Condensing 12 days into a few paragraphs is a challenge. I will touch on several major actions but would enjoy conversation with you on issues you wish addressed or concerns you might have.
In a historic action the House of Bishops with concurrence from the House of Deputies elected The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Shori to be the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. She will be the first woman Primate in the Anglican Communion.
Since the consent to the election of the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 and the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster authorization of services for same sex unions, there has been considerable concern in the Anglican Communion over this non- traditional life style. These concerns prompted the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a commission to, “seek ways forward which would encourage communion within the Anglican Communion.” The result of this consultation was the Windsor Report, which has been studied throughout the Episcopal Church. Several resolutions passed at this General Convention were in response to the report. They confirmed the desire of the Episcopal Church to continue to be in conversation with any province of the Anglican Communion and to continue the participation of the Episcopal Church within that Communion. The Episcopal Church has expressed, “apology to those within the Anglican Communion who are offended by our failure to accord sufficient importance to our actions on our church and other parts of the Communion.” The bishops have provided for Delegated Episcopal Oversight for those who disagree or feel isolated because of the actions of General Convention with, “respect for the historical relationship of the separate and autonomous Provinces of the Anglican communion.” Other resolutions committed to participation in discussions of a covenant among members of the A.C., and full participation in a listening process. A final resolution issues a, “call to Standing Committees and bishops to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church.”
Much attention was focused on the Millennium Development Goals as a first priority for the work of the Episcopal Church over the next three years including work in diocese and congregations. In the Diocese of Maine we have already begun the commitment to these goals through our work as a Companion Diocese with Haiti and the contribution of 0.7% of the budget for International development.
The approximately 250 resolutions processed through committees of Convention were revised or combine and then brought to the floor of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies for acceptance or concurrence. Some topics dealt with were liturgy and music, small churches, communications and information technology, a three year budget, youth and young adults, education, revision of the Canons, and justice issues in areas of conflict, hunger and disease.
Of local interest, by action of the House of Bishops, The Rev. Dr. Vesta Kowalski was elected to the General Board of Examining Chaplains. She will participate in developing the examination used in the Episcopal Church for candidates to the priesthood.
Further information may be found on the Diocesan web site and through links to the Episcopal Church web site at www.diomaine.org.
Rita Redfield
