by Bill Exner
The call to make peace has been heard in this Church. Many, who as psalm 126 says, 'have sowed with tears' in conventions past are feeling that perhaps there is hope to 'reap with songs of joy.'
The 76th General Convention brought outstanding people of faith together to do a good many things, not the least of which was to say yes to justice in a variety of ways. What a consistant response of spirit we have witnessed! From the affirmation that all the baptized have a place at every level of life in this church to a landmark vote to support selective conscientious objection to war, to the call for single payer health care reform, to condemning the use of government torture inside and outside this nation, to urging our President and policy makers to take the lead on dismantling nuclear weapons, to upholding workers' access to collective bargaining, to standing with our Native American relatives, to advocating for gay,lesbian and transgendered civil rights , to care for this earth and much more, The Episcopal Church made the All Star team even with a small market payroll.
Reinhold Niebuhr once said something to the effect that Christian nonviolence seems impractical to the wordly but nobody can say it is not biblical. From where I stand today it is clear that this community of Christ is now ready to show the world a denomination ready and present to practice the biblical imperative of love we preach. Thanks be to God for a witness to grace operative in this world. Blessings and hope to all who yearn to share this song of joy composed at the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
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