Once again the daily pattern: Committee meetings, legislative sessions, the daily Eucharist, lunch and legislative sessions.
Worship infuses the convention in many ways. We open each legislative session with a meditation and prayer. We interrupt the conduct of business to sing a hymn, we close each session with intercessory prayer. At the close of the morning session on day ten, the ecumenical visitors were introduced. The group of more than twenty people represented Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buhhdists, Hindus, Sikhs and Baha’is from Southern California. A Christian Priest, a Muslim and a Jewish Cantor joined their voices in singing an Abrahamic blessing on the House. An extraordinary moment! Today I had the opportunity to act as a communion assistant at the Eucharist, serving wine.
A portion of the afternoon legislative session was held jointly with the House of Bishops, with Bishop Schori presiding. This joint session’s purpose was to receive a presentation of and conduct a hearing on the proposed budget for the next triennium. Reflecting the economic times, the budget is some $20 million lower than the current budget, and will produce across the board cuts in staff and programs. This is not a happy time in the life of the Church!
Following the joint session the House took a brief recess to give Deputations an opportunity to take group pictures that included the Deputies and the Bishops. Bishop Provenzano and Bishop Ottley joined us. During the recess I sought out the Colorado
deputation in an attempt to say hello to Father Eaton, Dean of the Denver Cathedral, who was a candidate for Bishop of Long Island. Unfortunately he was not attending the Convention. However, in further confirmation that the Episcopal Church is really a small world, one of the Deputies has a father-in-law living in Bayside. I have met many people here with connections to Long Island, either from prior service in the Diocese, having grown up in the Diocese, or having relatives and friends living in Long Island.
We are at a point in the Convention where the resolutions already passed have become to numerous to count, no less keep in our heads. In due course a journal of the convention will be produced that will contain all of the resolutions in an organized manner. We are also at a point where the pressure to get things done has become urgent. There are only three more legislative sessions left.
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