Vignettes from Sunday, July 12th

by Lelanda Lee (L5)

Remember, you may contact the deputies and alternates at deputation@coloradodiocese.org. And you may contact Lelanda Lee at LelandaLee@gmail.com.

I started this posting last night after the day's events and a brief social time with some of the Colorado deputation poolside with wine and munchies from our "convention larders" stocked from Costco and Walgreen's. (The Costco's in California sell wine and other spirits right on the warehouse floor at very good prices.) It's a nice way to sit in the "living room" for a few minutes and unwind with the family before heading to bed.

When my head kept nodding as I was typing, and my eyes blurred, I realized that I really did have to sleep more than two or three hours last night. I got a solid five hours of sleep and feel like a new woman today.

This morning was spent taking one of our deputies to the local doctor's office for a quick check-up. The doc says it's the flu, prescribed medications for sore throat and achy muscles, and directed lots of fluids and sleep. But we're reassured that it's nothing more serious.

Our deputation has been texting to stay in touch on legislation, dinner plans and today's doctor's visit. We all feel so blessed to have each other's love and care, and we also appreciate all the emails, blog comments, phone calls and Facebook messages that you're praying for us. Ubuntu. I in you and you in me, the theme of this 76th General Convention. We feel it, Diocese of Colorado. We are in you, and you are in us.

Yesterday, Sunday, July 12th, was a "light" day in terms of scheduling, events and turnout. Many deputies took the day off, visiting local churches and friends, or just observing Sabbath away from General Convention. I noticed when I was driving around Anaheim looking for the doctor's office that the proverbial scales were falling from my eyes, that seven days spent in the environs of a convention center and hotel without getting away had begun to narrow my sense of context. That's why senior deputies advise bringing photos of people from home so that we remember why we're here and who we're here for. We've shared some of those photos, looking at Erica's new puppy and another's young children. We've all followed the progress of Max's 9-year old son, Sam, and his softball tournament. That's why we consider it a ministry to blog daily in order for us to remain connected.

So, let me tell you about yesterday.

I had not noticed the large banner saying "The Episcopal Church welcomes you" on the front of the Anaheim Convention Center until yesterday morning when I walked back from a breakfast meeting at the Anaheim Marriott. Below is the vantage point that can be seen from cars approaching the convention center.

The breakfast was the Episcopal Women's Caucus event honoring the Rt. Rev. Barbara Clementine Harris upon her 20th anniversary of election to the episcopacy. Elected in 1989, Harris was the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion. The Women's Caucus was also celebrating the 35th anniversary of the ordination of the first women priests, who were "irregularly" ordained in 1974. (For more on the ordination of female priests, see the Wikipedia entry on the Ordination of Women. Scroll down almost half-way to the entry entitled by "Anglicanism.")

The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton,
president of the Episcopal Women's Caucus, at the podium.

After the breakfast event held at the Marriott Anaheim, I rushed back to the Convention Center to change my alternate's badge for a deputy's badge, because I was taking Jack Finlaw's seat for the day while he and two others took the day off to play at Disneyland. I ran into Max Bailey at the Certifications (Credentials) Desk, taking a volunteer shift.

Max (above) had been recruited by Coloradoan Rhoads Hollowell, who is the Credentials Coordinator. He had also volunteered prior to arriving at General Convention to help with the Community Eucharists under the direction of another Coloradoan, Mary Kate Schroeder. We have so much to be proud of from our diocese.

Next up on Sunday afternoon was a "def jam poetry slam" held in the speaker's corner near the Exhibit Hall's food court. A poem that I posted in April on the HoBD (House of Bishops/Deputies) list commenting on a conversation stream instigated the idea of an opportunity for deputies to share their poetry at General Convention. I kicked off the readings (photo below) with three biographical poems and closed the session with a poem written to honor Dr. Louie Crew, a senior deputy from the Diocese of Newark, who is the keeper of the Unofficial Anglican Pages of Louie Crew, containing all manner of statistics about General Convention, and the founder of Integrity USA.

Zoe Cole (below), ears and all, also recited two poems, written just yesterday, at the poetry slam.

At the afternoon legislative session, four of the five alternates sat in for the deputies. Lyn Burns (C6) sat in for Christy Shain-Hendricks, and Erica Hein (L6), Lelanda Lee (5), and Jacque Scott (L7) sat in for Larry Hitt, Jack Finlaw, and George Wing, respectively. The substitutions have been made by rotation in order of the alternates' rankings and with the permission of the deputation chair, Larry Hitt.

From left, Jacque Scott, Lyn Burns, Lelanda Lee and Erica Hein.

The afternoon legislative session brought up for consideration several important resolutions, which I will discuss in a separate post, because they deserve commentary of a serious, sober nature, which I will work on this evening. The major resolutions that passed yesterday included:

D025, among other resolves regarding Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion, supports the full inclusion of all the baptized in the church. For the Episcopal Life Online article on D025, click here.

D019 affirms that the church will Recommit to MDG's [Millennium Development Goals] as a Mission Priority and raises the previous 0.07% contribution rate to 1.0%. Click here to learn more. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

Zoe Cole testifying in favor of D019.

D038 proposed a Strategic Vision for Reaching Latinos/Hispanics at a cost of approximately $3.5 million. I haven't seen an online story to link to yet.

If you have specific questions about specific resolutions, we will do our best to find the answer for you. The email volume from the members of the diocese are beginning to rise, and again, we will do our best to respond as quickly as possible. Please continue to pray for the deputation's relationships with one another, our work, our health and our spiritual well-being.