Date: August 18, 2022
If you’ve never been to a General Convention of The Episcopal Church, I strongly encourage you to make Louisville a part of your travel plans in the summer of 2024. While this year’s convention was incredibly scaled back due to COVID-19 precautions, the polity of the Church still met to conduct its business, and the Church was made stronger. While many important actions were taken at this convention, I think the story that comes out of Baltimore is deeper than that.
There is a generational change occurring in the Church that was on full display in the House of Deputies, where I served the Diocese of Texas. In addition to the election of an indigenous woman as Vice-President and a Latina woman to serve as President (the first time two women have held top spots), more deputies of color and more deputies under 40 served than at any previous General Convention. This gives me such encouragement, as we begin to see Church governance reflect the true demographic make-up of the Church. Additionally, there is great momentum on reconciliation and full inclusion work that is necessary, hard and holy work.
Outside of the legislative sessions, General Convention is truly one big family reunion and a great reminder that although the Church is big, you are still a part of this family that is striving to love Jesus and love each other a little more each day. At the risk of sounding like the governance geek that I am, the General Convention is the Episcopal Super Bowl, and I cannot encourage you enough to go!
Hayden Paul ’24 (M.Div.)
Bicentennial Student Body Treasurer