Gutiérrez to Take Lead on Social Justice and International Policy At General Convention

Church-Wide Meeting Solidifies Direction, Attracts Thousands

When the General Convention of The Episcopal Church meets in Baltimore next year, deputies and bishops will discuss and vote on issues important to the entire Church including social justice and international policy.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has officially appointed Bishop Daniel Gutierrez to serve as Chair of the Social Justice and International Policy Committee when the 80th General Convention convenes.  This vital committee will receive and propose resolutions connected to social justice issues in The Episcopal Church’s dioceses beyond the United States as well as the international peace and justice work of the Church, including engagement with the Anglican Communion.

The issues of social justice and international policy are of utmost importance to Gutierrez who currently serves as president of The Compass Rose Society which supports the work of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion. Under his leadership, the Diocese of Pennsylvania is now involved in relationships and ministries throughout the world. A groundbreaking covenant was signed with the Diocese of Jerusalem as well as new ministries formed with dioceses in Latin America, Wales, Africa, Asia, and South Asia.

In addition, eight members of the diocese – four clergy and four lay leaders – were elected in 2019 to represent the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania at the General Convention and will also participate in committees.  They are:

•           Liz Wendt, Trinity Episcopal Church, Ambler

•           Karen Lash, Holy Innocents St. Paul's Church, Phila.

•           Christopher Hart, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Wayne                             

•           Isaac Quelly, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral

•           The Rev. Paul Adler, Church of St. Alban, Phila.                 

•           The Rev. Emily Richards, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Glenside

•           The Rev. Jo Ann Jones, Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr

•           The Rev. Dr. Pamela Nesbit, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral

Alternates

•           Jill Mathis, Grace Epiphany Episcopal Church, Phila.

•           John Wallace, Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge

•           The Rev. Jose Louis Memba, Cristo y San Ambrosio, Phila; Free Church of St. John, Phila.

•           The Rev. Dr. Bonnie M. McCrickard, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Phila.

•           The Rev. James Stambaugh, Church of the Holy Apostles, Penn Wynne

•           The Rev. Jane Gober, Christ Episcopal Church, Ridley Park

About General Convention

The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church. Every three years it meets as a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, composed of deputies and bishops from each diocese. The General Convention also includes Interim Bodies which meet between the triennial sessions to accomplish ongoing work and tasks set in the triennial sessions. The last session of the General Convention was in Austin Texas in July of 2018. The next session of the General Convention, which was originally scheduled for 2021, will meet in Baltimore, July 7 - 14, 2022. In past years, Conventions have attracted 10,000 attendees from across The Episcopal Church.