Another long day. Today was not as emotional as yesterday. Or maybe I am just worn out from all the business we do every day. Today we met the top 6 candidates for Vice President, and tomorrow the top three will each make a speech. It’s a big job, chairing the church council and attending many ceremonial functions for the ‘big church.’ Our own VP Deborah Chenowith was nominated, but didn’t get enough votes on the first round to remain in the field. She is content and feels that it was not her vocation.
We broke into work groups after lunch today. Rachel Kramer who runs a homeless ministry in Gresham and I attended the “Access to Housing” track workshop. We heard a lot about the rebuilding of New Orleans after Katrina, but neither of us felt the information was helpful for our own ministries. As a Commissioner of Housing Works, I was hoping for some information about funding and planning for affordable housing. The workshop about the Doctrine of Discovery and it’s relationship to the Black Lives Matter movement had a surprise guest in the Rev Jesse Jackson. Several of our Oregon Synod gang were there.
We worshipped today with the AME Zion, who are also having a national meeting here. Bishop George Battle was our preacher,and their choir sang for us. Worship has been so varied and so uplifting. The music has been excellent. Like nothing we are able to put together in our own little churches. It’s almost worth the trip just to experience worship here.
Tonight was another dinner on your own night. CWA gave us each a Visa Card with $125 on it for meals and snacks that were not provided onsite. We had a wonderful dinner at Tujagues, with typical NOLA cuisine: oysters, gumbo (the best in town), soft shell crab, amberjack, seafood pasta, pecan pie, bread pudding. Then we walked across the street for late beignets and coffee at Cafe’ du Monde. It’s been raining and walking home on the wet streets past Jackson Square was beautiful. We have been so busy with church work that we haven’t seen much of the town.
Another full day tomorrow that starts at 8:00 and ends late. Good night.
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