The Archbishop of Canterbury (aka "ABC") Rowan Williams had just one day to spend at General Convention, and he made a point of devoting a portion of his time to the Episcopal Church Women.
He and his entourage, including what appeared to be a security team, were escorted into our plenary session and he quietly took a seat. He indicated he wanted to listen for a few minutes to what was being said before addressing us, so our chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Ellen Sloan, continued her meditation on the true meaning of grace. Hint: it has nothing to do with being "a ticket to heaven."
Once he got to the microphone, he first acknowledged the tension between the Episcopal Church and some others within the Anglican Communion, characterizing it as "rocky times." But he quickly moved onto his theme, the transformational capacity of women's ministry such as the Mothers' Union, which has a huge presence in Europe and Africa, and the Episcopal Church Women.
Here, in part, is what he had to say: "In your sharing of care and prayer, what you have is one of the most deep-rooted and enduring things that keeps our community together. It is profoundly sacramental. What unites Christians is the presence to one another in Christ; this is what you represent and live out.
"It is clear that the women of faith are among the most effective leaders of lasting and prophetic change. That is because, in so many contexts around the world, with women it's the grassroots. With this approach you provide the lever for real and lasting and profound change. You are the people that will bring about the Millennium Development Goals or whatever need is determined.
"I say, if you want transformation look to the women."
In all, he was with us 20 minutes. Not long after he offered a meditation during the daily Eucharist, again touching on issues of brokenness and reconciliation.
"I don't like coded messages and hidden agendas," he said in opening. "So I'll speak plainly. Thank you for the invitation to join you and for your continued willingness to engage in the wider life of the communion. Of course I'm coming here with hopes and anxieties. One of my hopes is there won't be decisions made in the coming days that will push us further apart."
Perhaps what he was talking about was B033, a resolution adopted by the 2006 General Convention. It calls for restraint in electing as bishops those whose "manner of life," widely understood to mean homosexuality, would cause concern for the rest of the Anglican Communion.
Revisiting B033 has created quite a stir in the House of Deputies, where opinion remains split between rejecting the resolution and preserving it.