The day began with a great majority of participants in the Conference dressed in black as we joined with people around the world to recognize the World Council of Churches’ Thursdays in Black initiative that is working towards a world without rape and violence. The need for the Church to no longer be silent on this critical issue was brought home in a powerful manner by Bishop LaTrelle Easterling as she preached from the perspective of her own experience. We have indeed been called out of our silence.
As the morning plenary session began, we welcomed Bishop David M. Wilson to preside and celebrated his presence as the first Native American presider for a General Conference session. He called us to order and offered prayer in his native language. We continued in celebration as Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, who will be the first Black female to be president of the Council of Bishops, presided over the second part of the morning. It was a historic morning.
During the plenary, 56% of the presenters from the stage identified as female and 44% identified as male. In this same session, 59% of the speakers from the floor identified as male, 34% identified as female and 7% identified as nonbinary.
Legislative committees convened after lunch. Reports from the various committees reflect that some of the hiccups from the first day of organizational meetings have been overcome and that we are moving forward to a closer model of holy conferencing.
We still have work to do, especially as the subcommittees meet. It is in these settings where it continues to be necessary to clearly identify oneself before speaking and to be especially careful about not speaking over one another. It is also important that everyone in the room notice whose voices are not being heard and what is preventing those voices from being heard.
As we go into this new day, let us pledge to ourselves and each other to be the best representatives of God’s amazing love and grace.