Source: Site page, //Events/convention-sermon---opening-eucharist-10232026.html (GUID page-3192662). Text is truncated in the ingested summary.

Context

• Preached by the Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer at the opening Diocesan Convention Eucharist, Oct 23, 2026, on the feast of St. James of Jerusalem.
• Part of the convention cycle; see page-3191893 and page-3192637.

Key points

• Draws on David Veal's "The Calendar of Saints" (Veal is a former Canon to the Ordinary): James, brother of Jesus, converted after the resurrection, became Bishop of Jerusalem, presided at the Council of Jerusalem (Gentile inclusion), and was killed by a mob per Josephus. He is traditionally considered the author of the Epistle of James.
• Martyrdom accounts: taken to the Temple pinnacle, urged to denounce Jesus, proclaimed him Son of God, was thrown down, survived, and prayed for his attackers.
• Links this to the temptations of Jesus (First Sunday of Lent): the devil tempts him with power over creation, political power, and avoiding death, i.e. to be other than human. Jesus chooses dependence on God, vulnerability, and solidarity with ordinary people ("Jesus chooses US").
• Mentions the House of Bishops meeting at Camp Allen near College Station, last month, where Bishop Nick Knisely of Rhode Island (a physicist) spoke on Artificial Intelligence.
• AI: benefits cited include medicine, translation, education, administration; concerns include data centers and fears voiced by some of its developers, and the sense that it is moving out of control.

Notes

• The remainder of the sermon (how the AI theme resolves) is not in the available text.