Compass Rose active at General Convention 2009

The Compass Rose Society was present in a very real way at the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, which took place recently in Anaheim, CA.

Society volunteers, including board members Norris Battin, Janie Stevens and Sarah Buxton-Smith, along with Sonja Krastman and Jim Stevens, staffed a booth at the convention.

President of the Society, Bishop Philip Poole, was in Anaheim as a guest of Bishop Jon Bruno, former CRS board member and diocesan bishop of Los Angeles.

Bishop J. Jon Bruno and Bishop Philip Poole in front of the Compass Rose Society booth at General Convention (Photo courtesy of Norris Battin)

Bishop Poole attended separate meetings organized by both Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Bishop Bruno on the subject of supporting the ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem.  "The Diocese of Jerusalem is a long-time partner of the Society and I believe the time is right for the membership of the Society to consider further ways of engaging with them in common ministry", stated Poole.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Archbishop Rowan Williams and Bishop Philip Poole at General Convention (Photo courtesy of Jim Rosenthal)

The Society's presence at General Convention has allowed a number of members and friends of the Society to reconnect.  Among the many visitors to the booth was Archbishop Rowan Williams, who stopped by to greet Bishop Poole and express his gratitude for the Society's work and ministry.  The Society's presence in Anaheim has also allowed discussions to begin with a number of potential new members.

"Being in Anaheim was a very positive experience", said Bishop Poole.  "I'm very grateful to Bishop Bruno for this opportunity.  It is at gatherings such as this that the reality of the Anglican Communion comes to life and the abundant potential of our ministry together becomes so very clear."