WHAT?

An important part of each daily Eucharist is a round table discussion/Bible study group. The first day we agreed to forget the rules and merely engage one another with reflections on the Scripture and sermon just given. It is very interesting to listen to such a variety of insight but also hear the strong Anglican ethos that unites us all. Much of today's Eucharist used the Spanish language (including the sermon - we were given a printed translation). While the priest delivered the sermon in Spanish, her enthusiasm and passion for the Gospel made evident the presence of Christ in our midst even though I was unable to understand the spoken word. Our discussion group spent some time discussing the "why" of using a language other than English and (for the most part) agreed that it made us aware of the diversity of culture and language within the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

The legislative process was less than encouraging. While the headline issues have yet to be brought to the floor, we were to conduct an election of twelve new members of the Church Pension Fund Board. For certain votes we use an electronic voting device that looks somewhat similar to a t.v. remote. After lengthy training we were talked through the election. In 90 minutes we were unable to conduct a valid election and because of a previous amendment we will try again tomorrow with a paper ballot! This was a frustrating experience for all concerned. At the end of the second legislative day the House of Deputies has now finished the first day's calendar.

In the evening a few of us from the Nebraska deputation tried to attend a public hearing on the Windsor Report but by the time we arrived, 1500 people had already filled the hall and we were unable to enter. While we were in line waiting to be told that the room was full, we had a wonderful discussion with the Bishop of Botswana. In that discussion the Bishop mentioned that everyone in Africa is not of one mind on the issues that have captured the American Church. While the Archbishop of Nigeria captures the headlines in the condemnation of the Episcopal Church he does not speak for all Anglicans on the African continent. (This last sentence is mine, not the Bishop's - TJH). He also mentioned that the church in Botswana must deal so seriously with other pressing issues such as hunger and HIV/Aids that much of the American issues cannot even be considered.

While today was frustrating on the floor of the House of Deputies we stand with Scarlet O'Hara and pronounce that "Tomorrow, is another day".

Dean Hurley