The General Convention of The Episcopal Church will examine economic issues facing the world through a forum featuring Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson, and three prominent lay leaders in the Anglican Communion.

Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori and President Anderson are hosting Christian Faithfulness in the Global Economic Crisis on Wednesday, July 8 at from 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm Pacific in the Pacific Ballroom of the Anaheim Hilton. (7:15 pm to 8:30 pm Mountain, 8:15 pm to 9:30 pm, Central, 9:15 pm to 10:30 pm Eastern.) The forum will be webcast live.

Joining the panel are: Dr. Stephen Dzisi, a physician dedicated to addressing malaria and the Technical Director for NetsforLife®, an Episcopal Relief & Development program partnership; Sarah Eagle Heart, Program Officer for Native American/Indigenous Ministries for The Episcopal Church; and Michael Schut, Economic and Environmental Affairs Officer for the Episcopal Church and an environmental activist.

“I am delighted that the General Convention will have the opportunity to focus on global economic issues and, in the process, consider how our stewardship may be exercised for the benefit of the larger world,” commented Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori.

“For the Episcopal Church, the global economic crisis is also understood as a humanitarian crisis and the 76th General Convention is poised to accept the challenge and choose the side of the poor,” Anderson stated. “The General Convention theme is UBUNTU- a word that conveys the concept of interdependence – ‘I am because you are.””

The forum will be a key event during the Episcopal Church”s General Convention 2009 (GC09), July 8 – 17 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California (Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles).

This year marks the first time Archbishop Williams has attended a General Convention of The Episcopal Church.

The Episcopal Church”s General Convention, held every three years, is the bicameral governing body of the church. General Convention, the second largest legislative body in the world, is comprised of the House of Bishops, with upwards of 200 members, and the House of Deputies, with clergy and lay representatives from the 110 dioceses, with approximately 850 members.

The forum will be live webcast on the Episcopal Church”s Media Hub, and will be available on-demand following the event. The Media Hub website, created by the Office of Communication, will bring the actions of General Convention to those who are there and those who can”t be there. Access will be through the homepage of The Episcopal Church, www.episcopalchurch.org.

Forum Program

The forum will begin with Bishop Greg Rickel of the Diocese of Olympia who will offer introductory remarks.

Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori will provide an overview of the topic and will introduce Archbishop Williams.

Archbishop Williams will make a presentation on Christian Faithfulness in the Global Economic Crisis culminating in a panel discussion.

Anderson will introduce video profiles of three panelists and will moderate the panel of Dzisi, Eagle Heart and Schut.

Following the panel presentation, the Presiding Bishop will conclude the forum with closing remarks.

The Episcopal Church, with 110 dioceses in 16 nations, is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

For more information:

Episcopal Church

General Convention

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori

House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson

Archbishop of Canterbury

Episcopal Relief & Development

Diocese of Olympia

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