Tuesday at General Convention

OK, the amazing thing is - General Convention doesn't even begin till tomorrow.  You wouldn't know it by me, though - I started at 8 this morning and finished at 9 tonight.  Here is what happens the day before General Convention begins:

• 8 am to noon - First Meeting of the Evangelism legislative committee, of which I am a member
• Noon - Grab quick sandwich
• 12:30 to 1:30 - Budget Priorities Hearing - at which I testified in support of my resolution on the Five Anglican Marks of Mission as strategic priorities for the church
• 2:00 to 3:45 - Joint Session of House of Deputies and House of Bishops; long speeches from Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies; introduction to "Public Narrative" (a storytelling method that is supposed to lead us into mission conversations)
• 4:00 to 5:15 - Orientation to the House of Deputies (included detailed instructions on how to push the "yes" and "no" buttons to vote, and a rather amusing reenactment of a pretend resolution that would have required each diocesan delegation to adopt a "mascot")
• 5:00 to 7:00 - reception for Network of Ministry Innovators, a group of church planters and redevelopers of which I am member; good chance to catch up with some friends
• 7:00 - attended World Mission committee hearing and testified in support of my resolution on the 5 Anglican Marks of Mission
• 7:30 - joined my own Evangelism Committee's hearing on several resolutions, in progress
• 9:00 - back in my room, eating a pasta salad I bought at 7-11 on the way back from the Network reception; with homework to do for tomorrow - read a 26-page Strategic Plan for Latino/Hispanic ministry, to be prepared for tomorrow's committee hearing

I am not sure what will happen with my 5 Marks of Mission resolution.  The President of the House of Deputies, Bonnie Anderson, has also proposed a Marks of Mission resolution, but hers just says that we will "adopt" the Marks of Mission without requiring us to do anything about them.  Mine requires that they become budget priorities.  Mine also has a crucial paragraph that recognizes that all Christian ministry flows out of the fact that Christ has transformed our hearts and minds, and therefore reaching new believers needs to be at the heart of our church's mission.

However, I am skeptical of my resolution's chances.  It's a long shot - but maybe the committee will decide to combine the two resolutions - which is fine with me.  

At any rate, this is a fascinating process.  And an exhausting one.  And a delightful one - I have seen many old friends, and made many new ones.  This is a group of dedicated, thoughtful, intelligent, interesting people, and it is a privilege to work alongside them.