Anaheim Redux

It seems like just yesterday that I was embarking on my career as a blogger on my way to the Lambeth Conference. Actually the date was July 6, 2008 so I’m not too far off. Back then at the time of my first posting, I wasn’t sure as to what I had committed to do and guess what – I must be a slow learner because I am at it again. Welcome to the first of my series of blog postings, before, during and after the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church.

Next week, it will be back to Anaheim. My first General Convention was the 68th held in Anaheim in 1985 and it seems that I am book-ending this portion of my church life with a return to where it all began. Twenty-four years ago, I was an alternate deputy from the Diocese of Long Island. Our clerical deputies were Ed Wisbauer, Al Palmer, Dominic Ciannela and Herb Thompson. The lay deputies were Bill Finn, Ken Miller, Bob Royce and Vince Nardiello. Talk about the “Old Boy’s Club!” The big question and I mean really big was who was going to take a day off so that I could sit. After cajoling and frankly annoying the men, Ken Miller turned out to be the gentleman and gave me his seat.

Upon certification as a deputy, I took my seat at the Long Island table and Marge Christie from Newark, who will be a deputy again this year and has been for every convention in between, rushed over to welcome me on to the floor, and welcome me as a woman, to the Long Island deputation.

I remember being overwhelmed with the sheer size of the undertaking. I also remember being on the floor when the Bishop of Hawaii, Ed Browning, was confirmed by the House of Deputies as the 24th Presiding Bishop. I remember his innocent yet very famous utterance “there shall be no outcasts.”

Twenty-four years later, I am returning to Anaheim to again be overwhelmed by the sheer size of the undertaking, to this time await the confirmation of Lawrence Provenzano as bishop co-adjutor for Long Island, and to be in a community that continues the struggle for full inclusion in order that Ed Browning’s utterance may come true and we all can say “Our church has no outcasts!”