General Convention Deputy Blog

Deputy Blog for July 9, 2022, by Sarah Shipman

As someone who spends part of her workday following the Kansas legislature, the activities of the GC are at the same time familiar and foreign. Speakers are articulate, informed, and passionate on the resolutions in front of the body. Parliamentary procedure is observed and there are messages from the House of Bishops and gentle ribbing between the chambers. We vote both by voice vote and electronic ballots. There is a daily consent calendar and we then move on to the the legislative agenda. Occasionally, a speaker reminds us of the ministry involved in governance, and to my mind, it is the hard work of governance that allows for ministry to occur.  The HOD is led by the Spirit as we do the hard work of governance. (Just an aside, I have never seen members of the KS legislature trading pins and friendship bracelets, but I suggest it might be a good idea!)

Today, the first major order of business after morning prayer was elections. Elections are a serious affair and are governed by a variety of rules in the canons of the church. Deputies are well versed in the rules, so much so that certain elections had to be briefly postponed to consult with the authorities on the matter and will be completed in the afternoon session.

The back of the convention hall is set with tables containing campaign materials and deputies are sporting bracelets, fans, and buttons for their preferred candidate. Ahead of GC, Zoom candidate forums allowed deputies to get a feel for the candidates.  

Although there were multiple elections (treasurer, pension fund trustees, executive council, disciplinary board, among others) the election for the President of the House of Deputies drew the most attention. The HOD is the oldest of the two houses as it was the only House in the first General Convention in 1785. The President presides over the HOD when it is in session. Additionally, the President serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Council and appoints clergy and lay members to various committees. The Reverend Gay Clark Jennings, the first female clergy elected to serve as President at the 77th General Convention in 2012, is prohibited from seeking another term and steps down at the end of this General Convention.  

It has been my honor to have been selected to participate in the election of officers of the church. My prayers are with the newly elected and I thank them for their willingness to serve.

Deputy Sarah Shipman, Grace Cathedral