Highlights of Our 233rd Diocesan Convention, Hyannis, MA, 11/3/18

Highlights of Our 233rd Diocesan Convention, Hyannis, MA,  |  November 3, 2018

By Deborah Jacoby-Twigg

Convention was not boring!  (I expected it to be a snore.)  The $1.5 million budget passed following much debate on its merits (enough?) and salaries (too corporate?).  Special presentations focused on Indaba, a soon-to-be-launched program of purposeful discussion across parish lines, the work of our Ecumenical and Interreligious Committee, our Diocesan Youth Council, and the recent General Convention in Austin, TX.  In Texas, delegates filled 17 buses, rode to a nearby immigrant detention camp and made a show of support.

Two new “mission” parishes were welcomed into our diocesan parish family with much pomp and fanfare, closing the convention on a high note.  They are St. Peter’s in Waltham, a small Ugandan congregation and Grace Chapel whose growing youth ministry in Brockton was inspiring to learn about.

Bishop Gates’ excellent Eucharist sermon about reclaiming Jesus in these dark times can be viewed here .  Convention actions are summarized here.

I was honored to serve as your lay delegate.  Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will attend our next diocesan convention.  If you recall videos of his sermons played at our parish retreat, you may agree with my guess that that one won’t be boring either.