With the terms of about half of its membership due to expire after General Convention and having completed the majority of its preparatory work on the 2004-2006 budget, Executive Council opened its final meeting of the triennium in Ellicott City, Md., on April 28 on a reflective note and postponed legislative action on the limited number of issues before it until the final day.

Although mentioned only briefly in the opening address by the Very Rev. George Werner, president of the House of Deputies, General Convention was much on the minds of the council, which serves as the chief legislative body of the Episcopal Church between conventions.

“At times of dread and enmity, some people hoard. Some build walls or buy guns or add locks. Some purchase duct tape and plastic,” Dean Werner said. “Speaking recently to the Consortium of Endowed Parishes, I suggested that our conventional wisdom was that of the ‘gated community’ with someone at the door to protect our security and only admit those who are somehow ‘like us.’ Walls and guard services designed to keep out the rest of the world.”

The church and more particularly General Convention is called outside that comfortable environment, according to Dean Werner, and he is optimistic about the consequences of accepting the opportunity to lead in these daring and potentially risky times.

“Therefore, if there is tolerance, if there is grace and generosity of spirit between our houses, if we trust our system and allow our committees to do their work, if we allow the drama to play out, I truly believe that we can rise above the ‘conventional wisdom’ of our wider community and this moment in history and be the church at its best,” he said.