Late Monday night I returned from General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City, where over 800 deputies (elected representatives from every diocese of the church) and several hundred bishops are gathered to democratically lead our church. While my wife, Melody, is a deputy from the Diocese of Rhode Island, I was there as a visitor, since I am not a deputy of our diocese. Never having been before, I can say that it is a most remarkable thing to witness.

I want to share with you a few reflections from my time at Convention. First, we have a new Presiding Bishop-elect, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry (Bishop of North Carolina), who was elected by the House of Bishops on the very first ballot! Notwithstanding his considerable gifts as a preacher and pastor, given all that has happened in our country in recent months the election of an African-American to serve as Presiding Bishop is a source of tremendous hope. I encourage you to watch a sermon he gave at General Convention 2012 for a glimpse of his passionate and inspiring dedication to Jesus and the Church.

Second, it is amazing to be gathered with so many committed Christian Episcopalians who are working hard to address significant issues of worship, belief, governance, and finance. GC does far more than pass budgets. It is a place where robust conversations occur about major elements of our life as a church, and big questions about how we function, what we prioritize, and what we genuinely believe are addressed. For example, I was able to witness debates about resolutions regarding the growth of digital evangelism and the need to plant more churches. On Wednesday afternoon GC debated structural reform, and whether/how to improve upon the administration of our church (for example, whether to shrink the size of General Convention). And also on Wednesday afternoon they approved the formal process of canonical and prayer book revision to permit the marriage of same-sex couples (the first step of a two-convention process). Yes, there is a lot on the table at GC, and their decisions and actions are of great importance for our future.

Which leads me to my final reflection. I am grateful for the way our church honors disagreement and difference. We do not always do it perfectly, and sometimes minority opinions and perspectives are given too little voice, but I am grateful for all instances when our church demonstrates its commitment to relationship and communion. The debate over marriage is a good example. As glad as I am that it appears the Episcopal Church will extend the sacrament of marriage to couples of the same sex, I know that not everyone who disagrees with me is homophobic or the moral equivalent of a segregationist; there are genuine matters of conscience and belief present in this debate. It is important that our church offer space and room for disagreement, on this and other issues, and I pray that it may long remain so.

Building on that, I feel a need to return to my special announcement email from last week regarding the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage. While I continue to rejoice that our country will offer uniform legal protections for all couples, and am similarly happy about today’s actions at GC, I also acknowledge the difficulty some have with this decision — even some who are fellow members of our beloved Transfiguration. I am proud that our church is a “big tent,” and that we welcome a great diversity of belief. I give thanks to God for the broadness of our community, because I believe that breadth is a manifestation of God’s kingdom. Which is why I lament the feeling by some, in response to my email last week, that they no longer have a place at Transfiguration. I certainly don’t expect to agree with everyone on everything, but I do hope that we may be able to disagree graciously and respectfully, even as we kneel together at the same rail. As we pray every week: “we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread, one cup.”

Please pray for The Episcopal Church, and for those continuing their hard, holy work at General Convention. Pray that we may be truly led by the Holy Spirit, and that the same Spirit would preserve our bonds of unity even as we move forward. And pray for me, your imperfect but hopeful rector, even as I pray for you.

-Casey+