GC Connection

The General Convention Connection is a featured section in the Hawaiian Church Chronicle that first appeared in the September 22, 2022 issue. Posted here will be reports, updates and reflections from the Hawai'i Deputation. The introduction is from a report and reflection by the GC80 Deputation Chair, Kim Arakawa. Following her post, all other entries will be listed with the most current submission at the top.

How does General Convention benefit you, and how can you get involved?

These are essential questions – ones we hope to address in this new addition to The Hawaiian Church Chronicle through regular articles written by your elected deputies to General Convention. We intend to provide general updates and, more significantly, a deeper dive into the legislation process, the stories behind the experience, and the impact on our diocese. As an introduction to this newly created Deputies’ General Convention Connection, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly express my gratitude for the substantial time, and dedication given by your deputies to best represent the Diocese of Hawai’i.

INTRODUCING GC81 DIOCESE OF HAWAI'I DEPUTATION (Chronicle, February 9, 2023)

The 2024 General Convention Deputation (GC81) from the Diocese of Hawai'i, held their first (online) meeting since being elected at last year's Diocesan Convention. Shown in the Zoom screenshot, are 12 of the deputies and alternates. The GC81 Deputation consists of:

Lay Deputies:
Ryan Kusumoto
Kim Arakawa
Roth Puahala
Mary Carpenter

Clergy Deputies:
Steven Costa
John A. Hau'oli Tomoso
David "Kawika" Jackson
Katlin McCallister

Alternates (Lay):
Evette Tampos
Faye Hee
John Decker
Kenneth Peter Lee

Alternates (Clergy):
Jennifer Latham
Brian Grieves
Paul Lillie
Charles Browning

GC80 DEPUTIES:
(Listed alphabetically, hyper-linked names will take you to their article further below:)

Kim Arakawa
Mary Carpenter
The Ven. Steve Costa
Faye Hee
The Rev. Malcolm Keleawe Hee
Ryan Kusumoto
The Rev. Jennifer Latham
The Rev. Paul Lillie
The Rev. John Hau'oli Tomoso

The Rev. Malcolm Keleawe Hee (Posted 01/12/23)

This was my second time attending a General Convention. My first was in Austin, Texas (2018) and recently in Baltimore, Maryland (2022). Having experienced it once before I had some familiarity on what to expect although many changes were made due to the pandemic. The business was streamlined, and we accomplished much in a short amount of time. Perhaps this will be the new norm for future conventions. What was important for me was how our Hawaii deputation got together for breakfast to start the day. This bonded us even more than we already are. If you are thinking of running as a deputy for the General Convention in the future, I highly recommend it!

The Rev. John Hau'oli Tomoso (Posted 12/20/22)

“Richard Hooker (Commemorated on November 3) described the corporate prayer of Christians as having a spiritual significance far greater than the sum of the individual prayers of the individual members of the body. Through corporate prayer, he said, Christians participate in communion with Christ himself, 'joined … to that visible, mystical body which is his Church.' Hooker did not have in mind just the Eucharist, which might have taken place only quarterly or, at best, monthly in his day. He had very much in mind the assembly of faithful Christians gathered for the Daily Office.”
- Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, on Reflecting on a Theology of Worship, March 31,2020

As a Deputy to the 80th General Convention in Baltimore this past July, the daily worship of the House of Deputies did, indeed, have a spiritual significance greater than the sum of the individual prayers offered. We were, every day, before attending to the governance affairs of the Episcopal Church, a visible representation of the “mystical body” of Christ’s Church, a people of belief, of love, of faith, of prayer. I think it is spiritually moving and enriching, when, before making an important decision, one pauses to pray. As a Deputy, I was very emotionally moved by the corporate (liturgical) prayer of thousands just like me, lifting up their very beings and then ascending together to God on high. In no small way, we were joined, as a visible yet mystical body to God, through Christ, and we did our job right here on earth!

Faye Hee (Posted 12/08/22)

Thank you for electing me to serve as a Delegate for this past 80th General Convention. The experience was overwhelming and awe-inspiring. I learned that your “V-Binder” (or virtual binder) is your new best friend as you intently follow and vote on proposed resolutions that will affect The Episcopal Church.

My experience differs greatly from those who went before me. Covid protocols shortened the convention, there was no youth presence, and ECW was not there. We were encouraged to stay together with our own delegation only and have minimal contact with delegates from other states. Luckily, our Hawai'i delegation got along very well and we wanted to spend as much time together as possible!

I was honored to serve as a member of the Privilege & Courtesy Committee. We met on Zoom to draft and finalize resolutions that would be read on the floor for approval and adoption. We finally met in person, for only a few minutes, after months and months of meeting online.

Our Hawai’i delegation was proud to share our love for our beloved Queen Lili‘uokalani. I spoke to many delegates from other states who strongly voiced their support for, and looked forward to, our Queen’s addition into the calendar of Lesser Feasts and Fasts. READ MORE

The Rev. Jenn Latham (Posted 11/24/22)

GC 80 was my first in person experience with General Convention. As an alternate, I sat at the back of the delegate floor and observed for the first two days. I am one of the co-leaders of our diocesan Creation Care and Environmental Justice Task Force, so I was especially interested in what resolutions were coming through that committee to be voted on by the deputies and bishops. When I saw the primary resolution that had been put forward, I was inspired. Why? Both houses confirmed Resolution A087, the commitment to a goal of net carbon neutrality by 2030.

Earlier in the year I had heard a speaker at UH Mānoa (Leah Stokes; click HERE to view the YouTube video) who had told the audience that while Hawai`iʻs commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2045 was good, it needed to happen faster. The energy policy expertʻs main point was that there was no time to lose because even if we are able to reduce everyoneʻs carbon footprint to zero in the next few years, we will still have global warming that will dramatically and negatively affect millions of people across the world. After listening to her talk, I had an aha moment, “We, as a church, need to try to help move the commitment to net zero as soon as possible.” Learning that The Episcopal Church had committed itself to this by 2030 was both affirming and motivating.

Can we, as a diocese also commit to this goal? I believe we are well positioned to do so. Some of our churches are already using renewable solar energy, and the current incentives could make it possible for all of our churches to shift to solar energy within the next few years. At our recent Education Day we had a workshop led by Hawai`i Interfaith Power and Light (https://www.hipl.org), who brought us local experts in energy conservation and solar power. If your church (or home) has not had a visit from Hawai`i Energy (https://hawaiienergy.com), this is a great place to start to find ways to reduce your energy consumption. After you are sure you are being as efficient as you can be, approaching a solar company to do an assessment is the next step. They will determine how much energy you need and design a solar system that will supply you with that need. There are different options for funding this project, some which require no financial output from the congregation. A few other ways to help offset the carbon that you do produce are: planting native trees that can sequester carbon, buying carbon offsets, volunteering to help an organization that is restoring native species and eradicating invasive species.

The Creation Care and Environmental Justice Task Force is happy to help you! Please feel free to contact me at revjenn.hnc@gmail.com for more information.

The Rev. Paul Lillie (Posted 11/10/22)

This past summer I was privileged to serve as a General Convention deputy of our Diocese for the fourth time. Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, this was a convention unlike any other, shortened due to COVID precautions with work beginning months in advance online at the committee level. As some time has allowed for reflection, I now believe that the pandemic required the Episcopal Church to make positive changes regarding governance.

As General Convention was to be only four days in-person, legislative committees were required to complete their work prior to our gathering in Baltimore. This meant that for many months committees did their work online via Zoom. Even though Zoom is impersonal at times, having the committees meet online allowed greater access for the wider church. If one wanted to attend hearings for resolutions, one could sign up to testify due to the wonders of modern technology. In the past, one needed enough financial resources to travel to General Convention, requiring taking time off from work. I noticed that because hearings were online, more young people seemed present for the business of the church. Testifying or attending a hearing was not mostly older retired folks who had the means and time to travel.

Having a four-day convention also meant that our business had to be streamlined. Having been to convention before, I admit that I appreciated the business procedures that were adopted, including the rules for the consent calendar. Unlike past conventions, less time was wasted on the floor by deputies who lacked wide traction among the entire house, grandstanding at the podiums. Legislation was passed efficiently, and for that I am grateful. READ MORE

Ryan Kusumoto (Posted 10/28/22)

(Ryan posted the following on social media on July 15, 2022. It was written from his hotel room, after contracting COVID and being isolated for the duration of the Convention.)

Today was the first day I left my hotel room in about a week. My last vision before COVID, was a city filled with my Episcopal peeps. So, it was quite a difference when I finally got out today. Again, I am just sorry I was not able to say goodbye to everyone. As I reflected on my #gc80 experience (in between my busy naps and long walks to the bathroom) here are some of my reflections:

The Church is still here. There is a lot of hope even in a shortened convention: new leadership, historical shifts and statements, powerful truth telling, and a future-focused view.
We can rethink how to be relevant quickly. Sometimes we just need a push. We had about 80 resolutions less than the previous general convention and only 60% of the time. Yet we got done early.
My room was dark every day - mainly because my eyes were closed. Sunlight is amazing. Find ways to open the blinds.
Coffee - oh how I missed you.
COVID sucks, but I am not complaining. I recognize that I get to fly home tomorrow which is a gift.
Try living without access to credit, healthcare, and transportation. This world continues to benefit those that have it. I had access to all, but I kept pushing to see how far I could get without them - which is not that far. In fact, this year - do a poverty simulation in your area. I promise it will change your perspective. If you are ever in Hawai‘i, I am happy to have you come to my organization and experience it.

7. If you don't have the above, relationships are the most important currency you could have. Our churches could be the best model for that relationship building in this world.
8.  We need to hear more stories! My daughter asked me one day why stories are so important. My response to her was, "stories help us connect. When we connect more, we care more. When we care more, we understand. When we understand, we heal. When we heal, we can make sure those things never happen again." Our stories cannot be buried.
9.  Our Indigenous ‘Ohana have an unbroken link to culture and land that is the blueprint for our success as humans. Everything and every person are treated like family. Nana I ke kumu - "look to the source". The answers are there.
10. Baltimore - thank you for hosting us. The Church owes you another visit at some point.
11. Bishop Curry's, "The Way of Love" is the key. Reach out to someone today. A simple call or text that says, "I am thinking of you" can make all the difference (or it could change their world).

Thank you all for checking in and sending prayers. Since I understand I am the last nonresident deputy still here, I am closing this place down tonight - which just means I am going to bed early so I can catch my flight tomorrow. I pray that everyone is well. Continue to choose grace, kindness, and love every time, and amazing things will happen. Blessings to all.

The Ven. Steve Costa (Posted 10/13/22)

Our co-chairs of Deputation discerned that we should meet once a month to review and discuss key issues facing the church today and how we, as the church, would address them. So we were tasked with picking certain key issues in the Blue Binders, reading up on them, and sharing them with the entire Deputation. While this did allow us to be akamai (wise/smart) about pertinent issues facing us at GC, for me, it was more about building and living Beloved Community. As we engaged with each other, as we shared in prayerful meditation, our community of servants grew stronger and closer. By my actions, teach my mind (Maka hana ka ʻike), is an ancient Hawaiian proverb. Some of us bemoaned the process of reading and making annotations so we could report back to the Deputation at our monthly meetings, but soon it became evident that our opening prayer and our presence was drawing us closer together, that the mystical presence of the Holy Spirit (ʻUhane Hemolele) was at work, despite the messiness of our human condition.

I should honor ke Akua (God) with blessings in all circumstances. A few days before we were to leave for Baltimore, my doctor (ke Kauka) called me in for a conversation. He shared with me, once again, that I had been diagnosed with bladder cancer, so the many COVID-19 protcols the GC put in place were a real blessing to me.

Day 1 of the GC, the first of our deputies tested positive for COVID. Where was Jesus (Iesu) in this circumstance? How did I need to know Christ today? Did I need him to be a wonderful and wise counselor, to guide my very precarious steps here at GC and every other context of life? Or did I need him to be mighty, a source of strength and healing in my life? Then another text from a spouse of one of our group tested positive for COVID, but the deputy tested negative. GCʻs protocols said as close contact you isolate. Then the next day, another of our deputies tested positive. At this point, I sure needed Christ (Cristo) to be the Prince of Peace, to bring peace to my troubled heart (puuwai or naʻauao). How were we going to pivot and adjust to this trying circumstance? Well the good news is that Jesus Christ is just what I/we need and so much more. READ MORE

Kim Arakawa, Chair of the GC80 Deputation (Posted 09/22/22)

How does General Convention benefit you, and how can you get involved? These are essential questions – ones we hope to address in this new addition to The Hawaiian Church Chronicle through regular articles written by your elected deputies to General Convention. We intend to provide general updates and, more significantly, a deeper dive into the legislation process, the stories behind the experience, and the impact on our diocese. In the coming weeks, deputies who attended July’s 80th General Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, will share their insights.

As an introduction to this newly created Deputies’ General Convention Connection, and because I have the honor of being Chair of the current team, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly express my gratitude for the substantial time, and dedication given by your deputies to best represent the Diocese of Hawai’i. As you may know, GC80 was initially slated to occur in 2021. However, due to the global pandemic, it was delayed a year. The current slate of deputies, elected to their seats at Diocesan Convention 2020, met online monthly for over two years to learn about the legislative process and build community. Several folks on the team, myself included, were first-time deputies. So, we were incredibly fortunate to benefit from the wisdom of deeply experienced members like Ryan Kusumoto (lay) and Paul Lillie (clergy), who broke down the complexities of the convention process, ensuring our team was as prepared as possible before traveling to Baltimore. READ MORE

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