From Your Convention Delegate, Carol Lumb: This year's Diocesan Convention Report

From Your Convention Delegate, Carol Lumb: This year's Diocesan Convention Report

From Your Convention Delegate, Carol Lumb: This year's Diocesan Convention Report

# News

From Your Convention Delegate, Carol Lumb: This year's Diocesan Convention Report

Dean and I attended the 108th Diocesan Convention as lay delegates representing St. Columba’s. I wanted to provide a few highlights of the Convention for you. Overall it was a fairly quiet convention, with only one resolution that generated much debate.

First, one key item that you will hear more about as the end of the year approaches. Bishop Greg reminded attendees in his address to the Convention, that when he accepted the call to become our Bishop, he committed to preside for 10-12 years – a time frame that has just about expired. Over the next year, the diocese will go through a discernment process to determine whether it is time for Bishop Greg to leave or whether there is more work for him here. He also will be discerning his future over the next year, particularly while he is on sabbatical from July 6-November 5, 2019. The diocese will prepare a profile as if preparing to call a new bishop and the bishop will travel around the diocese for meetings with congregations that will discern the road ahead. The first meeting will be in early January at St. Mark’s – stay tuned for more information on the meetings. Also, you can find Bishop Greg’s address on the Diocese web site – I highly recommend it to you.

Some good fiscal news – the diocese is in good shape financially and currently all parishes are up to date on their assessments. The delegates approved a reduction in the diocesan assessment for 2019 and 2020 from 15% to 14.5% of net disposable income.

Key resolutions approved by the Convention:

* Recognition and affirmation of the inherent dignity of transgender and nonbinary persons as beloved children of God;

* Affirming a resolution adopted by the General Convention and establishing a Task Force on the prevention of Sexual Harassment and Discrimination;

* Adopting a cost of living adjustment to the Clergy salary scale for 2019;

* Adopting model policies for the protection of children and youth and vulnerable adults; and

* Aligning Diocesan fossil fuel divestment and reinvestment with the Episcopal Church and the resolution adopted at the 78th General Convention.

The only resolution that generated much discussion was the fossil fuel divestment resolution. Convention delegates adopted a similar resolution a few years ago (103rd Convention), however the Board of Directors of the Diocesan Investment Fund members declined to act on the resolution as it was not in the fiduciary best interests of the Diocese. It may be that the same will happen with this resolution, however those speaking in favor of the resolution stressed the moral imperative to do what we can to invest in clean and renewable energy. Those opposed to the resolution emphasized the importance of obtaining the best return on the investments made by participating churches and that more impact can be obtained by advocating for investments by fossil fuel companies in renewable energy.

Four women were ordained deacons in a joyous celebration – including Emily Austin from Church of the Redeemer, in Kenmore. Emily is the person who has spearheaded the foot washing ministry at the United Way Community Resource Day for many years. St. Columba’s has collected foot care toiletries and donated them to support the foot washing efforts several times.

You can obtain more information about the Convention on the Diocesan web site.

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