Highlights from GC81: Day 5, June 27
The fifth day of GC81 was packed full of legislation and presentations. During the morning in the House of Deputies, each deputation received placards from Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral in Louisville commemorating mass shootings in their regions. The placards hung in the cathedral during 2023. In the early afternoon, Bishops United Against Gun Violence walked to nearby Jefferson Square Park for its fourth General Convention Witness Against Gun Violence. Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe offered remarks, as well as participants in Youth Working to End Gun Violence. Pictured to the right, you'll see the placards deputations received from Christ Church Cathedral commemorating victims of gun violence in their diocesan regions (Photo Credit: Randall Gornowich). Below are the highlights from the day, in order of occurrence and categorized.
Morning Prayer
The fifth day of the 81st General Convention began with Morning Prayer held in each house.
Legislative Sessions
Work continued in both houses throughout the day and included adoption of the proposed 2025-2027 churchwide budget. The House of Deputies elected the Rev. Steve Pankey of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky as its vice president (Read the press release about the election). The Official Youth Presence, whose 18 members have seat and voice in the House of Deputies, made a presentation in the house.
For news coverage of today's legislative actions, see these articles from the Episcopal News Service:
- This article about the VPHoD election and its winner, the Rev. Steve Pankey.
- This article about the rally led by bishops and youth against gun violence.
- This article about the repudiation of the pro-slavery views held by a former PHoD.
- This article about the adopted constitutional change to the definition of the Book of Common Prayer.
- This article about the official youth presence at GC81.
- This daily digest piece covering highlights from the day.
From 7:00-9:00 p.m., PHoD Julia Ayala Harris presided over what she called "The House of Deputies After Dark: The Episco-Disco" where glow sticks brought some joy to the legislative work before the deputies.
