wfn.org | [ELD] Environmental issues are on the table at convention / Resolution D025 draws mixed responses /

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

>Episcopal Life Daily
>July 15, 2009

Episcopal Life Online is available at  http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.

>Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:

* TOP STORY - Deputies reject litigation resolution, approve ecumenical
agreement and communications study
* TOP STORY - Resolution D025 draws mixed responses
* TOP STORY - Convention Notebook: Anglican covenant study, Altar Guild  Art
Show, open Communion
* TOP STORY - Convention accepts revised ministry discipline canons
* TOP STORY - Peace Fellowship's young adult representatives are active
advocates for justice issues
* TOP STORY - Environmental issues are on the table at convention
* TOP STORY - Convention reaffirms open ordination process, commitment  to
communion
* TOP STORY - Bishops to consider Rachel's Tears, Hannah's Hopes
* TOP STORY - Abagail Nelson's address at the July 14 General Convention
Eucharist
* TOP STORY - Ecumenical guests raise their voices in song and prayer
* TOP STORY - Convention Daily
* DIOCESAN DIGEST - LOS ANGELES: Episcopalians join hotel worker protest
* MISSION - Money and faith present conflict between scarcity and  abundance,
Schut says
* PEOPLE - Massachusetts bishop honored for his work with campers
* MULTIMEDIA - Image Gallery: National Altar Guild Art Show
* MULTIMEDIA - Image Gallery: General Convention, July 14
* ARTS - Convention worship vestments hold special meaning
* DAYBOOK - July 16: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* CATALYST - Eating the Sun - How Plants Power the Planet

Comprehensive coverage of the Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention  is
available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/107145_ENG_HTM.htm.

>For the General Convention Media Hub, visit
>http://gchub.episcopalchurch.org.

News in Spanish (Noticias) is available at

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81848_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>TOP STORIES

Deputies reject litigation resolution, approve ecumenical agreement and
communications study

>By Sharon Sheridan

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] The House of Deputies  July
14 addressed issues of church property litigation, a study of church
communications, an agreement with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and new
propers for Lesser Feasts and Fasts. Results from a vote by orders
concerning the proposed elimination of voting privileges for retired  bishops
will be announced July 15.

Deputies defeated a resolution addressing the disclosure of the costs of
Episcopal Church property litigation.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112576_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

>Resolution D025 draws mixed responses

>By Jerald Hyche

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] One day after adopting
Resolution D025 by a 2-1 margin, Episcopal Church bishops on July 14  offered
various interpretations when asked about the measure's purpose, its  impact
and why they voted for or against it.

All those interviewed agreed that the declaration makes a dramatic  statement
about the Episcopal Church's stance on the ordination of gay and lesbian
persons -- including their consecration as bishops -- that cannot be
ignored.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112575_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Convention Notebook: Anglican covenant study, Altar Guild Art Show, open
Communion

>By ENS Staff

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] Much happens each day at
General Convention. In addition to Episcopal Life Media's other  coverage,
here's some of what else happened on July 14.

* World Mission committee recommends dioceses study Anglican covenant
* Artists display works at National Altar Guild show
* Clarifications on open Communion urged
* It could be a picture-perfect fundraiser

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112573_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Convention accepts revised ministry discipline canons

>By Mary Frances Schjonberg

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] The 76th General  Convention
has approved an overhaul of the Episcopal Church's ministry discipline
canons, moving them away from a court-oriented system towards one based  on
safety, truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.

The revision of Title IV, Ecclesiastical Discipline, applies only to  clergy
and not laity. It will be effective on July 1, 2011. A related  resolution
(A188) calls for the convention's Program, Budget and Finance committee  to
allocate $15,000 to efforts to educate diocesan personnel about the  changes
and to help them bring their canons into compliance by the deadline.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112574_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Peace Fellowship's young adult representatives are active advocates for
justice issues

>By Janet Kawamoto

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] Far from being wide-eyed  and
shy, the eight 20-something members of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship's
Young Adult Presence (YAP) are very present indeed at General  Convention,
with a deep grasp of issues and an even deeper determination to do  something
about them.

The young adults, who are either college students or recent graduates,  are
all active in their local congregations and dioceses in a variety of  peace
and justice issues, such as food banks, shelters, women's rights, gay  and
lesbian rights, education equality, children's issues, and a number of  other
justice ministries. All of them are first-time General Convention  attendees.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112562_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Environmental issues are on the table at convention

>By Lynette Wilson

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] Climate change, global
warming, economic and environmental justice, creation care, renewable  energy
and nuclear energy and weaponry are among the cadre of  environment-related
resolutions under consideration by General Convention.

The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations (OGR), based in
Washington, D.C., lobbies Congress and the president in response to
legislation passed at General Convention. The legislation also sets the
agenda for the church's Advocacy Center, which includes OGR, the  Episcopal
Public Policy Network, Native American/Indigenous Ministries and
environmental and domestic affairs.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112561_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Convention reaffirms open ordination process, commitment to communion

>By Melodie Woerman

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] The House of Deputies  July
14 concurred with the House of Bishops in their action on Resolution  D025
and passed it as amended.

The resolution affirms that ordination is available to anyone in the  church
through the discernment process outlined in the Constitution and Canons  of
the church. It also said that God's call to ordination is a mystery and
reaffirmed the Episcopal Church's participation in the Anglican  Communion,
while noting that the communion is not of one mind on this matter.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112559_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Bishops to consider Rachel's Tears, Hannah's Hopes

Proposed liturgies address loss related to childbearing and childbirth

>By Sharon Sheridan

[Episcopal News Service] A resolution to add "Rachel's Tears, Hannah's
Hopes: Liturgies and Prayers for Healing from Loss Related to  Childbearing
and Childbirth to the Enriching our Worship" series of supplemental  prayer
book materials has moved to the House of Bishops for consideration.

Rachel's Tears includes multiple services; prayers addressing situations
such as unexpected or unwanted pregnancies, the loss of a child,  termination
of pregnancy, infertility or sterilization, and adoption; and suggested
readings and music.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112552_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Abagail Nelson's address at the July 14 General Convention Eucharist

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] Abagail Nelson, senior  vice
president of programs for Episcopal Relief and Development, presented at  the
Tuesday, July 14 Eucharist at the Episcopal Church's 76th General  Convention
in Anaheim, California.

The full text of Nelson's address is available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112544_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

Ecumenical guests raise their voices in song and prayer

Changes made to saints days in church calendar

>By Melodie Woerman

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] The House of Deputies  ended
its morning session July 14 following combined prayers sung in the
Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions as part of a visit to General
Convention by a group of ecumenical and interreligious guests.

Each of the singers in turn offered a prayer and then combined their  voices
into what was called "a sung Abrahamic blessing to this house."
Christianity, Judaism and Islam all trace their roots to the biblical
prophet Abraham.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112540_ENG_HTM.htm

>- - - - -

>Convention Daily

[Episcopal News Service] During the Episcopal Church's General  Convention
July 8-17 in Anaheim, California, Episcopal Life is producing a daily
newspaper offering in-depth coverage of the triennial gathering. The  Daily
also includes Perspectivas Latinas, offering news in Spanish, and  Triennial
Today, featuring news of the Episcopal Church Women meeting, which runs
concurrently with General Convention.

All editions of The Daily are available at

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/107152_111761_ENG_HTM.htm.

More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife

>_____________________

>DIOCESAN DIGEST

LOS ANGELES: Episcopalians join hotel worker protest

>By Jim DeLa

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] Episcopalians attending
General Convention linked arms with hotel workers July 14 to march to  the
gates of Disneyland to demand economic justice for 2,300 Disney  employees
protesting a planned hike in the cost of their health insurance.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_112569_ENG_HTM.htm

More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>MISSION

Money and faith present conflict between scarcity and abundance, Schut  says

>By Lynette Wilson

[Episcopal News Service - Anaheim, California] A person's relationship  to
money is fundamentally a spiritual question: "Do we experience life from  a
place of abundance or do we experience it in scarcity?" said Michael  Schut
to a handful of people July 14 in a presentation at the Studio 8  Discovery
Center in Anaheim, California.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_112564_ENG_HTM.htm

More Mission: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>PEOPLE

MASSACHUSETTS: Bishop honored for his work with campers

>By Lynette Wilson

[Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California] Episcopal Camps and
Conference Centers, Inc. (ECCC) on July 13 presented Massachusetts  Bishop M.
Thomas Shaw with the 2009 "Hero of Camping Ministry" award at a  reception
held at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_112570_ENG_HTM.htm

More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>MULTIMEDIA

Image Gallery: National Altar Guild Art Show

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/107152_112547_ENG_HTM.htm

General Convention, July 14

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/107152_112550_ENG_HTM.htm

More Multimedia: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80056_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>ARTS

Convention worship vestments hold special meaning

>By Sharon J. Tillman

[Episcopal News Service] One of the great mysteries of an event like  General
Convention is: Where does all the "stuff" come from? For instance, where  do
the vestments worn by celebrants, deacons and other participants in the
daily worship services originate? What happens to the stuff after the  event
is over and the last box has been shipped home from the convention  center?

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_112542_ENG_HTM.htm

More Arts: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>DAYBOOK

>On July 15, 2009...

* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm

* Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm

* Today in History: On July 15, 1779, Clement C. Moore was born. He  taught
Green and Hebrew Literature at General Theological Seminary for 28  years. He
also authored "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before
Christmas...) in 1823.

>_____________________

>CATALYST

"Eating the Sun - How Plants Power the Planet" from HarperCollins
Publishers, by Oliver Morton, 460 pages, hardcover, c. 2008, $28.95

[Source: HarperCollins Publishers] -- Eating the Sun is the fascinating
story of the most everyday miracle: photosynthesis.  Wherever there is
greenery, photosynthesis is working to make oxygen, energy and organic
matter from the raw material of sunlight, water and carbon dioxide.   Though
this process is rarely given much thought and few truly understand the
beautifully honed mechanisms that make it possible, without  photosynthesis,
there would be no food to eat or air to breathe.

A celebration of how the smallest things--enzymes and  pigments--influence
the largest things--the oceans, the fossil fuel economy--Eating the Sun
shows how understanding photosynthesis is not only the key to the  earth's
history, it is also vital to confronting the current climate crisis--a
crisis rooted in the carbon cycle, which drives photosynthesis.   Lyrically
written, deeply insightful, this engaging work offers a new way of  seeing
the world as it explains how we can change it for the better--or worse.

To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at
http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit your
local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org