Mission and ministry that offer “new hope” were highlighted throughout the Oct. 13-14 convention in the Diocese of Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity in the see city was host to more than 300 clergy, lay delegates, and visitors.

In his address to convention, diocesan Bishop Paul Marshall cited his desire for the diocese to undertake a capital campaign that would bring new hope to three mission areas identified during an earlier diocesan meeting. Locally, the diocese would work to sustain “communities of faith, both traditional and innovative,” to serve seekers moving into the region; and to seed and support parish outreach that addresses both urban and rural poverty. The third initiative would support building, educational and administrative projects to support the Christian community in Kajo-Keji, Sudan.

“As a family, we are asked to contemplate what we might do to change the landscape of Sudan and Pennsylvania permanently,” Bishop Marshall said. “Consider the possibilities with faith, and with the expectation that the Lord Jesus will show us the way.”

Bishop Marshall noted that in the five-year period ending in 2004, there was a 20-percent increase in parish giving to the diocese. Parish income in the same period increased by nearly 26 percent and annual giving, including non-pledgers, increased by 38 percent. This growth is being driven by parishes using year-round stewardship programs, and Bishop Marshall encouraged all congregations to adopt such a model.

Local success stories Bishop Marshall cited included the opening of the first Episcopal grade school in the diocese, at Grace Church, Allentown, and the participation of 33 parishes in a diocesan-sponsored evangelism training program.

Reflecting on this summer’s General Convention, Bishop Marshall explained that “in order for the process that Windsor invites to take place, I have agreed to abide by both the letter and the spirit of the Windsor requests and those of the General Convention in response to Windsor.” He noted that “this is not the way I would have preferred to see the matter resolved. At the very least, I would have preferred a theological rather than a diplomatic solution.”

Delegates adopted a mission and ministry budget of $1.6 million for 2007, and maintained the assessment rate at the 2006 level of 12 percent.

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