224th Convention, Oct. 24-25, 2008

This page LAST UPDATED Oct. 28 8:31 p.m.

DAILY REPORTS of Convention will be emailed at the end of each day to subscribers of Annual Convention eNews, which will also be placed online in the eNews archive. See more on eNewsletters page.
NOTE: 9 p.m. Oct. 25: The newsletter site keeps crashing. I'll keep trying. Basic facts are posted on this page.

Call to 2008 Convention Letter

• Resolutions are posted here. There were seven submitted in advance. One additional resolution was introducted to the Convention on Friday and members voted to allow it into the business session on Saturday. New this year: Resolution submitters will be asked to report on the resolutions by May of the following year.
• RESOLUTION VOTING RESULTS:
  1.) Minimum salary for clergy. Passed after debate.
  2.) Diocesan Budget. Passed, no debate.
  3.) Financial support for seminarians/resolution for General Convention. Passed, no debate.
  4.)  Establish the Connecticut Public Policy Network. Passed, no debate.
  5.) On issues to come before state legislature. DebateD, two amendments proposed, both defeated. Original passed.
  6.) Moderating diocesan asking to account for "building outreach." Defeated, after debate.
  7.) On providing resources to fund human services. Defeated after debate.
  8.) On imploring the bishop to allow clergy to exercise pastoral care in officiating at services of holy matrimony for same sex couples: Passed after extensive debate. Hand vote, called by president. Challenged. Vote then counted.  Passed 174 to 132.
• Candidates for Standing Committee, one clergy (the Rev. Matthew H. Calkins), one lay person (Steven R. Mullins). Posted here. both elected.
• Proposed 2009 Budget: Link here for the spreadsheet showing line items by schedule (department) across years, for comparison; Link here  for budget narrative written by diocesan administrator Jack Spaeth. The budget was passed.
• Proposed Schedule
  The proposed order of the day is posted here.
• Theme: God's People on Mission: Local and Global Mission Partnerships" 
• Mission Village
  Parishes and deaneries will share the story of their mission partnerships with display booths in a "Mission Village" in the Cathedral House. Organizer: Eric Jeuland, YouthAndOutreach@TrinitySouthport.org
• Video Presentations
  On behalf of the diocese and the Companions in Mission Committee, David Robbins/DHRNewMedia has created a slideshow presentation for continuous play in the Mission Village, and a short video, with music, to show during Convention, using photos from parishes and individuals across the Diocese.
• Keynote speaker
  Hellen Wangusa, an extraordinary Anglican lay woman from Uganda, will be the featured keynote speaker at this year's annual convention. She is a former United Nations Africa coordinator of the Millennium Development Goals, and since January 2007, the Anglican [Communion] Observer at the U.N. It just so happens that the Episcopal Church's Sept. 7 bulletin insert gives an overview of the Observer's work. (link here).
• Forum: Meet the candidates; discuss the budget
  Lay delegates and clergy met the candidates for Standing Committee at a special forum on Friday Oct. 24 in the Cathedral, starting at 11 a.m. Afterwards, from 11:30 a.m. to noon, there was a session to learn more about the proposed budget. 
  
• Workshops
  Seven workshops were held Friday afternoon, 3:30 - 5 p.m., and all kept to the convention's theme of mission partnerships. They included: Anti-Racism, a transformation; Blogging our missions stories; Colombia-Connecticut Diocesan Partners; Getting started on a misions project; Jubilee Ministry; the MDGs, the UN and Anglicans; and Welcoming and resettling Iraqi refugees in Connecticut. 
•  Child care was available for children through age 5, by prior arrangement. Not a lot of takers this year, but keep it in mind if you're considering whether to accept nomination as a delegate for next year. 
• Influenza vaccinations were available in the Cathedral House on Friday, October 24 between 10 am and 1 pm. Distribution was handled by VNA Healthcare, Inc. 
• Banquet Friday; lunches Friday and Saturday
  This year's Friday banquet was a buffet featuring African and South American cuisine. 
• Worship
  Business sessions open and close with prayer; evening worship with sermon was held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday; and the Convention Eucharist will be held at 11:15 a.m. Saturday. The choir of Trinity, Southport sang for the Convention Eucharist. The Rev. Robert Taylor was the convention chaplain. 
  
  
• Bishop's Annual Address (link)