by Herb Gunn

[Seattle, Wash: April 7, 2008]

Bonnie Anderson, president of the General Convention House of Deputies and the chair of the Michigan deputation, welcomed the Episcopal Communicators to its annual spring conference in Seattle, Wash., April 8-12. She hosted a welcoming reception to specifically ask communicators in the church to help tell the whole story of the Episcopal Church.

“I know that this is likely an interesting, if not difficult, time for communicators. Budget cuts often find their way to the diocesan office of communications first. At the same time, there is a lively debate in the whole communications universe about digital versus print. In these current debates, first it is important for our own Episcopal communications universe to know how all the fellow Episcopalians that are served consume the news. Secondly, it is important to advocate for what we believe is the right mix. Of course budget concerns must be taken into account, but advocating for communications strategy that serves the people of God best and further equips them to do their work may just not be the cheapest,” Anderson said.

“I want you to know that you have my support in your quest for free-flowing, transparent communication that enables the ministry of the baptized,” she said. “I believe that communication is a mission priority for our Church and needs to be recognized as such. For me, this falls into the category of an ‘infrastructure rebuild’ and encompasses such other functions as the work of the Standing Commissions, Executive Council and General Convention.”

Anderson emphasized a need to help the whole Episcopal Church better understand and live out the unique polity of the Church. One of Anderson’s frequent points of reference is that the deputies to General Convention, who form the oldest and largest house in a two-house legislature, do not serve only when the General Convention is in session. Although the General Convention meets formally once every three years, the deputies have specific responsibilities to remain active and engage in their dioceses as leaders of the Church.

“When the gavel goes down at General Convention, deputies still exist. They are leaders in their dioceses and they have canonical responsibilities to fulfill during the triennium. The voices of the clergy and laity continue to be an important part of our ‘way of being’ as The Episcopal Church. The circular model of ministry—clergy, laity, bishops working together, using their gifts to be the ministers of the Church, that attracted me to the Episcopal Church over 35 years ago—has somewhat morphed itself into a pyramidal structure with the largest order, the laity, being at the bottom of a top-down approach to ministry,” she said.

Anderson added that as nearly all the dioceses have elected their deputies, her time will be dedicated to preparing for the 76th General Convention, which will be held July 8-17, 2009, in Anaheim, Calif..

“Now with just a bit more than one year until General Convention convenes in Anaheim, I will shift my focus to General Convention and the work of the House of Deputies. I will work on educating the Church specifically about General Convention, our bicameral system and our theology of governance.”

She explained the theme of General Convention will be Ubuntu, which is explained more deeply in Episcopal Life this month.

“The theme Ubuntu is a concept that will require thought and exploration by our Church. Deputies, bishops, visitors at General Convention will be equipped with tools for discovering and articulating Episcopal identity and our relationships with each other here and beyond. Once we understand and can articulate that, we respond in mission,” Anderson said.