Hey all,Yesterday I was honored to represent you as an "Alternate" at the 158th Annual Council of the Diocese of Texas. Council was hosted by Saint David's Episcopal Church and we met at the Hilton in downtown Austin - an easy trip for those of us who live in Austin. I spent my day as an "Alternate" does - sitting in the visitor's gallery at the back of the convention hall watching the proceedings, drinking tea, and using the hotel's Internet access to repair the template for our blog. I chose a seat in the center of the back row, directly in front of the translators' table. The translators were calmly and smoothly transmuting English into Spanish and broadcasting the result via low power radio. This process created a constant pressure of low level sound within a few feet of their workstation which pushed away casual observers and left me with only a few neighbors and an unobstructed view of the proceedings.
The items on the agenda moved by quickly - and amusingly (when you see me, ask me how there could be amendments and floor debate on a resolution like: "RESOLVED, that this 158th Council of the Diocese of Texas sends greetings to the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Church’s new Chief Pastor, and assurance of our continued prayers for her in her new responsibilities as our Presiding Bishop and Primate.") I was disappointed that Sandra Kelly - see her profile in the list of nominees at Epicenter - did not win a seat on the standing committee. I thought the resolution concerning the cost of Camp Allen was well intentioned but badly written (who still uses direct mail? ;-) Our own Rev. Miles Brandon presented the resolutions and did an eloquent job. The delegates from All Saints' were appropriately loud, voted with confidence, and did not lose their good sense or their sense of humor. I was proud to be there with them.
The crew from Saint David's - easily identifiable in their bright tie-die shirts - were terrific hosts. Registration was easy, the help desk was helpful, and the gatekeepers monitored entry to the council floor politely and well. Outside the Austin Grand Ballroom, over 60 exhibitors offered merchandise, services, and information about the missions and industries of our diocese. I spent my time between sessions looking at some colorful work from Colores del Pueblo and learning more about the Stewardship Commission, Camp Allen, the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission, and the Iona Center. I was hoping to run into representatives from other young adult groups in the diocese, but only managed one brief Vocare' conversation. We may need to dig into this before the next council...
The afternoon session took on a serious tone as the council took up the difficult work of voting on the proposed constitutional and canonical amendments. Click the link and have a read... votes on on constitutional and canonical changes can impact the shape of the church, the definition of its mission, and the future of many parishes across the country.The constitutional amendment, article 1, section 1.1 was considered first. The proposals brought by the Committee on Constitution and Cannons each included a brief statement of 'rationale'. The rationale for the constitutional amendment seemed insufficient - it contained a brief explanation of the terms to be changed, but offered no clear reason *why* the change should be made. Father Mike joined in the floor debate and asked for detailed clarification on this point. No sufficient clarification was offered, the question went to vote (a 2/3 majority in both the clergy and lay order being required for adoption of the resolution), and was defeated. The vote tally was 69 clergy against the resolution and 102 clergy for the resolution.
Next, the canonical amendment to repeal canon 43 on moral discipline was considered. I found the rationale for the proposal interesting and the comments from the committee useful. However, the subject under debate moved quickly away from the proposed rationale and became a very strangled discussion about the blessing of gay marriage. Discussion may be the wrong word... of the people who took the floor one sermonized and quoted scripture, one shared a cute anecdote about a sheep, and several tried to put themselves on the record regarding gay marriage without really addressing the proposed amendment. The amendment was defeated by a vote in the lay order.
All told, I was pleased to be attend council and pleased to learn a bit more about our legislative process. Thanks for sending me. I'd love to do it again.
BTW, there is a nice view of Saint David's from the 6th floor of the Hilton.
Pax,
Joey
