Being attentive to the needs of the body was a very important life lesson on the Camino.
Joyce Rupp: Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino

Those of us preparing to leave General Convention can attest to the importance of being attentive to our bodies. Ten days of early morning hearings, long legislative sessions, evening gatherings and late-night meetings take their toll. Yet a big part of the Convention’s work has been listening to the larger body that everyone here came to represent - the Body of Christ.

Last night, your diocesan deputation met one last time to reflect on what we’ve heard and what we feel inspired to bring home. From the hundreds of resolutions passed and initiatives discussed, what four or five things did we hear from and for the Body of Christ?

We spoke of the exciting conversations regarding the need for significant and creative restructuring of the Episcopal Church, to let go of things that no longer serve God’s mission and keep us from living into our full potential. This national conversion mirrors what we’ve been pondering on the diocesan level. It’s exciting and affirming to know that we are not alone in this work and that there’s much we can learn.

We spoke of the process of collaborative leadership that produced some of the best legislation of the Convention. In committee, small groups wrestled for days with challenging issues, until by grace and hard work clarity emerged. One such graced result was a multi-faceted resolution on how we might unify and deepen our collective efforts to address and alleviate poverty. The resolution offers a framework to strengthen and coordinate our many efforts throughout the diocese. Another resolution addressed our collective call to pray and promote peace in the Middle East and to support the Diocese of Jerusalem. Still another addressed our commitment to the wider Anglican Communion.

Through this Convention we now have an authorized, provisional liturgy for same-sex blessings, with the hope that these liturgical resources will continue to be refined and expanded in the future. Daily worship at Convention that reflected the breadth of our liturgical and musical traditions inspired us to develop diocesan worship services that reflect the fullness of who we are as a diocese and who God is calling us to become. Several from the deputation have volunteered to work on this worship planning team, and we’ll widen the circle soon.

I was struck, both in worship and deliberation, how often and easily we as Episcopalians evoked the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our midst. I was moved and inspired by the witness of others, and I rejoice in our growing confidence as a Church to claim our identity as Jesus’ disciples and need for continual discernment of the Spirit.

Others will continue to share their reflections and experiences in coming weeks and months. I give thanks for every member of our deputation. Right now, we are all attentive to our own bodies and recognize the need for rest. But we will re-group soon, for we have much to tell, and even more to hear, as we continue being attentive to the Body of Christ that is all of us.

Faithfully,

Bishop Mariann