The Diocese of Fond du Lac is largely healthy and growing, but it needs to become more fully knowledgeable about the Windsor Report, said Bishop Russell E. Jacobus, “so that we can make educated decisions as the future of our Anglican Communion continues to be discussed.” Bishop Jacobus made his comments to more than 200 delegates and visitors to the diocese’s convention, held Oct. 20-21 at St. John the Baptist, Wausau, Wis.

Bishop Jacobus said he hopes to begin Windsor Report education for the diocese early next year with a series of meetings where clergy can “engage the Windsor Process.” This will be followed by several opportunities for the laity.

“I am passionate about keeping the Anglican Communion together and I hope you will begin to share this passion with me,” he said. A letter of affirmation that convention sent to Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold and Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori stated that the signatories “accept Jesus Christ as the only means to salvation.”

During the past year, the diocese hired a youth ministry coordinator and continued an incremental reduction in the percentage of the diocesan “asking” from each parish, Bishop Jacobus reported. Reduced to 14 percent last year, plans are in place to reduce it to 13 percent in 2007. The goal, Bishop Jacobus said, is a model in which members pledge 10 percent of income to their parish, parishes pledge 10 percent to the diocese and the diocese pledges 10 percent to the program budget of the General Convention.

The Rev. Kenneth Munanga, assistant to the bishop of the Diocese of Mount Kenya South was the convention preacher, assisted during the Eucharist, and gave a presentation about his diocese. The Diocese of Fond du Lac is considering entering into a companion relationship with Mount Kenya South and has already developed a number of ties through medical missionary trips, theological educators, and clergy visits.

In addition to regular business, delegates adopted resolutions to continue to allow individuals to restrict their giving from being included in the calculation of the diocese’s pledge to the national church; to develop ways to implement meeting and the Millennium Development Goals; to re-commit to reaching the goals of the 20/20 initiative of doubling the membership of all diocesan congregations by 2020. A resolution regarding a statement of belief was withdrawn.

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