Archbishop's Presentation

Began the second day of convention at the news briefing then took pictures of several deputies at their committee meetings. Checked in with the opening service of the Episcopal Church Women's meeting at 1 p.m. and found Janet Farmer and Kaye Pendarvis, president of the diocesan ECW preparing for the procession.

Spent the afternoon in training to be a coach in the Public Narrative process, which will be carried out during the week. I will help people at my table articulate their story so that they can learn to take the process back to their own dioceses. We have the potential to train 1600 people to do this locally and the opportunity to expand the process is exponential.

Tonight Archbishop Rowan Williams delivered a challenging message to several thousand people, encouraging all those present to get honest with ourselves about our relationship with one another and creation. "We have lied to oursselves about our place in creation...and the possibility to profit without risk," he said.

He called the global economic crisis one of truthfulness and said we must "take time to build a culture of patience" in order to build relationships with one another. Archbishop Williams said we must get honest about "our dealings with in world we live in." He spoke of the consequences of our actions and asked "Who carries the cost" when we act as if there is no profit without risk.

"We have created the equivalent of gated communities in our international relations," he said. "We are made so that what is given to us is given to another in turn. We are the active pressence of Jesus Christ in the world."

He called for a redefinitation of "wealth," not in terms of what we possess, but of well being; a "robust denial that environmental issues are side issues," and asked church members to encourage government and large NGOs to cooperate with local efforts of faith communities.

A full copy of the Archbishop's talk is available on the Episcopal Church's media hub (see link to right).

Carol E. Barnwell