For the 78th General Convention in 2015, I stayed at home and watched the events in Salt Lake City unfold on my computer screen. I felt that I was constantly missing a piece of the puzzle. In 2017 I applied for funding to attend the 79th General Convention. My request was approved, and there I was in the midst of things, and it was totally overwhelming.
I arrived in Austin, Texas on July 4, and things were already in full swing. First lesson arrive earlier to get the lay of the land, and to be able to hit the ground running when things switch up a gear. We — the diocesan, church, and general media, in total over 100 registered media people covered the convention — were allocated a briefing room, recording area (I won’t call it a studio), the services of the Office of Public Affairs, and set-aside areas in both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies to work from. The days were long, with early starts and carrying on late into the evening. Meals were taken ‘on-the-hoof’, between sessions. There were Morning and evening media briefings and so much more to take in and try to follow.
It was tiring, but a fantastic and often moving experience not to be missed.
During the convention I left most of the word smithing to my media expert colleagues and concentrated on curating the fire hose of information they produced. I Relayed the important bits on our Social Media and the in the daily General Convention Round-up magazine I produced. The truth is that that the learning curve is steep, and while the ‘old hands’ take it all in their stride, the many ‘newbies’, myself included, wandered around looking a bit lost for the first couple of days!
Did I find the missing pieces of the puzzle? Not really, what I found was that the puzzle was a whole lot bigger and complicated than the view from my computer screen led me to believe.
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Rather than bombard you with more words about Convention, I’ve picked some of my favorite pictures, which I hope will give you a flavor of what it was like. As always, you can click/tap on any picture to see it bigger and start a slide show of all the images in the article.
Deputies: L-R Fr. Jonathan Frazier, Fr. Tim Coppinger, Mthr. Anne Kyle, Curtis Hamilton, Linda Robertson, Fr. Marshall Scott, Liz Trader, Amanda Perschall.
Alternate Deputies: Fr. Stan Runnels (far Right). At Convention, but not pictured here: Mthr. Megan Castellan, Channing Horner, Christine Morrison.
Also pictured: Bishop Marty, and … WEMO Jesus. Image: Gary Allman
Lay Deputy Linda Robertson (left), Convention Volunteer Louise Horner, Alternate Lay Deputy Channing Horner, Clergy Deputy Mthr. Anne Kyle. Image: Gary Allman
Alternate Deputy Christine Morrison, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, in the House of Deputies. Christine is also a Lay Eucharistic Minister. Image: Gary Allman
Louise Channing, St. Paul’s, Maryville, Missouri, is assisting at the Convention Help Desk. Louise also serves the Church as a Lay Eucharistic Visitor. Image: Gary Allman
For the duration of the convention WEMO Jesus lives on top of our diocesan sign. Image: Gary Allman
Opening Eucharist
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at the opening Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Opening Eucharist of the 2018 General Convention Image: Gary Allman
Image credit: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at the opening Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at the opening Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Bread & Wine. Image: Gary Allman
Opening Eucharist of the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Image: Gary Allman
Revival
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Episcopal Revival in Austin, Texas Image: Gary Allman
Episcopal Revival in Austin, Texas Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image credit: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: ‘God is love and gives life’ Image: Gary Allman
Even Bishops get selfies with the PB.’ Image: Gary Allman
Bishop’s United Against Gun Violence
Bishops United Against Gun Violence. Image: Gary Allman
Phil and April Schentrup’s daughter, Carmen, was killed in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Image: Gary Allman
Phil and April Schentrup’s daughter, Carmen, was killed in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Image: Gary Allman
Bishops Against Gun Violence. Image: Gary Allman
Bishops United Against Gun Violence. Image: Gary Allman
The Unofficial Official Flag Bearer of General Convention. Fr. Stan Runnels of St. Paul’s Kansas City. Image: Gary Allman
Bishops United Against Gun Violence. Bishop Marty leaves the podium. Image: Gary Allman
Prayers for Justice
Prayers for Justice at T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Micheal Curry addresses the people from General Convention at Prayers for Justice outside the T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Disembarking from the Buses to attend the Prayers for Justice. Image: Gary Allman
Prayers for Justice at T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Prayers for Justice at T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Prayers for Justice at T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Prayers for Justice at T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Facing the T. Don Hutto Residential Center during Prayers for Justice . Image: Gary Allman
The youth arrive — Prayers for Justice at T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Micheal Curry addresses the people from General Convention at Prayers for Justice outside the T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Fr. Jonathan Frazier recording the Presiding Bishop’s address at Prayers for Justice at T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Prayers for Justice at T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Fr. Jonathan Frazier Expresses his Support for the women held at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center. Image: Gary Allman
Business Sessions
House of Deputies
House of Deputies. Image: Gary Allman
It’s the Deputation from The Diocese of West Missouri. Image: Gary Allman
A068, more comonly known as the proposed revision of the Book of Common Prayer. Image: Gary Allman
The Official Youth Presence Visits the House of Deputies Image: Gary Allman
Image: Gary Allman
TEConversations – Racial Reconciliation Image: Gary Allman
The Deputies from Puerto Rico welcome Cuba into the House of Deputies. Image: Gary Allman
Cuba responds to the successful vote to admit the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba into the House of Deputies. Image: Gary Allman
The Episcopal Diocese of Cuba takes their seat on the floor of the House of Deputies. Image: Gary Allman
Curtis Hamilton, Deputy from The Diocese of West Missouri speaking from the floor in the House of Deputies. Image: Gary Allman
Mthr. Megan Castellan addresses the House of Deputies. Image: Gary Allman
Fr. Jonathan Frazier Addresses the House of Deputies. Image: Gary Allman
House of Bishops
Bishop Marty and Fellow Bishops on the floor of the House of Bishops. Image: Gary Allman
House of Bishops. Image: Gary Allman
Media
Assembled media representatives at the daily briefing. Image: Gary Allman
Evening Media Briefing. Image: Gary Allman
House of Deputies Media Area. Image: Gary Allman
Media and Visitors in the House of Deputies. Image: Gary Allman
Province VII Meeting
Province VII Meeting. Image: Gary Allman
Province VII Meeting. Image: Gary Allman
Province VII Meeting. Image: Gary Allman
Fr. Stan Runnels at the Province VII Meeting. Has he been fishing? Image: Gary Allman
Around Convention
People gathered near the ‘stage’ in the General Convention Exhibition Area. Image: Gary Allman
Welcome. Image: Gary Allman
Austin Convention Center Image: Gary Allman
Communications Central Image: Gary Allman
We bumped into the Seventh Bishop of The Diocese of West Missouri, Barry Howe and Mary Howe in the Exhibition Hall this afternoon. Image: Gary Allman
Volunteer Kim Lehnhoff from Lake Jackson, Texas. Image: Gary Allman
Angela Smith – The St. Francis Foundation. Image: Gary Allman
These guys were manning The Brotherhood of St. Andrew Stand in the exhibition hall. Image: Gary Allman
Tom Welch, Executive Director (Left) and Jeff Butcher, President of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. Image: Gary Allman
The Rev. Dr. Isaac Poobalan traveled from Aberdeen, Scotland to be at General Convention. Image: Gary Allman
Amanda Perschall (Trinity Lebanon) is a Lay Alternate Deputy. Image: Gary Allman
L-R. Susan Anslow Williams, Deon Johnson, Eric Travis – all from the Diocese of Michigan, and Liz Trader, The Diocese of West Missouri. Image: Gary Allman
Fr. Smokey Oats, The St. Francis Foundation. Image: Gary Allman
Shane Schneider on The St. Francis Foundation stand. Image: Gary Allman
Take note – Tamara looks after the Episcopal Asset Map. Image: Gary Allman
On the Episcopal Relief & Development Stand. Image: Gary Allman
Andrea McKellar of Former takes a selfie on The Order of Saint Helena stand. L-R: Ellen Francis, Andrea McKellar, Miriam Elizabeth, and Faith Anthony Image: Gary Allman
Tina – Episcopal Church Women. Image: Gary Allman
New Frock Image: Gary Allman
Last Minute Shopping, the Exhibition Space closes this afternoon. Image: Gary Allman
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Karen Mackey, Diocese of Louisiana, Bill Solcumb, Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers. One day I\’ll have my picture taken with the PB! Image: Gary Allman
Image: Gary Allman
Convention Chapel Image: Gary Allman
Closing Eucharist
Convention Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Closing Eucharist of the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. This is less than a third of the people present. Image: Gary Allman
Bishop Marty, youth and delegates get ready for the closing Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
WEMO Youth. Image: Gary Allman
Sermon. Image: Gary Allman
Wine. Image: Gary Allman
Convention Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Preparing to serve. Image: Gary Allman
Josh Trader serving communion bread at the General Convention Closing Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Tatum Trader serving communion wine at the General Convention Closing Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Emily Morrison serving communion bread at the General Convention Closing Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Katie Mansfield serving communion bread at the General Convention Closing Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
Meredith Seaton serving communion wine at the General Convention Closing Eucharist. Image: Gary Allman
It Wasn’t All Work
Pigeons have featured a lot in this convention. No doubt, fed up with tweeting, it seems they finally found someone to speak up on their behalf. Image: Gary Allman
Austin Convention Center. Image: Gary Allman
Colorado River – Austin Texas. Image: Gary Allman
It’s not all business. This evening the Episcopal Communicators went out on the Colorado River to watch the bats. Image: Gary Allman
It’s not all business. This evening the Episcopal Communicators went out on the Colorado River to watch the bats. Image: Gary Allman
It’s not all business. This evening the Episcopal Communicators went out on the Colorado River to watch the bats. Image: Gary Allman
Sunset on the Colorado River, Austin, Texas Image: Gary Allman
Sunset on the Colorado River, Austin, Texas. Image: Gary Allman
Austin, Texas. Image: Gary Allman
Saint Arnold Summer Pils. Image: Gary Allman
Austin Convention Center. Image: Gary Allman
Unfortunately this wasn’t mine, but it was appropriate. Image: Gary Allman
Gary Allman is Communications Director with The Diocese of West Missouri