It was this discipline of worship, of prayerful study, of the opening of the heart to the stranger that under girded the spirit of the convention. Despite our stumbles I was proud to be part of a church that operates less by fiat that by communal decision-making seeking the heart of God. When we affirm the unspectacular spirit of faithful devotion I discovered that spectacular things happen. The spirit of mutual regard becomes a bigger player. The possibility of solutions to knotty problems more likely.
People start thinking outside the box.
The humble are given words of wisdom and the weak the gift of courage. Words of prejudice and judgment fade. Arms of love and welcome are extended. I do want to share with you, however, one particularly horrifying incident around which the whole community of the faithful became united. Like all meetings there are certain figures that rise above the fray and General Convention is no exception.