Saturday morning, the final day of Convention, was met with a request that business be complete before 12 noon, as Bishop Daniel and many other priests would need to leave for the funeral for The Rev. Josh MacKenzie, who passed away earlier in the week.

But with that request in mind, the legislation for the day was still thorough and many organizations were still given time to talk.

Bishop Marray addressed the convention to express his gratitude for being asked to join the diocese, and spoke of the importance of that role, and what it would do to further enhance the region.

One of the most moving talks of the morning came from Mr. Carl Ragsdale.  Mr. Ragsdale presented on behalf of the Trinity Center.  The presentation, “The Future of Trinity Center,” touched on the center’s need for increased support to help cover the costs of the continual repair needed for a facility that sits in a series a very harsh environments.  ”Every year, expenses at the center go up,” Mr. Ragsdale stated during his speech.  The speech and presentation received an enthusiastic response from the delegates and visitors of convention.  Many expressed heartbreak at the idea of closing the center down.  Ms. Lisa Richey, an alternate delegate on convention said, “There is no place that beats Trinity Center.  Businesses should use this gem for their meetings and retreats.  It is one of the best in the country.” The Rev. Tim Horton stood to say, “We are tired of evaluating this issue, we are ready to see something happen,” and then called on convention to ask that steps be taken to help Trinity Center move towards a capital campaign.

The Millennium Development Goals Committee (MDG Committee) also had a small presentation for convention. The MDG, most often, is a committee that seeks active engagements for convention, and this year was no different.  This year, each delegate was asked to bring a pair of new or slightly used shoes to convention. The shoes collected during this convention will go to the relief efforts in Haiti.

One resolution proposed to the convention was in thanksgiving for the work of Ms. Carol Taylor in the Department of Youth for the Diocese.  Instead of taking a vote, delegate were asked to applaud if they wanted to pass this resolution.  Ms. Carol Taylor was given an overwhelming standing ovation for her work.

They day ended at 11:43 A.M. with all of the work of convention complete.

“One of the things I love about this church is our nature of call and response,” a participant of the 127th East Carolina Diocesan Convention said on the floor on convention.  Delegates to the convention had just finished watching the film, “Traces of the Trade,” and after the table discussions were complete, the floor was then opened for further commentary.  Ms. Katrina Browne, the director of “Traces of the Trade” led the table and floor discussions.  Many stood to tell their sometimes heartbreaking experiences with racism and their hope for a better tomorrow.  ”We have to realize,” said Judy Lynch, “we are all different.”

The movie, “Traces of the Trade,” follows Ms. Browne and members of her close and distant family as they discover their family’s history as the biggest slave trading family in the United States.  They took a journey that lead them to Africa and the Caribbean in search of understanding and the significance their family had on the institution on slavery.  The family goes through the tough emotions of guilt and despair as they come to terms with the history and search for ways to make it better for the future.

“2009 was a full and busy year for our diocesan life and this year promises to be no different,” stated The Rt. Rev.  Clifton Daniel, 3rd,  Bishop of East Carolina during his address.

Bishop Daniel addressed the floor of the 127th Diocesan Convention on Friday, February 5, 2010.   His address gave a narrative to the past year’s events, and helped set the tone for the next year.  Some of the biggest topics of his address were the companion relationship talks with The Diocese of the Dominican Republic, the introduction of the new Bishop Assisting Santosh Marray, the re visioning of the Youth Coordinator position and the decision to let Ms. Carol Taylor go, the need for a pastoral response to the issue of gay and lesbian peoples with the church, and the importance and beauty of the Trinity Center.

One of his talking points was about the state of Hispanic Ministries in this diocese.  ”I believe,” said Bishop Daniel, “that the flood of Hispanics into our region is the greatest evangelistic challenge we will face in our generation, and they are already part of us!”

Bishop Daniel ended his address by saying, “Brothers and Sisters, Jesus calls us always forward in our mission and promises both his guidance and undying presence as he leads us in the way ahead. Even when the way ahead is dim, the road unmarked and the night is dark, we can always trust Jesus’ promise never to desert his Church and always to guide it toward its fulfillment through his love and will. As the Spanish poet Antonio Machado said, “No hay camino. El camino se hace en andar.”  (“There is no road. The road is made by walking.”) We are called to walk as God’s people. We make the road ahead by walking and Jesus promises to be with us every step of the way. In the light of that promise we can walk confidently into the future God prepares.”

There was standing room only in the resolution hearing that was held on Friday afternoon.  Many had showed up to discuss several proposed resolutions, a few of which were considered controversial.

Ires were increased during the discussion of Proposed Resolution #2, which asked for the convention to “Support the the Archbishop of Canterbury.”  The Rev. John Pollock stated that asking to pass this resolution was wrong, as it was an attempt to say that this diocese either supported the Archbishop fully, or not at all.  The resolution, about the election of a gay women as bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles, states that “the election of Mary Glasspool….raises very serious questions not just for The Episcopal Church and its place in the Anglican Communion but for the Communion as a whole.”  It goes on to urge the Bishop and the Standing Committee to vote not to confirm the election Mary Glasspool as Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

The hearing also discussed a resolutions about the Death Penalty, the Anglican Communion Covenant, and one resolution which supported the work of the General Convention.

“I was really surprised at the intense emotion and feelings people had about the death penalty,” said Delegate Casey Ludlum after the meeting finished.  ”I really did not think that would become an issue.”

The second day of convention saw with it the Service of Repentance for the evil deeds of slavery and racism in this region and nation.  The service began with the congregation asking for forgiveness for its actions in the past.  ”Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,” started Bishop Daniel,  ”we are gathered today to express our profound and genuine regret that The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of East Carolina, formed in 1883 by General Convention, supported de-jure and de-facto desegregation and discrimination after slavery was formerly abolished in 1865. We gather to repent, to apologize for our complicity in the injury done by the institution of slavery in its racist and economic aftermath.”

The service acknowledged the injury and abuses of the actions of slavery and asked to “turn from sin.”  It called for churches, schools, and business to have open arms to all races and ethnicities.

Katrina Browne, director of “Traces of the Trade,” a movie which examines the impact of one slave trading family on the family, the nation and the world, gave the sermon for the service.  Her sermon focused on the feelings of guilt and anguish for racism, and how to look to the future where everyone is welcome, and where racism is completely abolished from people’s heart.