Major support in this summary came from the Diocese of Fort Worth Episcopal
The General Convention is the primary governing and legislative body of the Episcopal Church and meets every 3 years. It wrapped up a 9 day session in Augstin, Texas on July. Here are 10 things that came out of the meetings
1 . Continued use of the 1979 Prayer Book together with a look toward eventual revision
The 1979 BCP has been memorialized. It may continue to be used with no end in sight.
Work is authorized to proceed on liturgical and prayer book revision. An important goal is to have inclusive and expansive language and imagery, and expression of care of God’s creation. Translations will be provided.
There will be a more dynamic process for discerning common worship. A new 30-member task force on liturgical and prayer book revision with diverse voices will be formed. Bishops are to engage worshiping communities in experimentation and creation of alternative texts to offer the wider church. There will be churchwide engagement on liturgical development.
2. New Rite II options with Expansive Language will be available
It provides expansive language option for Prayers A, B, D expansive for trial use; Prayer C is referred back to committee for possible revision for trial use.
3. New translations for the BCP will be made
The Episcopal church recognized the need for translations and is moving quickly to provide professional dynamic equivalence translation in Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole for any new liturgies materials
A couple of points to make here. 1. The Spanish and French translations of the 1979 BCP are wooden, almost word-for-word translations, thus often unspeakable and generally unworkable. “It’s like you’re thinking in English and trying to write in Spanish,” one speaker shared. 2. On Haitian Creole: Haiti is our largest diocese, and the translation of the 1979 BCP provided for them was French, which only a small part of their population speaks
4. Bishop Curry offered “The Way of Love”
A July 5 sermon by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry introduced the "Way of Love", spiritual practices to "help our church to go deeper as the Jesus Movement, not just in word, but not just in deed, either, but for real. How do we help our folk to throw themselves into the arms of Jesus.?"
There are 7 practices – Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest.
5. A new Diocese has been added – Cuba
The convention welcomed Cuba back into The Episcopal Church after they were cut them off 52 years ago in a tense geopolitical time. Both houses voted unanimously to re-admit the Episcopal Church of Cuba as a diocese of the Episcopal Church. Cuba will become part of Province II. The Bishop of Cuba and her delegation were greeted with a standing ovation.
6. Racial Reconciliation
This Convention has offered expansive conversations on racism and racial healing and spiritual transformation. This topic launched the first TEConversation, held in joint session, with bishops joining deputies in the HOD. The racial reconciliation team developed a reconciliation framework into Becoming Beloved Community, which now is the centerpiece of the Episcopal Church’s racial reconciliation efforts.
7. Marriage rites formalized and expanded
B012 directs that provision be made for same-sex couples to marry in local churches under the direction of the clergy member in charge of the congregation. Bishops cannot prohibit this; that episcopal oversight is removed. It authorizes continued trial use of two marriage rites in current use, and authorizes publication of two more. Those two additional marriage rites are the Blessing of a Civil Marriage and an Order for Marriage . These two rites fulfill a pastoral need for people who have had civil marriages and seek blessing from the church, and for people who want to make a lifelong, monogamous commitment other than marriage (perhaps so they can keep retirement benefits). The new rites will be available on Advent 1.
8 #MeToo movement heard
Convention faced the Episcopal Church’s role in and response to the #MeToo movement with resolutions, reflections and the hope for reconciliation. The House of Bishops invited Episcopalians to a July 4 “Liturgy of Listening.” This service of lament and confession centered on stories of sexual abuse and exploitation in the Episcopal Church. The need for work to rectify gender-based discrimination is seen in equality of pay, sexual harassment, sexual abuse and gross misuse of power. Before convention, close to 30 related resolutions were filed.
9. They rejected a resolution on Israel/Palestine-related divestment
10. Public prayer & public witness
19 buses transported more than 1,000 Episcopalians from the Austin Convention Center to the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, a 40-minute drive from Austin to support parents and children who have been torn apart by immigration law enforcement. There were also public prayers in Austin by Bishops concerning gun violence.