Tuesday, July 3 -- Hello from Austin!

Today included traveling from Memphis to Dallas to Austin, where the afternoon high rang in at about 102 (that's about 39° for those measuring in Celsius). Whew!

The afternoon was pretty quiet: register for Convention, a bite of lunch, check out the Exhibit Hall. One of the great things about coming to General Convention is getting reacquainted with old friends; glad to see a few already.

I also stopped in to check out the worship space for our time here. Every Convention the worship team, lead as before by Sandy Webb from Church of the Holy Communion in Memphis, does a great job of transforming -- even sanctifying -- secular space for holy use. Here's a view of how they are using light to decorate and transform the otherwise bland space.

I am serving this Convention on the Legislative Committee that will be considering resolutions related to the use and possible revision of the Book of Common Prayer. Should we immediately embark on a multi-year project of revising, rewriting, re-imagining the second most document in our shared life? (I think we're smart enough to leave the first most important document as-is!)

Or should we instead begin an intentional process of engaging more fully and more deeply with the Prayer Book as it currently exists? Such an approach would allow time (and, one assumes, financial resources) to prepare modern translations of the Prayer Book into Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole. Other issues our committee will be considering include requests either to modify language in the current Prayer Book (for example, to make the text more gender-neutral) or to add to the text (for example to include language regarding our call to care for God's creation into the baptismal rite).

And then we have various resolutions regarding marriage and related rites. I think we're in for a few engaging and likely challenging days.

Finally, the day ended as the deputation from West Tennessee met to touch base and organize ourselves for the work ahead. As we concluded our time, I noted that our West TN gang includes a Jeanne, a Jeannie, and a Jean, picture below:

Please keep The Episcopal Church in your prayers as undertake our work now through July 13 that we may be guided by Holy Spirit in love, grace, and wisdom.

Thanks for reading. I welcome any comments you may wish to add below.