This “possibly dangerous event” is on a collision course with spiritual reality The Episcopal Church hangs in the balance. Will The Episcopal Church survive the actions of this Convention? Each Convention charts a new course through unmapped lands and uncharted waters. The casualties could be high with the bodies and souls of the people in the pews leaping off the careening denomination.

All eyes are turned to Indiana and all roads lead to Indianapolis as The Episcopal General Convention meets here for the second time in its 77-year history. Things are slowly gearing up. By July 5 GC2012 will be in full swing.

For several days, convention delegates, Episcopal Church staff members, volunteers and vendors have been flocking to Indianapolis by car, plane and train to put the finishing touches on this year’s massive church legislative gathering before the first gavel falls at 7 a.m. tomorrow, calling the 77th Episcopal General Convention into order.

Twitter is alive with tweets comparing notes, dispensing information, and developing networks and delegation connections.

E-mails are flying with information on how to maneuver the Indianapolis city bus system to get from the airport into downtown and the Convention hotels, and where to find the best parking rate for those who drove in. Amtrak is basically within walking distance of the Convention Center and most Convention hotels.

Monday preconvention activity included the orientation of volunteers who help keep the Convention running. They are the hidden backbone of the Convention. It is the volunteer who is in the know and can answer most questions concerning the layout of the Indiana Convention Center. They know where the committee meetings are being held, when the doors to the Exhibit Hall are being opened, where is the nearest restroom, and the best place to charge the laptop.

Registration and delegate certification officially began 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The Exhibit Hall opened its doors three hours later.

Tuesday evening the Union of Black Episcopalians hosted a gala Event celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Women’s Ordination in the Episcopal Church at the Downtown Marriott. At the same time, the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church was holding its annual meeting and banquet in Christ Church Cathedral’s parish hall. The task of the Historical Society is to preserve the history and legacy of The Episcopal Church from when the Anglican Church first set foot on colonial soil. Through the years, the Historical Society has filed a lot of records as The Episcopal Church has broken ground in so many nontraditional and liberal ways. This General Convention should be no different.

An example of The Episcopal Church’s nontraditional liberal bent came when out-going House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson opened her sermon to the commissioning service for Officers, Dispatch Liaisons and Legislative Aides with: “In the Name of the Creator, Sanctifier and Redeemer. Amen,” using the attributes of the Persons of the Trinity rather than addressing their Divine Personhoods.

She likened the 77th General Convention to the famed Indy 500. This year’s Indianapolis 500 was held over Memorial Day weekend. Scottish driver Dario Franchitti took the checkered flag.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Start your engines. This is it. Here we are in the land of the Indy 500,” she said in giving her pep talk. “Even though our General Convention really is not located on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway those of us in this room, plus many others who will be along shortly, could metaphorically be referred to as the drivers, the pit crew, the sponsors, the bearers of the checkered flags, and the infield population of some really fast, sometimes deafening, exciting, unpredictable and possibly dangerous event.”

This “possibly dangerous event” is on a collision course with spiritual reality The Episcopal Church hangs in the balance. Will The Episcopal Church survive the actions of this Convention? Each Convention charts a new course through unmapped lands and uncharted waters. The casualties could be high with the bodies and souls of the people in the pews leaping off the careening denomination.

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