By The Rev. Sandy Boyd
Alternate Deputy Erica Hein’s (pictured at left with retired Presiding Bishop Browning) first General Convention was 1997. She went that year because her mom Connie Hein was an Alternate. Erica was 16 and as a teenager, she was “not particularly interested in the politics of the church” but thought it was cool to be at General Convention when a new Presiding Bishop was elected. That was Frank Griswold and Convention also celebrated the retirement of Presiding Bishop Edmund Browning. Erica got her picture taken with Bp. Browning remembers thinking it was neat for a kid to have her picture taken with the head of the church.
When General Convention was held in Denver, Erica was one of thousands of Colorado Episcopalians involved in participating or volunteering that summer. She helped Rev. Tina Anderson and other leaders with the youth events.
Fast forward to 2006 when Erica decided to go to Columbus General Convention in Ohio to be a part of its Young Adult Festival. She thought all the Convention workshops and events were great but was surprised to find herself more interested in sitting in on the sessions of the House of Deputies and House of Bishops. She was invited to join the Colorado Deputation Caucus at 6:30 am for breakfast every day and said the group was very welcoming to her as a visitor.
When she was asked in caucus for her opinion on the B033 as it was being debated, Erica asked for time in study and prayer. To her surprise, the outcome of that discernment came out differently from the opinion she held as she entered into it.
After her sharing with the caucus, one of the results was that Erica was encouraged to allow her name to be placed in nomination for election as Deputy for the 2009 General Convention. After much prayer and deliberation, she realized she was called to run and was elected, unusual for someone running for the first time. She’s serving as a Second Alternate Deputy, sitting on the floor of Convention from time to time.
At this Anaheim Convention, Erica said she has been very moved by the love and respect shown to each other by the Deputation members. Meetings of the Deputation started more than a year ago and Erica said this “extended formation process” has borne good fruit. So now, twelve years later, Erica has been present for the election of two Presiding Bishops, several historic pieces of legislation, and is very interested in the process and politics of our church which she says “are vital to the life and communion of our Body of Christ.” She concluded “I feel this convention has been faithful to listening to each other and to the Holy Spirit and that good things are coming as a result of this. This is especially evident with the passing of the Charter for Lifelong Formation and the passing of B003, which is a commitment from the Church Center to support camps and conferences.”
Alternate Deputy Erica Hein’s (pictured at left with retired Presiding Bishop Browning) first General Convention was 1997. She went that year because her mom Connie Hein was an Alternate. Erica was 16 and as a teenager, she was “not particularly interested in the politics of the church” but thought it was cool to be at General Convention when a new Presiding Bishop was elected. That was Frank Griswold and Convention also celebrated the retirement of Presiding Bishop Edmund Browning. Erica got her picture taken with Bp. Browning remembers thinking it was neat for a kid to have her picture taken with the head of the church.
When General Convention was held in Denver, Erica was one of thousands of Colorado Episcopalians involved in participating or volunteering that summer. She helped Rev. Tina Anderson and other leaders with the youth events.
Fast forward to 2006 when Erica decided to go to Columbus General Convention in Ohio to be a part of its Young Adult Festival. She thought all the Convention workshops and events were great but was surprised to find herself more interested in sitting in on the sessions of the House of Deputies and House of Bishops. She was invited to join the Colorado Deputation Caucus at 6:30 am for breakfast every day and said the group was very welcoming to her as a visitor.
When she was asked in caucus for her opinion on the B033 as it was being debated, Erica asked for time in study and prayer. To her surprise, the outcome of that discernment came out differently from the opinion she held as she entered into it.
After her sharing with the caucus, one of the results was that Erica was encouraged to allow her name to be placed in nomination for election as Deputy for the 2009 General Convention. After much prayer and deliberation, she realized she was called to run and was elected, unusual for someone running for the first time. She’s serving as a Second Alternate Deputy, sitting on the floor of Convention from time to time.
At this Anaheim Convention, Erica said she has been very moved by the love and respect shown to each other by the Deputation members. Meetings of the Deputation started more than a year ago and Erica said this “extended formation process” has borne good fruit. So now, twelve years later, Erica has been present for the election of two Presiding Bishops, several historic pieces of legislation, and is very interested in the process and politics of our church which she says “are vital to the life and communion of our Body of Christ.” She concluded “I feel this convention has been faithful to listening to each other and to the Holy Spirit and that good things are coming as a result of this. This is especially evident with the passing of the Charter for Lifelong Formation and the passing of B003, which is a commitment from the Church Center to support camps and conferences.”
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