As we prepare for the Episcopal Church’s 80th General Convention, being held July 7 - 14 in Baltimore, Maryland, we invite you to get to know the Deputies who will be representing The Episcopal Church of New Hampshire.
Next up, we have The Rev. Gail Avery
How many years have you attended General Convention (as deputy or otherwise)?
I am serving my 2nd term as your Deputy to General Convention and have attended three previous conventions starting in 2009 because I love our church and have a deepening love of what our church is becoming.
Why do you enjoy being a deputy to General Convention?
From the onset, I've been immersed in ministries that have crossed cultural, religious, and economic barriers--expanding the boundaries of parish reach and giving voice to the most vulnerable in our midst. As a priest, I am provided multiple opportunities to incorporate locally what we commit to at General Convention, such as advocating for the repeal of the death penalty; more just immigration laws; raising our state's minimum wage; the reduction of gun violence; and closing the opportunity gap.
What committees, if any, are you sitting on this year?
Not all deputies are assigned to committees, which is the case for most of the New Hampshire delegation. Deputies not assigned to specific committees have been asked to remain informed on the progress of one or two legislative committees and then report back to the deputation on the important work being done.
I've been following Legislative Committee #4 on Governance and Structure. I'm also serving as your deputation chair, convening monthly meetings for the New Hampshire delegation and passing along any pertinent information from the General Convention Office. In April, the Rev. Gay Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, joined our meeting for a Q&A.
The 80th General Convention deputation is the youngest and most racially diverse in recent years and there has been a concerted effort to reflect our growing diversity. As a result, 36 percent of committee officers are people of color, 35 percent are 40 years of age or younger, and 70 percent of our 232 deputies who are of color are serving on committees.
What are you looking forward to the most in Baltimore?
Our deputation works tirelessly--convening each morning with various legislative committees before the legislative sessions begin. It's an honor to serve our Diocese in this capacity again. I remain committed to innovating the role church can play worldwide and look forward to broadening our church's polity and priorities and call to be reconcilers and repairers of the breach.