JUNE 16, LEGISLATIVE DAY 4

SHOT OF THE DAY:
Me with deputy Christopher Hart of Pennsylvania. He is the grandson of the Rev. Oliver Hart who was rector of St. Paul’s Chattanooga in the 1930’s. Did Mr. Hart baptise or marry any of you?

QUOTES OF THE DAY:
“I prayed, and understanding was given me. I called on God, and the Spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. “ This was the beginning of today’s first reading from the book of Wisdom. I would hope that it could set the tone for the rest of convention as we move toward the election of our presiding bishop and decisions about difficult concerns in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. So far in legislation we’ve started with things that are easier to agree on like lectionaries, funding studies and scholarships, and small church ministries.


DISCOVERY OF THE DAY:
Good news: Tomorrow I sleep in. My 7:30 meeting begins at 8. Bad news: Tomorrow is Saturday and Starbucks will be closed.

REPORT OF THE DAY:
Life on the floor of the House of Deputies can be dull as dirt sometimes. The debate gets bogged down in technical minutia or people’s need to be heard when they add little new to the discussion. Electronic voting has to be repeated and speeches run long. At times I have looked around to see faces betraying inner saturation. Some people unashamedly try to sleep through the slow times. Others struggle unsuccessfully to stay awake.
Each person and each deputation has their own way of coping as we wait for the pace to pick up. This is one of many reasons I’m glad to be from East Tennessee. You should know that we have one of the livelier deputations on the floor and we sit right down front and center. We consider ourselves to be well behaved and attentive to the business at hand, but when the process threatens to grind to a halt, the East Tennesseeans seem to come to life with lively banter, lame jokes, and audible, visible laughter. Other heads are turned. They may be joining our frivolity or looking on in wonder. Our table neighbors from Maine seem to enjoy our company, but I’m not so sure about the people from Missouri who sit right behind us. At any rate I love the people with whom I serve . We are serious about our business here. We also know how to care for ourselves and one another with respect, laughter and love.
Tomorrow is Legislative Day 5 and also our largest Eucharist which includes the impressive UTO ingatherning.