Here's Your Mitre, What's Your Hurry?

There are no royal weddings or baptisms on the docket, Wimbledon has come and gone as has the Royal Ascot, The Queen is at Balmoral, the anniversary of the landing on Normandy Beach has passed and the President is visiting the Pope - so what's the rush? What could be so important that the Archbishop of Canterbury had to rush back to Lambeth Palace? Why would you come this far for your first visit to a General Convention and only stay two days? Hmmm!

General Convention is a complex undertaking and this is my 9th. Dropping in for two overly scheduled days hardly gives anyone an accurate picture of how our bi-cameral legislative process works. Our uniqueness as a member of the Anglican Communion is our inclusiveness where people in all orders participate equally in the decision making process. Thankfully, we are not a "bishop knows best" outfit.

Two days, especially the first two when the Houses were organizing, hardly provided the opportunity to hear the tone of the discussions, see the wrangling over pressing issues and feel the pulse of this living organism, The Episcopal Church, at work.

In his meditation/homily to the Convention, the Archbishop expressed his affection and belief in the Episcopal Church while sharing his anxiety about the affect and effect (my words) of the actions that may come out of Convention.

I think if he had stuck around a bit longer, we might have eased his anxiety.

Watching this deliberative body at work is impressive because when one watches and listens, one sees and hears true democracy in action. And that cannot be appreciated in 48 hours.