Bishop Brian Cole
Hi. This is Bishop Brian, and I am with Leigh Preston today. Leigh serves as one of our co-chairs of our deputation to the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, and there have been some recent changes in the schedule for General Convention that we wanted each East Tennessee Episcopalian to know about. Leigh, so we have some different dates. And I know this is related to COVID protocols and concern about managing COVID. So right now, what are the dates that we have for General Convention?
Rev. Leigh Preston
Right. So, the Presiding Officer has asked for a smaller and shorter convention and they’ve rescheduled it for July 8th through 11th. So it’ll be just four days now instead of eight.
Bishop Brian Cole
And I’m aware that the the one good outcome, well several good outcomes, of this will allow more people to participate. So, if I’m an East Tennessee Episcopalian and I’m not a deputy, I’m not an alternate, how might all those East Tennessee Episcopalians still engage General Convention?
Rev. Leigh Preston
Yeah. So this is a good thing about the shift this year. Legislative committees have been working online and holding virtual meetings and hearings for the past several months, and there will be several more hearings in the next few weeks in June. We’ve been asked to conclude our meetings prior to General Convention to get the bulk of our work done before gathering in person. And so anybody can attend those legislative hearings. Brother Andrew will share a calendar of the meetings and hearings. And if you register in advance, two days in advance, then you can attend as an observer or provide testimony at any of those meetings.
Bishop Brian Cole
Awesome. And I know you mentioned both the calendar and also I think he’s going to share with folks both at the Living Church and Episcopal News Service that have pretty robust ways to follow general convention as well.
Rev. Leigh Preston
Yes, they’ve had great coverage so far. The Living Church has outlined all of the changes to the legislative process in a help article and in essence provided some helpful articles as well.
Bishop Brian Cole
I’m aware that probably because of our short amount of time, we’re going to do less business together. But I’m aware that there’s in the House of Deputies, you all will be electing a new president and vice president of the House.
Rev. Leigh Preston
We are electing a new president, a new vice president. There were five candidates who participated in an online forum, I believe it was on Saturday, and there will be another one next weekend as well.
Bishop Brian Cole
Some you know, I’m aware that in thinking about the Diocese of East Tennessee, what we learned how to do zoom gatherings during COVID, I’m curious about what might we be learning about now and going forward with General Convention as far as how we gather and engage folk?
Rev. Leigh Preston
That’s been interesting. Participating in online meetings over the past few years, they’ve made them more accessible. It’s made it more affordable. And I’m hopeful that some of the changes that we’ve had to enact because of the pandemic might lead to longer term modifications so that we can have more diverse representation in the House of Deputies, at General Convention. Traditionally an eight day in-person general convention has been difficult for some people to be able to participate in for lay leaders or part time and vocational clergy who can’t get the time away from work or for parents of young children who can’t participate fully for those eight days. So I’m hopeful that shifting to some virtual meetings and gatherings in advance of convention and possibly shortening general convention in future years will make it more accessible and more diverse.
Bishop Brian Cole
We will watch that because there are so many committees and so much to be watching. If I am kind of new to this process and want to get some help on where to begin to look at this in particular committees that you would direct people to to consider checking in on?
Rev. Leigh Preston
Yeah, I think some of the exciting ones are prayer book, liturgy and music. People always love attending those hearings and thinking about liturgical matters, Racial Justice and Reconciliation that committee has been very busy and has a lot of really significant resolutions that they’re working on. Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation is another one to be watching, but really anything that folks are interested in the church, they can find a committee and attend hearings related to that.
Bishop Brian Cole
Awesome. And can we remind folks who are clergy and lay deputies and first alternate are for this? So for clergy Leigh Preston, Cal Calhoun and RJ Powell and Derrick Hill and who am I forgetting?
Rev. Leigh Preston
April Berrends.
Bishop Brian Cole
April Berrends. So does that you?
Rev. Leigh Preston
Yep.
Bishop Brian Cole
And then for lay deputies Sinead Doherty, Beverly Hurley Hill, Sean McEwen, William Simerly and Bill [inaudible].
Rev. Leigh Preston
Steverson, Bill Steverson.
Bishop Brian Cole
Steverson. OK. Awesome. So, good thoughtful folk who were engaged with Synod at Camp McDowell and will be good representatives of our diocese at General Convention.
Rev. Leigh Preston
Yeah. And six of us have been serving on legislative committees, six out of the ten and have been really involved in the work of General Convention over the past six months plus in addition to serving on various interim bodies. So, we welcome questions and conversation. I would love to hear from folks in the diocese.
Bishop Brian Cole
I am serving on parish and diocesan vitality. So looking at questions of how to both measure that and how to encourage parish and diocesan vitality. And Mariann Budde, and is the chair for the House of Bishops in doing good leadership there. Well, thank you again, Leigh Thank you for your good leadership along with Sinead of these deputies, and look forward to seeing you in Baltimore.
Rev. Leigh Preston
Thank you.