Volunteer shares impressions

Mountain Echo, September 2003

by Eva Kopp
I went home to Minneapolis to join the ranks of over 1,100 volunteers at General Convention. I worked in security in the exhibit hall, as one of 125 ushers at the Sunday Eucharist, and as a page on the floor of the House of Bishops (under the direction of the Diocese of Vermont’s own Lynn Bates). I curiously watched these proceedings from the inside out. So, what stands out?

I greeted people as they entered the large worship space on Sunday morning. Six thousand people are intimidating to anyone, especially us Episcopalians, who mostly come from small congregations. Therefore, I decided to make it a point to look each person in the eye as they walked into that large space and say, “Good morning, Welcome.” I felt foolish at first, but as I greeted more and more people, I saw smiles and nods of appreciation from some, others paused to chat and ask questions, and the occasional friend would walk past and give me a hug. I was struck by the diversity of people—old, young, walking, wheel chairs, dark skin, light skin and on and on.… I was proud of our big “little” church for coming to worship together.

I was a page in the House of Bishops on the day the bishops were scheduled to discuss consent to Gene Robinson’s election. But last-minute allegations of ‘inappropriate conduct’ postponed the discussion. It was a circus that day. Tensions were high, the press was everywhere, and there the bishops were, praying in executive session. It’s what they did each day. Even following the response of the conservative bishops to the affirmation of Gene Robinson, the Presiding Bishop’s first words were: “Can we pray together before you depart?” How do you turn that down? They couldn’t, so we all prayed before the session adjourned.

These experiences give me faith in that old adage, “The family that prays together stays together.” In addition to the bishops’ daily prayers, a Eucharist each morning was open to everyone. While it’s still unclear what the future may hold for our national Episcopal family, volunteering at General Convention allowed me to see that we are a church that—as much as we do anything—prays together. My faith that God is big enough to encompass all our differences was fueled, and that helps me to trust that whatever comes next, whether it’s staying together—or not—we’ll just keep on praying about it.

Eva Kopp is a postulant from the Diocese of Minnesota and a student at Episcopal Divinity School. She did summer field work with the Three Rivers Regional Ministry, Bethel and Killington.

Return to General Convention Articles Index Page