Keeping up with the Johnsons

Legislation is moving back and forth between both houses here at General Convention, but perhaps not quickly enough.  Today was the sixth of nine legislative days, and as of yesterday, only 70 of the 334 resolutions filed had been taken up by the House of Deputies.

Here’s where things stand with a couple of the high-profile topics:

Creation care:  The House of Bishops passed two resolutions yesterday.  One is Massachusetts’ resolution on environmentally responsible investment (C045) and another creating a climate change advisory committee (A030).  Both now are on their way to the House of Deputies for consideration.  Read more about that debate here.

Marriage:  The House of Bishops has also approved two marriage resolutions.  A054 makes two new marriage liturgies available for trial use; A036 amends the marriage canon to, among other things, make its language gender neutral.  Both resolutions now go to the House of Deputies for approval.  Both houses have approved A037, which continues the work of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage.

Legislation aside, there is a lot going on at all times in and around the Salt Palace.  Read more here about a mural fragment that’s on display from the earthquake-destroyed Holy Trinity Cathedral in Haiti, a proposed network for church planting, why a lot of people are wearing purple scarves and what the most common last name is among deputies at General Convention.

Here’s a detail of the mural fragment on display from Haiti’s Holy Trinity Cathedral. It’s from one of only three (out of 14) murals that survived the January 2010 earthquake.