Journey from the General Convention into the church

For the House of Bishops the General Convention ended about 4:00PM on Friday. It is the first time I remember having completed all the business and work of the Convention before the absolute last minute required to adjourn. That was a shock but a good thing. The House of Deputies adjourned about an hour or so later and with both Houses adjourned, the Convention was completed.

The deputation met in the meeting room and we were able to talk about the various resolutions that were not passed with concurrence in both Houses. That is our process which the first Presiding Bishop, The Rt. Rev. William White, implemented because he understood this would allow the Church the surety that bishops, priests and now also deacons and laity share in the structural governance of The Episcopal Church. Having suffered from the abuse of both bishops and presbyters the newly formed body incorporated the fullness of the baptized into the General Convention. That happens when the General Convention meets and that is what has just happened.

We were also able to talk about how we were ready to leave with the work completed and move on from this place. It is a gathering of the family from across the fullness of The Episcopal Church expressing the uniqueness of the various dioceses for good or for ill. The deputation went out to dinner and Kathy and I packed and decided to go for a late supper. All of us are tired. All of us have our “take” on what has taken place here. What has been done and what has not been done. As the days, weeks, and months unfold, we will see some of those resolutions again and experience what they have called us too as the People of God. I found an interest article in the Wall Street Journal 17 July 2009 by Philip Jenkins entitled Their Separate Ways. It was a good article but seemed to have missed the reality that we did not implement a canonical change in the ordination of persons but in the access to the discernment process leading up to the process. It may be a fine point and I have no doubt in my mind where it is leading, but that major step has not yet been taken. It also has asked the rest of the Anglican Communion to look with us into this process and the process of Blessing same gender relationships. This is also, what Lambeth asked us to do as a part of the Anglican Communion. Going our separate way is exactly what we did not do and those resolutions that called for us to do that or implied we were doing that were rejected. There were times that each House walked a fine line but I believe that as a Convention (The Episcopal Church) that line was not crossed.

I look forward to being home within a few weeks and having time to visit various areas with members of the deputation to share with those who are interested in what we did. On Saturday the 25 July, the deputies will gather at Christ Church Cathedral for the initial presentation and express my thanks to them for this time of sharing. I also thank them for the blogs that were sent out to share with the diocese what was happening from each of their unique perspective. I also express my thanks to Cindy McCrory for her work of bringing us all the news of the happenings and goings on while we were here. She was able to gather that news because of the embrace of the new technologies available through the Church office.

Kathy and I now leave for San Francisco and will be staying at Grace Cathedral for a few days. On the way, we will stop in Oxnard and visit the mother of our son’s godfather for a few hours. We then are going to Davis where I will preach and celebrate on Sunday at the local parish church. Please do keep the Church, the Diocese, and our deputation in your prayers. May the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ bless us all and keep us in His grace and love.

PAX, Bishop Duncan

This part of the journey nears its end

(Written late Thursday evening, July 16)

Today was an interesting day which, at least for the bishops, was more relaxed and not as frenetic as the last few days. Perhaps it is because we are working in closer relationship and seeking to get all the work completed, but not invested in always having to have our own way. Nor are we seeking to make what we want the focus of what is the right thing to do. I value those with whom I often disagree because I trust them and believe that they trust me. That is a difference between our two houses. Another difference is that the House of Bishops meets twice a year during the three years between the General Conventions. Bishops are members of the House of Bishops by their office and not elected every three years. Bishops serve for the entire time they are seated as bishop within the diocese and may continue to service after retirement. Members of the House of Deputies must be elected at the diocesan convention every three years. It seems to me (having been both a deputy and alternate) that this is an important difference between the two houses.


During this General Convention a number of resolutions were enacted regarding Evangelism. A063, A065, A066 and A067 all pointed to what evangelism seeks to accomplish and encourage us to do. D027 speaks to the Mission Strategy of the Church and lists the Five Marks of Mission. These resolutions are all very fine and I hope that you will read them over and help use them within the various congregations to which we all belong. D038 is a resolution which is close to my heart. Mission Strategy for reaching Latinos/Hispanics is one which I believe our Diocese could use to grow and do ministries for the present and future. I have stated in past Diocesan Conventions this is a need, but it is still not implemented within the ongoing life and work we share. I believe I understand why that is and that makes me sad. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, pray therefore that the Lord will send more laborers into the harvest. We need to have coherence with what is needed and what we want to do. After all, this ministry is the Lord’s work and we are sent by him to proclaim and be disciples.

At our last Diocesan Convention, Stewardship was a major focus for the work and ministry we are called upon to share as the People of God. D055 focused on tithing as the minimum standard of giving for Christians. It was offered as a challenge to all of us as we seek ways to move forward in our walk with Christ. I would commend both this resolution and the work of Stewardship, both at this General Convention and in our Diocese, to all of us. It reminds all who we are and whose we are called to be. This material also ties into the work and programs offered through our diocese. It was fine work and important work for us all.

Finally, after the House of Deputies debated the budget for a number of hours, it was brought to the House of Bishops for action. I expected it to take a few hours of work to approve the budget but it took less than ten minutes from start to finish. That was a very fine blessing for us. However, with all the cuts, we also need to find ways to do ministry and seek funds to support ministry. On a personal note, because of the cut, a consultant for Ecumenical and Inter-religious work was terminated and that is tragic. We need people who support the work and ministry that bring us together in the cause of Christ.

Tomorrow is the last day of General Convention. May Christ bring us all together in the mission and ministry we are called to offer in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

PAX, Bishop Duncan

The Journey includes subsidiarity

Throughout the day, Wednesday 15 July, we worked on various resolutions as we prepared to hear the budget from Program, Budget and Finance Committee in a joint session with the House of Deputies in the early afternoon. The budget is on line and I have not had time to study it in much depth, so I will only say that from my initial impressions looking over the document is that it is obvious that the cuts are deep and the ministries across the board are affected. The economic situation has made a deep impact upon The Episcopal Church in it mission and ministry. One of my fellow bishops reminded us all that this is the time to understand again the Doctrine of Subsidiarity which only means that whatever needs to be done should be accomplished on the lowest level possible. So rather than have The Episcopal Church do certain ministries, individual dioceses, congregations and laity should be encouraged to do the ministry to which we are all called through our Baptisms. That is one way of looking at this challenge as opportunity for us to find ways to reach out and into those areas within our local communities (and beyond) that need to hear the Word and experience the Healing Touch of the Gospel. That is my reflection as I try and put a more hopeful “spin” on our need to do mission and ministry.

During the late afternoon the House of Bishops considered Resolution C056 which we had begun the day before. It was a contentious resolution for many of us and we formed a committee that would bring back a substitute resolution expressing a more pastoral response to those in need and with which we could find some hope for all of us in the future. The substitute resolution after vigorous debate and many failed and accepted amendments finally passed the House of Bishops with a margin of 3 to 1. Let me say here that although I voted in the negative, that if it is passed in the House of Deputies, it is a resolution with which I can live and I believe could bring us closer together in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. It is not a perfect document yet it is truthful about where we are as a society, The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. In a conversation last evening I was asked what “spin” I was going to put on this resolution. I thought for a minute and said, “The truth as I experience it.” I am very grateful to my fellow bishops who worked on this resolution and listened to one another. I hope and pray that this collegial and collaborative method of working together (the Indaba approach practiced at the 2008 Lambeth Conference) will continue within the House of Bishops. Today we move into the last push of our work together as the General Convention. Blessing and grace be with you all.

In His PAX, Bishop Duncan