The General Convention of the Episcopal Church will convene on July 9 in Anaheim, CA. No doubt there will be news reports concerning various actions taken, but most prognosticators expect less excitement generated this year than in 2003 or 2006. We will see. If you want to learn more about what is going on in Anaheim, check out the General convention website here. For commentary and background, visit the Episcopal Cafe, where deputies and other attendees will be blogging. The deputation from the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, including Bishop Henderson, will also post.

I suppose meetings of this sort are necessary in any denomination, but I’ve also thought that they tend to bring out the worst in people and in a denominational ethos. Much of the legislation is “feel-good” of one sort or another, and much of it seems designed to score political or theological points, with little significance for the local church or for individual Christians. Of course, there are decisions that have repercussions throughout the church and the world, but sometimes those effects aren’t felt for years, and often they are completely unexpected. Whatever happens at Anaheim, life and faith will go on in the local parish.