"How was General Convention?"

"So Dee, how was General Convention?" Even though I have only been home for two days I've run into many people who have all asked me this question. In entering into conversations with various people, I have been able to begin to digest everything that I experience in the week that I was at General Convention. To think that I went to Eucharist; handed out fliers; talked about the Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation campaign; walked around with a sandwich board on; promoted the U2charist; testified at the Program Budget and Finance hearing; talked about the Milenium Development Goals; went out to dinner with a crew from RI; went to an evening hearing; a concert; and the to hang out with more Rhode Islanders is a lot to take in - especially considering I did all that in one day! General Convention is a unique experience that is very difficult to explain in few words, but I'm going to try. Everything I did at convention can pretty much be broken down into three categories: legislative; social; and worship. So I will try to talk about my experiences based off of these three groups.

The main thing that I was at convention for was volunteer work. As a National Church volunteer I served as a page in the House of Deputies. Through this my job consisted of delivering messages; making copies of legislation and forms for deputies; and the extremely important task of delivering coffees to the Rhode Island delegation. Now the coffees were probably the most important because, if it were not for the jump start our deputies may not have stayed awake. Yet, while being on the floor I had the opportunity to listen to the debating and voting of many important pieces of legislation. The best part of that job was that on Sunday the 18th, when the announsement was made about the election of a new Presiding Bishop, I was there. I had the opportunity of being on the floor when history was made, with the election of Presiding Bishop Elect Jefferts Schori. I also, away from the floor, has the opportunity to attend several hearings. I went to hearings of Committee 26, also known as the Special Committee, which delt with the Windsor Report among other things. Also sticking to a legislative note I was able to testify at a Program Budget & Finance hearing about the MDGs. Being able to take part in the legislative portion of General Convention was an intense learning experience. I learned how much hard work and dedication goes into the smallest of details concerning legislation. The passion and effort that goes into the meetings, hearings, and then floor debates and votes is intense. It was wonderful to be immersed into the realm of "Church Politics".

Next came the social portion of my trip. Part of the reason I believe I had such an amazing time is due to the people I was with. I got to spend a lot of time with the members of the RI deputation. It was wonderful to meet a few of our deputies to becoming closer to the ones who I knew very well. Besides spending time with Rhode Islanders, my job with Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation had me intereacting with people from all over the national church. From standing at our booth to circulating the exhibit hall, I got to meet a wide variety of people and form some wonderful friendships. It was an added bonus for me that I got to see people that I met last summer at the Episcopal Youth Event and last April at the Pathways to Ministry Conference. Before arriving in Ohio I was told General Convention is like a massive family reunion, and that is a perfect description. Meeting so many different people from around the country and the world was a constant reminder of the incredible size of the church.

Finally comes the worship part. On Sunday June 11th, before I left for Colubus, I continued my tradition of serving the eight o'clock service at Christ Church in Lincoln. At our service we average about 23 people, and I think that Sunday we had 25. The following morning I attended the daily Eucharist at General Convention, which I am told had several thousand people there. A slight difference. This in itself was also a reminder of the size of the church. Yet throught the various forms of worship I began to truly learn the value of diversity in the church. That we can all come together, as different as we may by, yet still worship and eat around the same table.

While at convention my two favorite services were the U2charist and the Intergity Eucharist. I particularly enjoyed the sermons at both events. Bishop Curry's sermon at the U2charist was all about being a witness, and Bishop Robinson's sermon at the Integrity Eucharist was all about "Lov(ing) them anyways". Looking back on my time at Convention, all the important lessons I learned fit those two sayings. I learned to stand up for my values, to advocate for justice and equality. In other words to be a witness in the church. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to start walking two by two with other Episcopalians carrying "Episcopal Life", but I have learned to speak up for issues such as peace and equality. I also learned that while doing this I am going to meet people who disagree. Yet, as a Christian I (and we) are called to "love them anyways". In that spirit I found the daily Eucharists so important. That more matter what we fought about during the day, how much we didn't agree, or whatever we were still able to come together around Christ's table every morning and worship together. Despite our differences, for the most part, we were still able to come together.

As a young person looking to the future of the Church, I am filled with hope. I see us beginning to focus on other issues besides sexuality and schism. Now these are incredibly important issues, that do need to be discussed, but that isn't all we are here to do. I see the Church working to truly being an inclusive Church; working towards being a mission minded Church; and to being a Church of reconciliation. This more than anything was the greatest part of General Convention. Seeing the promise and ability of the Church gave me an intense feeling of hope for our future as The Episcopal Church, but more importantly as Christ's body in the world.

Thank you to everyone who helped me attend General Convention, and make it a life changing experience. I hope that all that was achieved - all the good that was done - during the 75th General Convention can continue through the next three years.