GC81 BRIEF Reflection

I was thrilled to attend General Convention in Louisville KY, where my favorite modern mystic Thomas Merton had a vision of everyone “shining like the sun” on the now-famous street corner: Fourth St. and Muhammad Ali Blvd. I was not expecting this vision to become such a “touchstone” for our entire convention, which is exactly […]

Day 6 of GC81 (June 28, 2024)

On Day 6 (the final day) of General Convention 81, we gathered for our Closing Eucharist in which we celebrated poet and civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson, author of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a hymn that has been known as the Black national anthem. Presiding Bishop Elect Sean Rowe preached on Ephesians 6:10-18 […]

Day 5 of GC81 (June 27, 2024)

On Day 5 of GC81, we passed important Creation Care resolutions, including one proposed by the NorCal deputation to provide funding to help support The Episcopal Church’s (TEC’s) journey to net carbon neutrality by 2030 (D050), reinforcing a commitment made at GC 80 (A087 – 2022). We passed a resolution that encourages TEC to work […]

Day 4 of GC81 (June 26, 2024)

Day 4 of General Convention 81: Along with electing and confirming a new presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church (Sean Rowe), we also affirmed the goal of full communion with the United Methodist Church (A049); accepted an agreement of full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria (A037); commended closer relations with the Presbyterian […]

Day 3 of GC81 (June 25, 2024)

Today (Day 3 of General Convention 81), I met the dean of Canterbury Cathedral, the president and dean of Church Divinity School of the Pacific, the 4th century bishop of Myra, a member of the Anamchara Fellowship, and the former dean of Trinity Cathedral Phoenix. Regarding legislation, we passed resolutions that: – approved the expansion […]

Day 2 of GC81 (June 24, 2024)

On the second day of General Convention, we deputies discussed the budget in a joint session with the house of bishops in the morning. In the afternoon, we passed a resolution designating the Sunday closest to October 10th as Mental Health Awareness Sunday, with the objective of encouraging open dialogue about mental illness and encouraging […]

Day 1 of GC81 (June 23, 2024)

On Sunday (June 23, 2024), the first official day of General Convention, we began with Holy Eucharist led by the Bishop of Kentucky (the Right Reverend Terry Allen White). After passing many resolutions about rules of order, we also passed a resolution that calls for the protection of the water of O’ahu that continues to […]

Day 0 of GC81 (June 22, 2024)

The Tragic Downfall of King saul

Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Year B – Track 1 – Proper 6) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday June 16, 2024. Today we read about the tragic downfall of King Saul and the anointing of a young shepherd boy named David, who becomes Israel’s most beloved king, […]

Sauntering on a Hill with Evelyn Underhill

Readings for the Feast Day of Evelyn Underhill This reflection was shared at Sacred Saunter Outdoor Eucharist on Saturday June 15, 2024 at Waluplh – Lighthouse Ranch in Loleta CA Evelyn Underhill was an Anglo-Catholic poet, novelist, spirituality scholar, and retreat leader who lived in London during the early 20th century. She is best known […]