Gay Clark Jennings

Vote early, vote absentee, vote by mail or vote in person! Then, to find out what happens next, read The Episcopal Public Policy Network's new resource, "What to Expect When You're Electing: https://episcopalchurch.org//eppn-election-series-what-exp

Fifty years ago today, 28 women were seated in the House of Deputies after the second reading and passage of the constitutional amendment required to admit them. They followed in the path of Deputy Elizabeth Dyer, who served at the 1946 General Convention. At the link below, you can listen to a recording of the proceedings on the floor in 1970, with House of Deputies President John Coburn presiding. Most of the first women to serve as deputies were never included on the Memorial Roll of the House of Deputies. On Friday, President Jennings announced that she will rectify that omission at the 80th General Convention.

The Task Force on Theology of Social Justice Advocacy would like to hear from Episcopalians about our perspectives on social justice advocacy and how it informs our faith and spiritual lives. Please take the survey at the link below by November 5.

Monday will mark 50 years since the passage of a constitutional amendment permitting women to be seated in the House of Deputies. This morning in her opening remarks to Executive Council, President Jennings told the story of the long struggle for women to take their rightful place in the councils of the church. Voting matters, friends.

Congratulations to Deputy Edwin Johnson of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, who also chairs the Presiding Officers' Advisory Group on Beloved Community Implementation. He is a candidate for bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. The election is scheduled to take place online on December 12.

Since the beginning of the Episcopal Church, we have governed ourselves democratically with the full participation of laypeople, clergy and bishops. What advantages do our democratic structures give us in responding to COVID-19 and systemic racism as we seek "to become a Church of and for all races and a Church without racism committed to end racism in the world? (Resolution 1991-D113). What complementary strengths do the House of Deputies and House of Bishops bring to this ...work, and how might our structures retain their essential democratic character as we respond to the adaptive challenges of the post-pandemic church? On September 15, Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows of Indianapolis and Bishop Deon Johnson of Missouri, both former deputies, considered these urgent questions in a conversation hosted by House of Deputies Vice President Byron Rushing, a sixteen-time deputy from the Diocese of Massachusetts.

Deputy Anna Carmichael of Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin and Deputy Melissa McCarthy of Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles recently spoke to Episcopal News Service about their the wildfires in the Western United States and how their dioceses are responding. Please pray for everyone in the path of the fires, especially for the emergency responders and firefighters. Episcopal Relief & Development has shared this prayer: God of compassion, you created a world for us to know your... love and peace, yet amidst the beauty of creation we encounter pain and hurt and forces beyond our control. At times like these, our hearts are shaken and ache with sorrow at the destruction of our lives, homes and livelihoods. Hear our prayers for those affected by disasters and for all those working to bring relief and fresh hope. Amen.

Join Episcopal Migration Ministries in urging Congress to restore the U.S. refugee resettlement program.

Congratulations to Deputy Diana Akiyama of the Diocese of Hawai’i! She was elected bishop of Oregon yesterday on the second ballot.

President Gay Clark Jennings is the lead signer on a friend of the court brief filed Thursday with the Supreme Court of the United States. The brief concerns a case involving religiously affiliated child welfare agencies that refuse to place foster children with LGBTQ families. As Episcopalians, we believe in the equality of LGBTQ families because of our faith, not in spite of it, Jennings said. It is a false choice to suggest that we must choose either religious freedom or solidarity with our LGBTQ siblings in Christ.

We have very sad news to share. Deputy John Red Bear and Deputy Don Metcalf, both of The Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota, entered the Spirit world last weekend. Deputy Red Bear of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe died of COVID-19 on August 14. Deputy Metcalf of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe died on August 16. Deputy Kim Fonder will conduct both funerals, and arrangements are pending. Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.

President Jennings is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Scott MacDougall, associate professor of theology at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, as theologian of the House of Deputies. In his new role, MacDougall will reflect with deputies on the theological nature of governance, participate in training House of Deputies legislative committee leaders, and provide theological consultation to President Jennings and deputy legislative committees during the 80th General Convention.