Reflections on General Convention, Final Installment

On the opening day of General Convention, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invited everyone to “Follow the Way of Love, Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life.” He encouraged us to adopt a rule of life so that we may participate more fully in the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement.

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
– Ephesians 3:17-19

It was exciting to see people respond to this Way of Love through the days of General Convention. The issues facing the Church can be difficult, at times divisive, and often seem insurmountable. Participants at General Convention were encouraged to bring this Way of Love into the work of convention. For example, I saw the community stop to pray and encourage rather than criticize or fear the other.

The Way of Love is so much more than a tool for General Convention. We are all encouraged to adopt this Rule of Life, both individually and as church communities. Bishop Rickel is encouraging all the churches of the Diocese of Olympia to get on board with this program. He is providing us resources to help with this.

So, I’d like to encourage all of us here at St. Dunstan’s to consider how the Way of Love can transform our individual and corporate lives.

These are seven elements to incorporate into our Christian lives. And the good news is that most of these are already part of our lives. We are just asked to focus on them, make them good habits, and allow them to transform our lives, our communities, and the world. It’s simple, right?There are great resources to help us with this Rule of Life, including websites from the national church and our Diocese.