From the events of the past couple of weeks there seems to be some difficulty regardless of what side of the issues you are on regarding the election of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire and the blessing of same sex marriages on seeing ourselves as "One Body and One Spirit." We have our egos and agendas to attend to first. But yet our faithful, compassionate and merciful God will continue to "teach us many things" (Mark 6).

But I am distressed at how and why the bishops of the Episcopal Church USA did what they did at General Convention. And I am angry that many faithful Christians, gay and straight, are caught in the crossfire. It is good to know that it is okay to be angry but am cautioned not to "let the sun set on my anger." Regardless of what side you are on with regards to the "issues" I saw a lot of agendas and egos being attended to at that meeting. I also think that this was a topic that despite the claims that there has been meaningful dialogue for several years is not true. We still have entrenched camps lobbing grenades at each other. There has been little meaningful dialogue. We are probably a generation away from that discussion.

But despite that the "issues" were thrust upon us, the vote taken, compromises made and a lot of good work that will never be reported, at least not on CNN, went on.

One of the first things I remember learning about the Episcopal Church is how we like to describe our approach to handling issues is the three legs of the stool-Scripture, Reason and tradition. It is as though those three legs have been gnawed and sawed on and we are left with something wounded and broken. And we have. That's the church-at best a sign of God's presence with us but indeed a broken symbol. When I see the decisiveness and entrenching on all sides of these "issues" I do despair, repent and then try once again to strive to keep the promises I made in the baptismal covenant.

But what do we do with the aftermath of General Convention? You can leave, you can stay, you can agree or disagree, you can enter into dialogue or not, you can struggle, you can strive to seek and serve Christ in the other. It is up to you.

The Rev. Jane Piver+