Story Sharing

It's impossible to count the number of stories we've all heard in the course of this long and eventful 3rd Legislative Day.

On the way to the Convention Halls this morning my first meaningful encounter was with this massive beast. I can no longer recall his name--it seems like ages ago, and in the hours since I've introduced myself or been introduced countless times.



I miss my two dogs, my constant companions, fiercely so I welcome and appreciate the appearance of any canine. There are service dogs among us and a service dog-in-training, lovely to see. Every day I speak to my husband by phone. He knows where I am and why I'm here. But Ruth and Jewel surely wonder what happened to me.

Our first gathering of the day was Part 2 of our training for Mission Conversation through Public Narrative, The Story of Self. I'm seated at Table 56 with several members of our deputation, our bishop, and our facilitator from W. Massachusetts. We practised telling a 2-minute story of challenge, choice, and outcome in our personal lives and ministry, which is both easier and harder than it sounds. The stories in our group were fascinating and compelling.

From that exercise we moved directly into our daily Community Eucharist, which featured a spiritual reflection by the Archbishop of Canterbury and more wonderful music.

The ASL interpreter signing one of the anthems.



I wish I'd paid better attention to the signing so I could pick out the difference between the sign for "Bishop" and the sign for "Archbishop"!

After lunch I offered my first-ever testimony before a committee of Convention. (And thanks to retired Bishop Doug Theuner for his supportive presence!) A multitude of persons spoke in favour of a D-034, the resolution that would maintain Episcopal Life, our denominational newspaper, as a monthly publication, and change the membership of the governing board, and so on. I was one of the earlier speakers in the line-up. An overwhelming majority--lay and clerical deputies, bishops, diocesan communications officers--urged support of D-034, and again I had an opportunity to hear fascinating stories about the value of the publication to dioceses.

Our Legislative Session began at 4 p.m. Here's what it looks like in our general area:



We tried to vote on trustees of the Church Pension Fund but there was confusion about the process and some difficulty with the technology (electronic vote recorders) so we special-ordered that activity to another time.

My seat-mate, Deputy Deb, ponders a resolution:



Electing (actually, re-electing) a President of the House of Deputies was done as a voice vote. She then went to the podium surrounded by members of her family and deputation.



The Chair of the World Mission Committee presented History and Context, a timeline of how resolution B-033 was enacted three years ago by the previous Convention and developments since that time. Then the Vice Chair, our very own Senior Deputy, explained the Issues and Options we face in this Convention in response to that decision.



Deputies then spent 30 minutes in one-on-one conversation with another deputy--who had to be a stranger--answering three questions related to B-033.

Yes, sharing of more stories, a particular theme of this day. My partner in conversation had a very intense and immediate and direct connection to B-033. I can never think about that issue in the same way as a result of his witness.

Secretary Straub was sporting a delightful tartan coat today. Where does he shop?



After dismissal, members of our deputation headed for our hospitality parlour where we shared the stories and insights we'd heard from our conversation partners.

At 8:00 the World Mission Committee held a 2-hour open forum on all B-033-related resolutions coming before this convention. Only a couple of members of our deputation had commitments in their own committees and were unable to attend. We were there in force, and so was our Bishop.

After hearing so many personal narratives in the course of the day, and then well into the night, I became convinced that Episcopalians are in fact very capable of telling their stories very concretely, concisely, and compellingly. The youth were among the most articulate and insightful of the speakers. I've no idea what the fate of the many, many resolutions relative to B-033 will be. But the dialogue and listening taking place is respectful and grace-filled and it is a privilege and a blessing to be present for it.