General Convention

I’m getting a slight ‘end of term’ feeling at this point. The ferry for Donegal is booked. Poppy has her bucket and spade packed. The reading list is being prepared ..

But just for now I am in Indianapolis as a guest of the Episcopal Church at their General Convention. This is the three-yearly meeting – their major legislative moment. It’s one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in the world. And they invite Primates from other provinces to come and join them

So I’m here until Sunday and I’m doing what I enjoy most – making contacts and building relationships.

I have three things in view. One is to make sure that the Scottish-American connections are in good order. And they are. Two is to build relationships among the visitors from the wider Anglican Communion. Three is to try and find my way into the smoke-filled rooms in which the Anglican Covenant is being considered – it’s important that hesitancy about the Covenant does not translate into anything like hesitancy about the Communion.

7 comments

  1. Greetings, Bishop David. I’m delighted to know you are here and I hope you are able to testify this evening. Malcolm French (Canada) and Lionel Deimel (USA – Pittsburgh) will be there, as well. Thank you for all you are doing to defeat the Anglican Contract.

    1. Thanks Elizabeth – I’m actually supposed to be at a dinner with the Presiding Bishop at that time. I’m not over-eager to be part of a No movement – better to help people to say Yes to the Communion. And that applies equally to the budget hearings tomorrow. My US cell number is 631-903-0709

  2. Primus David,

    I’m the Moderator of the No Anglican Covenant Coalition. I’m also here in Indianapolis, working on the Covenant issue. My colleague, Lionel Deimel (the TEC Convenor for the Coalition) and I would very much appreciate the opportunity to meet with you. As you may know, the Committee dealing with the Covenant meets tonight (Friday) at 7:30. That would be the ideal place for you to share your concerns in the relevant “smoke-filled backroom”. You’d need to be there by 7:00 pm. Room Five at the J.W. Marriott.

    We are at the Westin – 317.262.8100

    1. Dear Malcolm

      Thanks for that. You can understand that I am cautious about being over-identified with a No movement. This is a matter for TEC and visitors should stay respectfully on the sidelines. I am supposed to be at a dinner with the Presiding Bishop this evening and I don’t know whether I shall be able to come after that. I think that the budget hearings tomorrow are equally important in respect of shaping positive attitudes to the Communion even if attitudes to the Covenant are questioning.

      My US cell number is 631-903-0709

  3. Blessings, Bishop David! I hope you connect with our two representatives from No Anglican Covenant Coalition, Malcolm French and Lionel Diemel. Be assured that everyone in our international coalition is firm in the desire to continue in the Anglican Communion, though we don’t believe the Anglican Covenant is the solution to our problems.

    1. Thanks very much for that. You’ll see my response to your friendsa about the Covenant. My US cell number is 631-903-0709. It would be good to meet or at least talk after all this time!

  4. Hearings tonight (Friday) on Covenant — hope you are there — go to meeting room at 7 p.m. to sign up to testify.

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