I have had the privilege of representing the Diocese of Virginia for the past six General Conventions. I have served three times as a deputy and three times as a bishop. It is an honor and privilege to represent you.

Many people attended their first General Convention on CNN. One issue was followed day and night for five days. One might have concluded that no other issue was being debated – that only one issue was of importance.

The General Convention is huge. The House of Deputies met in a cavernous hall that was so large that one needed to follow the proceedings on a projected screen. General Convention is unwieldy, hard to follow and even more difficult to influence.

The Bishop of Virginia has been very modest about the role that he played in Minneapolis. The confirmation issue was directly linked with the development of liturgies on the blessing of same sex unions. Many deputies and bishops assumed that saying yes to confirmation meant saying yes to the development of liturgies.

It was through Bishop Lee’s efforts both in the House of Bishops and through the publication of Center Aisle that the convention found a way to say both yes and no. He accomplished this through a consistent emphasis on the integrity of individual dioceses and the need to respect their autonomy. If anyone would appreciate the issue of autonomy, it would be a diocesan bishop.

In my opinion, the issue of amending the Book of Occasional Services or Enhancing Our Worship to include same-sex blessings was far more significant than the confirmation of an election that had already taken place. The ability any bishop has to say “no” or for any diocese to say “no” to the blessing of same-sex unions would have been taken away without Bishop Lee’s amendment.

I know very personally the sadness and despair of having my own sensibilities offended by a General Convention decision. I was profoundly sad when returning from Detroit in 1988 and Phoenix in 1991. At that time, we were discussing the issue of ordination of gay and lesbian people. I was opposed. It was very difficult for me to hear viewpoints that were contrary to my most closely held beliefs.

I am sad that so many people have been offended by Canon Robinson’s confirmation. For some, the offense seems insurmountable. Many have expressed grief and sorrow.

I can only point to the source of hope that sustains me and that brought me back from Detroit and Phoenix. Paul’s words in Romans 8 are of comfort and inspiration:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ultimately, I must put my faith in Christ. The church cannot save me. Jesus has saved me.

Looking back to those tumultuous conventions in Detroit and Phoenix, I have come to appreciate the huge diversity of our Church. From our first days in this county, we have been “both/and.” We have been Tory and Revolutionary, slave holding and free, Catholic, Protestant, evangelical, charismatic and traditional, liberal and conservative. There is room for you in the church, and there is room for me.