Highlights from GC80: Day Four

This final day of the 80th General Convention opened, of course, with worship, this time with a sermon from the new President of the House of Deputies, Julia Ayala Harris. In her sermon, Ayala Harris, references "new wineskins for new wine" and the work ahead in our Episcopal Church to continue charting a new course. You can view President Ayala Harris's sermon below, and you will find a transcript of her sermon here.

Legislative matters were wrapped up in the morning session of both houses, to the delight of all who have worked diligently and for very long hours each day of GC80. Commendations were offered from the Committee on Privilege and Courtesy in both houses in recognition of the hard work of individuals and groups who have bene instrumental in the 80th General Convention and the Church. Dr. Rodney Coldren commented on the number of COVID cases from General Convention and applauded the work of all in attendance at GC80; because of their diligence in heeding precautions, they helped protect their fellow attendees by keeping case numbers low; Dr. Coldren urged them to continue doing so, following what President Gay Clark Jennings noted as a "gospel imperative to protect the most vulnerable among us."

Legislation included the reunification of the the Episcopal Church in North Texas with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas (now termed the North Region of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas), resolutions and statements on creation care and the environment, remaining budget business and the path towards adding to the Prayer Book, and the creation of a staff position for LGBTQI and Women's Ministries. You can view the status of all resolutions presented to General Convention in the Virtual Binder.

In her closing remarks to the House of Deputies, President Gay Clark Jennings acknowledged the historic nature of this General Convention, particularly in that for the first time ever, the House of Deputies will be lead by a woman of color, who is also the first Latina elected as President, and led by an Indigenous woman, who is also the first ordained woman to be elected Vice President of the House of Deputies. This General Convention truly fore-fronted the Holy Spirit at work in the Episcopal Church, as pathways were paved for new ideas, new leadership, and "new wineskins for new wine." The work of the Church, of course, is not done, but this General Convention concluded its business by early afternoon on July 11, 2022.

We at the Diocese of East Carolina offer our sincere thanks to our deputation (pictured below) for their hard work in the House of Deputies for the 80th General Convention and for their reports back to us all. We also give thanks for our Bishop, Rob Skirving, for his hard work in the House of Bishops at the 80th General Convention and what he will be able to share with us from the work of that house.

You can view selected significant clips and sermons from the 80th General Convention here, and you can see all things related to this General Convention on the Office of Public Affair's Hub for GC80.