Deputy Blog for July 10, 2022 by Deacon Monte Giddings
Baltimore, I suppose like any city, is a mixed bag of experiences. On the dark side, we hailed a cab for dinner Thursday night but our route was redirected by a large number of police cars not far from our hotel where a man had been shot. Those of you following the Convention know that many of us marched down the next day to demonstrate against gun violence and hear our Presiding Bishop preach in opposition to violence and exhort us to love one another.
On the light side, Baltimore is a very friendly town. It has not been unusual for locals to engage us in conversation as we walk to lunch or dinner. Yesterday I walked into a Chipotle and was standing in line behind two young men in their early 30’s who were grabbing a bite before going to the Orioles game adjacent to our hotel. They were very curious about my attire (wearing a clerical collar) and began asking me all kinds of questions about the Episcopal Church and our convention. When we got to the cash register the young guy who was asking the most questions said to the cashier “And put his order on mine.” Nice treat!
Although I am an alternate, a clergy deputy can sub me in for their position on the floor. Otherwise, alternates are not allowed on the floor which is strictly enforced. This Sunday night, Mother Casey Rohleder who is also President of our Diocesan Council of Trustees, traded me in.
Tonight was the only session in a week of 14 sessions in which the House of Bishops joins the House of Deputies in the same room. They join us basically because this is the session where the Program, Budget, and Finance (PB&F) committee presents the 2023-2024 budget that the committee has put together for the next two years.
Obviously, there are many numbers in the budget which all of you CPA wannabes can find if you go to the Episcopal General Convention website generalconvention.org. When you review the budget, please know it is a two year budget.
I would rather talk about what the budget is focused on. Jesus said in Luke 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Consequently, the church’s approximate two year (biennium) budget of $100,000,000 is built on three pillars: Evangelism, Racial Reconciliation & Justice, and Environmental Stewardship. These areas of emphasis are parsed out in many different action expenses embedded in the budget.
You might be interested to note that a little under $58,000,000 annually of that budget comes from the dioceses, much like our parish apportionments funds the diocese.
After the Bishops heard the budget report, the Bishops went back to their House. Shortly after their departure, the deputies elected Rachel Taber Hamilton as Vice President of the House of Deputies. She is the first ordained person to be elected to that office. The House had elected the President yesterday.
The rest of our afternoon was taken up by a celebration of President Gay Clark-Jennings who has presided over the House of Deputies since her election in 2012. She is the first ordained person to hold this position.
There were several testimonials including a recorded attribute from a former president of the British House of Commons who knows President Jennings personally through her travels on behalf of our church. Another attribute was presented by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
In the evening session, probably the most interesting resolutions for church nerds regarded those affecting the Book of Common Prayer. One resolution opened up further study of revisions for this iconic document. This resolution had been passed unanimously by the House of Bishops before our house voted. It was a “first reading” which means it would require a second reading at the next convention before it can be voted in finality.
A second resolution added a few names to commemorate in the church calendar.
A third resolution passed to further the possible use of alternate liturgies.
The day was long, but fascinating. And please know we got a lot done!
The Venerable Monte Giddings, Archdeacon
835 SW Polk St.