Are you registered for convocation?

By Leland Spencer

I am excited that convocation is now less than two months away! Ever since I came home from the previous convocation in Nashville, TN, in the summer of 2007, I have been excited to return. I know convocation will be great, and you know how you can make it better? Yes, you. You can register and come to convo, too!

Here is an excerpt from a reflection I posted in a Facebook note after the 2007 convocation:

From the moment I arrived at Vanderbilt, I was welcomed. I was welcomed. All of me. Who I am, authentically. And the welcome was true and honest and complete and immediate. The church, alive and active and real! So, the experience was exciting, renewing, energizing, and wonderful. It was great to be among open-minded people. Simultaneously, though, these last few days were some of the hardest and most painful days of my life. While it felt great to be open and to share my story honestly in every conversation, I felt my own hurt again and again as I listened to other stories that are all too like mine. Somehow, knowing that other people face and live through the horrible pain of exclusion does not help--it really only intensifies my pain. My tear ducts have been overworked since Thursday. Overall, I am incredibly thankful I went and quite glad to have had this good experience.

I hope you'll consider coming, too. You can find details on the RMN website, www.rmnetwork.org.