Convention Overview

Lee A. Thomas, Convention Visitor

In the afternoon of Thursday, January 29th, several hundred lay and clergy delegates, visitors, staff, musicians, and media representatives converged on downtown High Point to participate in two closely scheduled days of legislative sessions, liturgies, and workshops.

For a noticeable majority of convention-goers, there is a sense of 'homecoming' fellowship and conviviality at this annual event, and the ease with which even strangers met one another's glances and exchanged smiles and greetings was striking. In the lobbies and halls of the hotel and convention center, including the unusually well-located exhibit area, pairs and groups of delegates could often be seen engaging in animated discussion, sometimes relaxed and cheerful, sometimes intense and serious - but never during the legislative sessions.

The business of convention was approached with a clear sense of faithfulness and of vocation for the tasks at hand (including the liturgies); the immense, warehouse-like main meeting room was always full when there was work to be done. Several very large projection screens towered above the convention floor, with a live video feed of speakers and, sometimes, the texts of amended resolutions. This use of technology did much to alleviate a sense of physical detachment from proceedings happening across a hundred yards or more. While a thorough agenda was always provided, some scheduled reports and votes inevitably became fluid in the actual event, and with efficient parliamentary measures Convention readily adapted to overruns of allotted time. It is worthy of note that such overruns rarely occurred as a result of the conduct of regular business: Bishop Curry was a brisk, focused moderator.

The work of Convention was not limited to the floor of the main hall. While the media, regrettably but understandably, were interested primarily in our Diocese's deliberations with regard to the actions of General Convention concerning human sexuality and the Episcopate and in any resulting financial issues, delegates participated in a variety of well-attended hearings on Thursday night, including not only Faith & Morals, but also Program of the Church, National/International Affairs, Social Concerns, and Administration of the Diocese.

On Friday afternoon Convention business went into recess, giving delegates an opportunity to participate in up to two of the following "School of Ministry" workshops:

• How We Read the Bible

• How We Got Here: The Events Leading to General Convention 2003

• Building a Caring Community

• A Christian Response in Times of Conflict and Change

• An Introduction to Servant Leadership

• Reconciliation and Spiritual Growth

Bishop Curry's pastoral address, in two parts, launched and developed the theme of "Gospel-based Discipleship," culminating in a sort of versicle/response with all of Convention, which succinctly expressed his prayer for and his challenge to every parish during 2004 in, literally, "all that we undertake" - liturgies, Christian Education, meetings, social ministry, fellowship -

"The Gospel can change the world"/"And the Gospel is our business."

The Pastoral Address delivered by Bishop Curry at the Diocesan Convention can be viewed online at the Diocesan website: www.episdionc.com.