The Center of the Convention

This is the latest in a series of reports from The General Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting in Columbus, Ohio through June 21:

Yesterday, we reached the center of the convention. This was not because we passed a halfway mark, though we did. The center of the convention comes in its main service of Holy Communion, which was celebrated yesterday with an estimated 6,000 worshippers in one room from the General Convention and Episcopal Church Women triennial meeting joined by visitors from area churches and beyond. The celebrant was outgoing Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, with the preacher was Dr. Jenny Te Paa from the Province of New Zealand.

The convention's main Eucharist is also the time for the ingathering of funds for the United Thank Offering. The ECW collection is then distributed in grants around the world. It was a UTO grant of $25,000 that made possible the start of King of Peace Episcopal Day School.

There were other important matters handled yesterday including the official nomination of seven persons to be considered for the next Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. We also elected Brian Prior, a priest from the Diocese of Spokane as the Vice President of the House of Deputies and passed on resolutions including approving some persons to be considered for the calendar of saints listed inthe book Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

But the most important part of the day and the center of the convention itself came in worship. It is common among deputies to cite the worship as important to their convention experience. It is true that others find the worship less than meaningful as a convention community will never be just like a church family, no matter how large the church. But if you enter into it, there is something very powerful in gathering together with Episcopalians from around the country and beyond. In worship we realize what is always true, that we are followers of Christ first and only incidentally Episcopalians.

Some say our Bishops will elect a new head of the Episcopal Church today. I know they know better. We have been under the same leadership since before their was an Anglican Communion and will continue under the leadership of Jesus Christ no matter who is selected as the next Presiding Bishop. And that is pretty comforting as we pass by the center of the convention on to the remainder of our time together.

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor King of Peace Episcopal Church


The Diocese of Georgia deputation to General Convention with the four lay deputies in front (L-R, Buck Crosby, Sierra Wilkinson, Molly Greneker, and Sister Magdalene), and the four clerical deputies standing (L-R) The Revs. Frank Logue, Neal Phelps, Billy Alford and Joy Fisher).