Becoming
the sixty-first diocese now working in some way on
0.07% giving for international development, the diocese
passed a resolution asking that the diocese “affirm
and embrace the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs)” and set goals
for 0.07% giving for international development; “that
the Bishop of Southeast Florida appoint a diocesan
Commission on Global Reconciliation”; and that the
Secretary of Convention, as well as individual Episcopalians,
contact elected officials “urging them to support
the United States' government's fulfillment of its
commitment to funding international development aid
at 0.7% of U.S. GNP”.
The
Convention also approved a resolution offered by Bishop
Frade, calling for the diocese
to commend to the Standing Committee on Liturgy and
Music the inclusion of the feast of the Martyrs of
the Sudan in the calendar of the Episcopal Church;
to include this feast in the local diocesan calendar;
and to “seek ways to support the rebuilding of the
church and society of the Sudan”.
In
other action, the Convention approved revision and
clarification of diocesan canons concerning apportionment
of representation at Diocesan Convention, clergy compensation
guidelines for 2006, and the 2006 budget.
With
the approval of an amendment offered by Fr. Ralph
Warren, chairman of the Clergy and Lay Compensation
and Insurance Committee, the budget figure of $3,248,786
will be increased to include a cost of living adjustment
of 2% in diocesan staff salaries, rather than the
1% originally proposed.
Delegates
also approved a motion calling for any budget surplus
at year’s end to be directed toward making up the
difference between the 15% budgeted for payment of
the National Church assessment and the 21% requested.
In his address to convention, Bishop Leo Frade
spoke of the diocesan mission—“to make known to all
people the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, including ALL, excluding none”—as a challenge
that may seem at times “an insurmountable task”.
Telling
the story of his climb up Mt. Sinai on his recent
sabbatical, the bishop explained that he was able
to reach the top of the mountain because he had the
help of his wife Diana, a trusted Bedouin guide, a
rather reluctant camel—and the help of God. The people
of the diocese also have help, he said.
“I
can guarantee you that not only the bishops, the archdeacons
and the other staff will be there to help you along
the way, but also the most important help we will
have is from our God, who has called us to this mission.”
He
warned that one of the obstacles the church faces
in its “climb” is division.
“We
must stop burning ‘heretics’ and each other at the
stake with the fire of our intolerance. This applies
equally to both sides of the argument…To be an Anglican
is not to seek uniformity, but to promote in our midst
what Hooker called ‘a harmonious dissimilitude’,”
Frade said.
He
challenged the delegates to “continue on, to reach
for the top and to respond to the call we have in
this life”.
updated
12/05/05
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