ISSUES first appeared as a daily commentary on events at the 1967 General convention. Conceived in the living room of the late theologian William Stringfellow, ISSUES began as a voice for three organizations concerned for the mission and renewal of the Church; the Church Society for College Work, the Overseas Mission Society, and the National Industrial Mission. At succeeding General Conventions, a shifting group of organizations and movements in the Church have banded together to create ISSUES and to collaborate on a common commitment to call the Church to its witness in the name of Christ.

Under the banner of The Consultation, leaders of the organizations listed on the masthead to the right have met to think together about this 75th General Convention. They agree on a range of concerns urgent for the mission and witness of the Church, and have presented them as a platform to put before the Convention. Needless to say the organizations - and those affiliated with them - do not coincide on all matters, but they strongly agree that the concerns raised herein must be an important part of our deliberations here in Columbus. At The Consultation booth in the Exhibit Hall you will find our Platform statement and daily discussions of these and other issues both formally at the speakers corner and informally in the space.  And look for ISSUES and our Platform online at www.theconsultation.org.

To learn more about The Consultation

visit the area under The Consultation banner in the Exhibit Hall. And mark your calendar for the first

OPEN MEETING

of The Consultation

in Room D242 in the

Convention Center

from 12:30 to 1:30

on Wednesday, June 14

The Consultation member groups include:

Integrity

Episcopal Urban Caucus

Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Episcopal Women’s Caucus

Union of Black Episcopalians

Episcopal Ecological Network

Episcopal Church Publishing Company

Episcopal Network for Economic Justice

Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry Advocates

Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission

Province VIII Indigenous Ministries

If you have been reading ISSUES before this Convention, perhaps you have noticed some changes in appearance! This time we have shifted the direction of our text to make our paper easier to read and to hang on to. Some have suggested that they would like to be able to punch holes in the editions and keep them in their Blue Book binders. Our Platform came out in the mail to Bishops and Deputies with the suggestion that it be hole punched and kept close to hand, also.

Under the banner of

The Consultation

in the Exhibit Hall

Tuesday, June 13 Lunch time Consultation Speakers Stump. Katrina Browne will discuss her film Traces of the Trade, 12:45

Wednesday, June 14 Lunch time Consultation Speakers Stump; Sr. Ellen Frances on her fact-finding trip to Iran, 12:45

ENEJ Releases Economic Justice How-To Manual at Tuesday Luncheon

The Episcopal Network for Economic Justice will launch its new Economic Justice How-To Manual at a special luncheon event at Trinity Capitol Square Tuesday June 13. The event begins with liturgy at noon followed by an address by the Rev. Canon Richard Gillett, author of the New Globalization: Reclaiming the Lost Ground of Our Christian Social Tradition. The lecture and discussion will be followed by presentation of the manual and a short briefing on economic justice legislation being considered at General Convention. The cost of the luncheon is $15 (scholarships available). Copies of the manual will be available at the luncheon.

Those unable to attend the luncheon may pick up a copy of the Economic Justice How-To Manual at the ENEJ booth in The Consultation area. Other ENEJ educational materials include education modules, issue papers, a list of economic justice resolutions adopted by past General Conventions, and a booklet on Community Investing. ENEJ President, Michael Kendall, Archdeacon of New York, will preach at the Tuesday luncheon.

Directions to Trinity, Capitol Square: Go south on High Street to Broad and turn left. Take Broad to Third. The church is at 3^rd and Broad just across from the Capitol Building.

And now a word about our writers and our policy on writing: This Convention sees the last time that Mike Shirley sits in the Managing Editor seat, after five with Phoenix sat out. Ron Miller takes over mid-Convention as Editor. Our writers will be checking in with material daily beginning tomorrow. Each piece is signed by the author. Mike Shirley has written or edited from earlier writing all that has been printed here. He takes full responsibility for it. Each writer in the days to come will do the same to anything they put their name to. The women and men who volunteer to write for ISSUES do so out of commitment to the work of their organizations, the Church and God.

Mike Shirley, Managing Editor ISSUES