the
organization in 1971 and
read a lesson at Convention
Eucharist on Sunday. Jim
Solheim, director of news
and information at the
Episcopal Church Center
since 1989, will retire later
this year.
Photo by DICK SNYDER
4
episcopallife CONVENTION D AILY / Monday, August 4, 2003
ROBINSON
Bishops reject direct
ordination to priesthood
MARY FRANCES SCHJONBERG
move to ordain people directly to
the priesthood died in the House
of Bishops late last week but the
Standing Commission on Ministry Development (SCMD) still plans to bring
substantial changes to the Church’s ordination canons to the Convention.
“Direct ordination is not something
that they’re ready to embrace,” said
Bishop and SCMD member James
Kelsey, describing the House of Bishops’
reaction Friday to Resolution C019 from
Kansas, which the commission used to
gauge the bishops’ mood. People who
become priests are now first ordained to
what is called the transitional diaconate
and spend between six months and a year
in that order before being ordained a
priest. The commission work had said
that ministry is not cumulative or layered
but that people should be ordained directly to the order of their calling.
It was clear, Kelsey added, that the
bishops were not willing to give dioceses
the option of direct ordination either.
“I am grateful to have had serious
discussion on a church-wide basis of this,”
he said. The issue has come to Convention before and will again, he predicted.
BY
A
“Each time there seems to be a growing
understanding of the implications and
the acceptance by many of the advantages
of this.”
Bishop and commission chair John
Croneberger said the commission stands
by the other changes in the canons. “These
are opportunities to reflect an understanding of ministry that is grounded in
baptism and I think that’s pretty exciting,” he said.
The SCMD continues its Title III
editing work at a 7:30 hearing this morning. Looming is a proposal to eliminate
Canon 9 which governs locally trained
priests and limits their jurisdiction. The
commission has proposed greater flexibility in training and forming of all priests,
and then ordaining priests whose ministry would be canonically allowed throughout the church.
For the record: The House of Bishops
on Friday defeated a resolution calling
for direct ordination to the priesthood,
not — as misstated in Saturday’s Daily —
all Title III legislation. Those measures
are yet to come before both houses. The
Daily regrets the error.
from page 1
will take up Robinson’s consent at 2:30
p.m. today.
If the bishops give their consent,
Robinson may well be seated in the house
that day. The House of Bishops has given
seat and voice to all the other bishops
whose elections have been accepted at this
convention.
Saying that he thought God was doing
a new thing in the Church on Sunday
afternoon, Robinson said that his feelings
of peace and humility were tempered by
the knowledge that “this is a very troubling decision for many in our church.”
At a news conference after the vote,
Robinson repeatedly urged Episcopalians
and Anglicans to remain in the Church
and work through their differences. He
told the story of serving communion during Saturday Eucharist and being approached by “one of the most conservative bishops” in the Church. The bishop
was one of 24 who signed a recent letter
urging a vote against Robinson. Robinson
said the bishop took communion from
him and offered him the peace.
“If we can continue doing that, we’re
going to be just fine,” he said.
Four weeks ago Sunday the Rev. Canon
Jeffrey John, a gay priest in a currently
celibate relationship in England, withdrew
from his episcopal appointment because
many people feared it would cause a schism.
A reporter asked Robinson what message
the House of Deputies sent to England.
“Perhaps it says that the child can some-
Bishops to mull local option for same-sex rites
BY SHARON SHERIDAN
he cognate Committee on Prayer
Book, Liturgy and Music offered a
compromise resolution Sunday on
preparing rites for same-sex blessings that
would allow for local option.
The new resolution, which combines
resolutions C005, B007, C022 and C051,
directs the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music to prepare “rites for possible inclusion in Enriching Our Worship
by means of which support and blessing
may be expressed for same-sex relationships with the permission of the ecclesiastical authority.”
The resolution now goes to the House
of Bishops for consideration.
The committee announced its decision
less than an hour before Deputies began
to debate the election of the Rev. Canon
Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as the
Episcopal Church’s firstly openly gay
bishop. The new resolution is intended
to sanction developing rites for blessing
same-sex unions while allowing those
opposing such rites to follow their consciences. Committee member the Rev.
Kendall Harmon of the Diocese of South
Carolina will issue a minority report on
the resolution.
“We think we have a resolution that
has the big-tent aspect of B007” while
including a provision for developing the
new rites, said the Rev. Frank Wade of the
Diocese of Washington, chair of the deputies committee.
Resolution B007, passed unanimously
by the Province IV bishops and a majority
of its synod, sought to allow those on both
sides of divisive issues to continue to minister within the church and to avoid attempts to resolve “either our diversity of
opinion or diversity of pastoral support”
T
legislatively.
The committee voted to recommend
the rites be developed for Enriching Our
Worship instead of the Book on Occasional Services because each bishop has
the authority to authorize its use within
his or her individual diocese, Wade explained.
The resolution notes that “differences
exist among us about how best to care
pastorally for those who intend to live in
monogamous, non-celibate unions; and
what is, or should be, required, permitted
or prohibited by the doctrine, discipline
and worship of the Episcopal Church”
concerning their blessing.
It reaffirms previous conventions’ resolutions affirming homosexuals’ “full and
equal claim ... upon the love, acceptance
and pastoral concern and care of the
Church” and saying that their monogamous, non-celibate unions are expected
to be “characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect,
careful, honest communication and the
holy love which enables those in such
relationships to see in each other the image of God.” The resolution also “recognizes that such relationships exist throughout the church” and says that “local faith
communities are operating within the
bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating
and blessing same-sex unions.”
The resolution states that “our baptism
into Jesus Christ is inseparable from our
communion with one another, and we
commit ourselves to that communion
despite our diversity of opinion and,
among dioceses, a diversity of pastoral
practice with homosexual persons.”
The committee met and voted in executive session, which is not open to the
public, but a loud “aye” and a chorus of
the doxology audible in the hall outside
signaled the committee’s decision.
“The attempt is to work on both sides
of the aisle,” said Bishop Henry Louttit
Jr., chair of the bishops’ committee and
one member of the Province IV bishops
who originally endorsed B007. The goal
is to “allow both sides space to live” and
keep either side from feeling they had
“beat the hell” out of the other side — or
had it beaten out of them, he said.
The vote was unanimous among those
attending — the majority of the committee — with one abstention, Wade said.
Louttit said the near unanimity of the
vote surprised him. “I thought we might
get a sort of consensus.”
“Neither side is going to be real comfortable,” Louttit predicted.
Wade said he was pleased with the substitute resolution and expected to support
it as a deputy. The committee aimed “to
make a very clear statement as to what our
choices are as a church” so the convention
can make a clear decision, he said. “I think
it’s a good resolution because it’s clear.”
New Orleans jazz
and staged reading
Bishops, deputies and visitors are invited to join a New Orleans jazz funeral
procession from the Nicollet Mall at 13th
St. to Gethsemane Episcopal Church at
7:40 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for a
staged reading in two acts of “Earnest.”
“Earnest,” written by Bishop Joe Morris Doss and Andrew Doss, is the story of
Earnest Knighton, Jr., who was executed
in 1984. Ex-convicts and those who work
in the prison system will perform, accompanied by Dick and Jane’s Big Brass Band
times teach the parent,” he said. “I would
hope that the Church of England would
pay attention and learn from this creation
of theirs.”
House of Deputies president George
W. Werner summed up the reaction to
the Deputies’ approval. “For many, it’s
going to be a time of hope, and for many
it’s going to be a time of great despair,” he
told the news conference.
“I applaud the actions of the House of
Deputies,” said the Rev. Susan Russell,
executive director of Claiming the Blessing. “I think what we saw here was the
Deputies saying Amen to the Holy Spirit
having already spoken in New Hampshire. I’m encouraged and I look forward
to the House of Bishops doing the same
tomorrow.”
Michael Hopkins of Integrity said he
was pleased with the vote which he said
was “a little better” than he expected.
The American Anglican Council called
on the House of Bishops to spend Sunday
night in individual and corporate prayer
and fasting.
“I think the House of Deputies has
made a profound mistake,” AAC president David Anderson said. “I think they
have shown forth what has become an
unfortunate arrogance on the part of our
Church to the global family. We talk
about the importance of unity in the
family, but clearly when we say that we
mean just us and the rest of the Communion can take a hike. This kind of an
attitude is just kind of the ugly American
transposed into the church. It says a lot
about our soul.”
Werner had a different assessment of
the church’s soul Sunday afternoon.
“You saw something today that you
may never see again for a long time,” he
told reporters at the news conference.
“You saw something today about people
really trying to find our souls, and it was
a most magnificent and chilling moment.”
Episcopal News Service reporter David
Skidmore contributed to this article.
q
BOOK SIGNINGS
continued from page 1
● 1-3 p.m. Debra Farrington, author
of Hearing With the Heart: A Gentle
Guide to Discerning God’s Will for
Your Life and Learning to Hear with
the Heart: Meditations for Discerning God’s Will Episcopal Book &
Resource Center, Booth 113-114.
● 1-3 p.m. Bishops Joe Morris Doss
and Leo Frade, authors of Let the
Bastards Go: From Cuba to
Freedom on “God’s Mercy,”
Cokesbury, Booth 250-252.
● 1-3 p.m. Mary C. Earle, author of
Broken Body, Healing Spirit,
Morehouse, Booth 181-182.
● 1:30 Bishop Keith and Joan
Ackerman, co-authors of To God
Be the Glory, at the Devotion
Societies, Booth 88.
● 3 - 4:30 p.m. The Rev. Barbara
Crafton, author of Mass in a Time
of War, Cowley, Booth 184.
and the TCC Gospel Choir. Panel discussion follows. Donations accepted.
Bonhoeffer film
extends theater run
Martin Doblmeier’s documentary film
Bonhoeffer, an examination of the nature
of faith, continues its run until the end of
General Convention, with screenings at
7:15 and 9:15 p.m. at the Bell Museum
Auditorium, 17th St. and University Ave.
S.E. Admission $6.