Speaking Life Into Dry Bones

Welcome to the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Though at times we thought we’d never make it here, we have finally arrived.

This triennium (quadrennium?) was one unlike any of us have seen in recent memory. When we left Austin, TX, in 2018, we could not have guessed at the complete upheaval of the coming years: a global pandemic, political and social fragmentation, and a comfortable church besieged by an unpredictable need for innovation and community care. It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times.

So much about the last few years has been wonderful: the innovations in digital ministry, new and honest work and learning for racial justice, the broad acceptance of online and hybrid worship and community gatherings, the way community was redefined often around shared experience rather than geographical locations. It was beautiful to see the rapid unfolding of the vast creativity and determination of the church under such unpredictable constraints. 

And, so much about the last few years has been painful: continuing racially-motivated violence, the constant tearing apart of our hearts as families and communities come to terms with rapidly diverging beliefs, the never-ending cycles of local and global violence, the hatred and apathy which have infected so much of our collective experiences.

And now, we gather in what we hoped would be a full and festive occasion, only to be confronted, once again, with the reality that we live at the whims of an earth fraught with fracture and illness. Under such constrained circumstances, amidst such collective fragmentation, at the end of one of the most exhausting and controversial trienniums in recent memory, what could we possibly accomplish? 

What could God possibly make of this worn and weary group of Episcopalians gathered for the legislative life of the church? What could God possibly do? What God has always done – raise us up. 

Your bones might feel a little dry these days, I know mine do. This gathering might feel like a valley full of them, an exhausted church in search for a breath of life to reinvigorate us for the road ahead. And boy, is the road we have ahead important. In the face of so much fragmentation and discord, the call Bp. Curry has laid before us to share good news, to be engaged in the work of racial justice and reconciliation, and to care for creation are more important than ever. But, when we feel dry and brittle, uninspired, or beaten down by a relentless pandemic and all the other interruptions and upheavals of life, we know of a God who can speak life over the valley.

What we need now, more than ever, is for God to reknit our sinews back together, to regather and recompose us into the living flesh of the people of God. And more than that, we need the breath of God to infuse our lungs, our bodies (especially our legislative ones), and to inspire us for the road ahead. We have learned so much in the last few years, and we have endured so much. And now, we gather with hope that God will do what God always does – bring us back to life and set before us a mission and ministry which brings out the very best in us.

Welcome to the valley that has seen resurrection, GC80. May we leave more alive than when we arrived.