The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church is meeting in retreat at Camp Allen Conference & Retreat Center in Navasota, TX (Diocese of Texas) from March 16 to March 20.  The following is an account of the activities for Friday, March 16.

The spring retreat meeting of the Episcopal Church House of Bishops continues the House’s ongoing theme of The Church for the 21st Century, with a focus on The Gift of Episcope/El Don el Episopado. The schedule calls for prayer-filled sessions, and bishops will participate in daily Bible study, reflection and worship.

The morning was devoted to retreat, prayer, reflection and discussion on Spiritual Discipline, led by Bishop Thomas Shaw of Massachusetts http://diomass.org/

He began and ended the session with a prayer by St. Augustine.

Emcee for the day was Bishop Nedi Rivera of Eastern Oregon http://www.episdioeo.org/

In the afternoon session, a conversation on the General Convention 2009 Resolution B014 (Reconciliation or Dissolution of an Episcopal Relationship) was conducted by Bishop Todd Ousley of Eastern Michigan www.eastmich.org, Bishop Brian Thom of Idaho www.episcopalidaho.org and Bishop Jim Waggoner of Spokane www.spokanediocese.org. HOB members reviewed the proposal as a body and in small groups, and shared reactions, thoughts and suggestions with each other.

The draft Social Media policy for electronic media at HOB meetings and gatherings was introduced and presented by Bishop Gayle Harris of Massachusetts http://diomass.org/ and Bishop Waggoner of the Pastoral Development Committee. The bishops discussed the draft and provided suggestions. 

The daylong session concluded with Eucharist, with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori celebrating and preaching.

Visitor at HOB:

The Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, Church of England https://durhamdiocese.org/

Media Briefers for Friday, March 16

Bishop David Bailey of Navajoland http://episcopal-navajoland.org/

Bishop Scott Mayer of the Diocese of Northwest Texas http://www.nwtdiocese.org/

Bishop Gene Robinson of the Diocese of New Hampshire www.nhepiscopal.org