The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church promises to be an historic gathering with hallmark decisions about the future of the church and its place in the Anglican Communion as well as the election of a new presiding bishop.

“We’re honored to serve as host for this important gathering of our Church, and we look forward to extending our hospitality to thousands of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” said the Rt. Rev. Kenneth Price Jr., Southern Ohio’s bishop. “We view hosting General Convention as an opportunity to serve the larger Church and to be a witness for how a diverse group of people can come together to do God’s work in the world.”

The Diocese of Southern Ohio began its hosting duties in 2003, with Bishop Price’s secretary, Jane Dupke Curry, attending the Minneapolis gathering to shadow the volunteer recruiter. A special issue of Interchange and a letter from Bishop Price was given to all deputies and bishops in Minneapolis and extended a warm welcome to Columbus.

Southern Ohio’s local host committee, chaired by Debby Stokes, has met regularly in the past three years. The 25 members have overseen different components of serving as the host diocese, including volunteer recruitment, hospitality, preparations at Trinity, Columbus, communications, children and youth programs and Southern Ohio’s exhibit booth.

As the host diocese, Southern Ohio’s primary job was to recruit 1,500 volunteers to work before and during General Convention. Curry led the recruitment, visiting churches and deanery meetings and logging hundreds of miles crisscrossing the diocese. She established the Red Apron Brigade, a group of volunteers from each congregation who would wear a red volunteer apron to Sundays and spread the word about the volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers at General Convention fill a host of duties, from working at the registration desk to serving as pages in the House of Bishops or House of Deputies to manning an information desk. Volunteers also assist those with disabilities and help the National Altar Guild prepare for a daily worship service with attendance of about 3,500 people.

In addition to “official” volunteers, 150 people volunteered to help with other aspects of General Convention. As bishops, deputies and visitors fly into the Columbus airport, they’ll be greeted by volunteers from the Diocese of Southern Ohio. These volunteers can help carry bags, direct them to hotel shuttles or other transportation and answer some questions. They’ll also have maps of downtown Columbus and a list of emergency numbers for General Convention guests.

As an extension of the hospitality ministry, the Rev. Becky Michelfelder, interim rector of St. Peter’s, Delaware, will serve as chaplain to international visitors. Michelfelder, who is fluent in Spanish, has lined up foreign language volunteers to help international visitors. These volunteers may, for instance, take a guest to a pharmacy or store or translate, as needed.

Trinity, Columbus, will open its red doors to bishops, deputies and guests for daily worship services and a variety of special events. Several organizations are meeting at Trinity, the closest Episcopal church to the convention center. (See pages 14-15 for an event schedule). Trinity will have volunteer docents staffing the church throughout General Convention.

On Sunday, June 18, the House of Bishops will convene to elect the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church inside of Trinity, which interestingly was founded in 1817 by a former presiding bishop, Philander Chase. 

While hospitality is central to hosting a General Convention, the Diocese of Southern Ohio views the June gathering as an opportunity for evangelism. During and after the convention, Southern Ohio will air evangelism ads on TV and on buses, inviting people to visit our churches. In May, the local arrangements committee and the evangelism commission sent packets to every household of the diocese that included an Episcopal shield window cling – a chicken in every pot, an Episcopal shield on every car window. The packet also offered a ministry guide with information about General Convention as well as tips on how to talk about faith and ideas on how to answer questions about the Episcopal Church.

In addition, the communications office produced a special magazine with a history of the diocese and a spotlight on today’s ministries and special programs. The magazine was   sent to all bishops and deputies and will be distributed in the registration packets at General Convention.  This expanded issue of Interchange also will be handed out during the gathering.

The diocese, working with Episcopal Church Center staff, developed programming for children and youth during General Convention. Roger Speer, Southern Ohio’s director of youth ministries, led the development of E3, a three-day program for students grades 10-12 to educate, experience and empower young people. The children’s program – for ages 4-12 – will explore the faith and spirituality of C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

Southern Ohio’s exhibit booth will feature the many ministries of the diocese. The themes of diversity, delight, direction and devotion will be reflected each day through special exhibits and midday performances. Four quilts based on those themes and sewn by different groups in the diocese will hang in the back of the booth. General Convention souvenirs and other gifts will be for sale at the diocese’s booth.