General Convention 2009

Thursday, July 09, 2009 . . . . A warm and sunny afternoon in Anaheim. This is the first day it has been clear enough to see the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance. An early morning (6:30am) meeting with the deputation followed a late night.

Yesterday evening we gathered at 6:00 to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury and others speak about the reality of the global economic crisis. This was Dr. Williams' first visit to a General Convention.

When the Presiding Bishop rose to introduce the Archbishop, the whole ballroom erupted in applause, cheers, and a unanimous standing ovation. Bishop Jefferts Schori is highly esteemed here for her ability to speak the truth in love and articulate the Gospel with such power to the reality of our lives today. I have heard nothing but praise for her centered leadership.

The Archbishop spoke seated and rarely looked down at his notes. His resonant voice spoke with authority and seriousness. I hope you will have an occasion to downlad his talk and listen to it.
I will attempt to share some of the highlights that I took away with me:

He took as a doorway into his subject, a quote from Pope Benedict's recent encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate" ("Love in Truth"): Truth needs to be sought, found, and expressed in the light of charity. But charity needs to be led and expressed in the light of truth.

He went on to say that the economic crisis has revealed that we have been lying to ourselves in three ways:

1. There has been a breakdown of transparency and truth-telling in our relation-building and our financial life nationally and internationally.
2. We have lied to ourselves about our place in creation. We have acted as if there are limitless material goods in a limited world.
3. We have lied to ourselves about the nature of our relationship with one another as human beings.

1. 
   Building of trust and transparency in our dealings with each other. Trust happens almost when you do not notice. Trust takes time. We need to build a culture of patience and mutual transparency.
2. Truth about the world we actually inhabit which cannot indefinitely tolerate the lifestyle we presently live. We need to learn to live a life with limits in a limited world.
3. Truth-telling in all our activities. This involves risk. Real profit does not come without risk and cost.
4. Truth-telling about the common good. Money and goods are nothing if they are not shared for the common good and the building of our common life.

1. What is given to us is given to be given, in turn, to another.
2. We need to define what true wealth looks like: being at home with self and God.
3. Economic calculations need to have factored into them the environmental cost and not just the economic cost.
4. We need to re-think the way the first world's desire for cheap labor and lower prices keep people of the third world in bondage.
5. We cannot look to government to provide for all our needs. Our churches are situated as trusted institutions. They give dignity to real persons in real communities in which micro-economies can develop to take care of specific needs.