A letter to Episcopalians from Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings.
Dear Bishops and Deputies:
As this pandemic season stretches on, our profound grief for those who have died is compounded by daily reminders of the economic hardship the plague has brought to many of our communities. Even those who have not suffered great losses are enduring smaller ones, such as the cancelation of graduations, summer camps and other occasions to gather in person. The experience and feeling of loss is real for us all, yet it is important for us to remember that our canceled plans represent our best efforts to love one another as Jesus commanded. That commitment to live and act in the way of unselfish, sacrificial love must guide all of our decisions and actions.
In light of our moral conviction and the realities we now face, it will come as no surprise to you that for many weeks, we have been considering how the pandemic will affect our plans to gather in Baltimore in 2021 for the 80th General Convention. Although we all pray that an FDA-approved vaccine or other safe and effective therapeutics will be available soon, we have concluded with regret that we must plan as if our traditional 10-day gathering of 10,000 people or more will not be possible in 2021.
Last month, we convened the chairs and vice-chairs, parliamentarians, and chancellors of both houses and the executive officer to consider alternative plans for General Convention. Our primary values are the common good and the health, safety and welfare of the people who would come to General Convention and the people we would encounter while traveling and meeting. With these priorities in mind, our task group is working actively to consider various scenarios, including virtual options and postponement, and will make a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Planning and Arrangements. That body will make a recommendation to the two of us, and we will ask Executive Council for their advice and consent to our decision about how and when the 80th General Convention will proceed. We hope to have more news to share as the fall begins.
As we explore new ways to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we share the authority and responsibility of governing our church, we are also committed to supporting our hosts in the City of Baltimore. General Convention represents economic impact of $21-23 million to that city, whose longstanding racial disparities and economic distress have been intensified by the virus. We are grateful for the counsel of Bishop Eugene Sutton of Maryland and his staff as we face these uncertainties together.
Thank you all for your faithfulness to the ministry of governance and your forbearance with what our friends in the Church of England call “the changes and chances of this fleeting world.” May we all rest in God’s eternal changelessness during these extraordinary times.
Faithfully,
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop
The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings
President, House of Deputies
Hardly anyone under 60 years of age dies from C-19. I think that tertiary, and unstated, losses from not meeting to worship and other meetings, are greater than the cost of meeting.
Is it possible that, in our desire to appear holy and loving, we are merely prideful in looking at how Man looks at us?
Don, I think your point explains the TEC decision…..”Hardly anyone under 60 years of age dies from C-19.”
Hardly anyone under 60 years of age attends general convention. They were expecting 10,000 people (“our traditional 10-day gathering of 10,000 people” paragraph 2 above), but only about 500 would likely be under 60.
Which leads me to wonder why on earth they bring 10,000 people when only 1000 of them have anything at all to do. 880 deputies, 110 diocesan bishops, a couple executive officers. Even if you add in all the suffragans and alternate deputies and 815 functionaries, you only get up to 2000. Everyone else has no actual constitutional function. Which would indicate that something on the order of 80% of the expense of this triennial extravaganza is extraneous to the constitutional operation of the organization.
More succinctly:
Hardly anyone under 60 years of age is an Episcopalian.
Hey, while you are at it, go ahead and postpone the 2024 GC. Who knows, there may another plandemic then!
I guess you still have to be an Episcopalian to see the logic in this!
Attendees are not allowed to sip from plastic water bottles therefore they more easily dehydrate from the AC which makes them more susceptible to be mugged in a police free city. It’s complicated.