The pressure’s on

We’re getting testy now.

The legislation is starting to snowball. The clock is ticking. So the word now is: Move it, move it, move it. Git ‘er done. Pick up the pace. Where last week we were deliberate and thoughtful, now we’ve moved into the lightning round.

With too much work and too little time, the attitude in early-morning committee meetings is: Will this do? Let’s don’t beat this one to death. Don’t waste time on a lot of amendments. Good enough is good enough. Yet still we tweak, lest our language trip us up: Should we say “the” Anglican Covenant or “an” Anglican Covenant? Are we talking about a “response” to something or a “commitment” to it? Do we want to mandate this, or just encourage it? Which word will fly in the House of Bishops?

On the floor of the House of Deputies on Tuesday, the tension was showing. President Bonnie Anderson said in so many words that she didn’t want to see a lot of points of personal privilege, announcements, or questions that could be answered elsewhere.

Resolutions approved by the House of Bishops are coming to the House of Deputies. If we tack on any amendments when we approve them, those resolutions will have to go back to the bishops for another approval. Given the short time, chances are good the bishops will never get around to revisiting them. So there was clear pressure among the deputies Tuesday: Forget about amendments, they’re a death knell. Just let it be. We can fix it at the next convention.

There’s little patience for nuance and nicety. There were some cranky exchanges on the floor.

On Tuesday morning, deputies complained that too much time was spent debating amendments, leaving no time to discuss the main motion. So we passed a rule to fix that. By afternoon people were complaining that there was no time to introduce amendments and they felt steamrolled. There will be some motions Wednesday morning to fix this.

Either way, generosity of spirit is in short supply.

* * *

Everyone is talking about D025, the resolution on open ordination (find the text at episcopalcafe.com). But as our bishop, Dabney Smith, said this afternoon, a whole lot more has been approved that hasn’t grabbed the headlines. Such as:

* A major evangelism effort targeting Latinos/Hispanics, creating 46 new congregations in the next three years and finding ways for existing small Anglo churches in Hispanic areas to reach out to their neighbors.

* Five Marks of Ministry, a set of priorities that will guide spending and program from 2010 through 2012. Those proposed priorities are: doing justice and alleviating poverty; claiming our identity; growing congregations; strengthening governance and foundations for mission; and promoting Anglican partnerships.

* Of special interest to Southwest Florida, the missionary Harriet Bedell (1875-1969) has now been placed on the permanent calendar of saints. The church remembers her on Jan. 8. Her commemoration had been approved for trial use in 2006; now this Episcopal deaconess — who worked among the native Americans in Southwest Florida — is approved permanently.

* * *

There will be 10 celebrations of the Eucharist during Convention, each one serving several thousand people at the main altar and at 12 stations around the hall. Here’s what it takes to deliver the body and blood of Christ, according to the Episcopal Life Convention Daily:

16 cases of wine
300 to 400 pounds of bread
120 goblets
12 trays
80 baskets

* * *
We’ll get the budget on Wednesday, and we’re already hearing that every line item has taken a hit, there’s plenty of pain for everyone to share. The bishops on Wednesday will consider a resolution about same-sex blessings. We’ll keep slogging through resolutions, consent calendars and elections.

We deal with stress by nonstop nibbling. At our table we have M&Ms, both plain and peanut, and plenty of homemade goodies, both sweet and savory, prepared by our senior deputy, Joan Kline. Other deputies come trick-or-treating at our table, hoping for a handout, which we’re glad to provide. We’re all in this together. — Judy Stark

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