General Convention 2009

Dear Diocesan Family,

Every three years The Episcopal Church holds a General Convention to pass legislation and a budget that will fund its mission and ministry for the coming triennium. This summer the 76th such Convention will be held in Anaheim, California from July 8 – 17. 

The General Convention is a big, often boisterous, sometimes contentious gathering of representatives from each of the 110 dioceses of The Episcopal Church. They meet in two “Houses,” in a bi-cameral legislature that is often compared to the United States Congress and Senate. “Deputies” are chosen by diocesan conventions two years in advance, four clergy and four lay persons each. And meeting separately (for the most part) are the bishops. Presently all bishops are entitled to vote, although in the first of two readings, Convention has determined to restrict the vote to active, not retired, bishops. That decision is expected to pass again, on its second reading. 

The Central Florida deputation consists of the following clergy: Canon Ernie Bennett, chair, Dean Tony Clark, Canon Nelson Pinder, the Very Rev. Charlie Holt, and first alternate, the Rev. Phyllis Bartle, and the following lay persons: Dr. Tom Bates, James Brzezinski, Anneke Bertsch, Patty Tew, and first alternate Sonya Shannon.

They and I will be representing our diocese, and we humbly ask your prayers for us and for all the members of Convention.

Following Convention we will give a “debriefing” at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke on Sunday afternoon, July 26 at 2 p.m. 

On another note, I am delighted to announce that Bishop Hugo Pina-Lopez has accepted an invitation to become “Bishop in Residence” at the Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center, following some medical procedures scheduled for this summer.