An overflow crowd of almost 500 clergy and laity were at St. Andrew's Parish in downtown Fort Worth April 28-29 for Bishop Iker's Conference on Evangelism and Renewal. Young people from the Diocese of Fort Worth designed T-shirts that illustrated the conference theme, "Though Many, We Are One Body."

Packed within the 24-hour period were opportunities for worship, keynote addresses, small group discussions, workshops, and time for prayer and fellowship.

Since becoming Bishop of Fort Worth, the Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker has stated one of his goals for the diocese is to focus upon evangelism and spiritual renewal.

One of his urgent prayers has been the "equipping of the members of the body," both clerical and lay members of the diocese, to become more effective and joyful messengers of the good news of Jesus Christ, both within and without their congregations. The conference at St. Andrew's was one tool to move toward accomplishing this goal.

In his opening words to the conference, Bishop Iker cited evangelism as a first priority for the church. He underscored, however, that renewal must come before evangelism, and termed the conference a sort of "spiritual pep rally" for the Diocese of Fort Worth. He stated that we must be "anointed by God and empowered by the Spirit to go forth and share the good news with others, and that we must be first convinced ourselves that it is good news, and that it is worth sharing."

Keynote speakers were the Rt. Rev. Terence Kelshaw, Bishop of the Rio Grande, and the Rt. Rev. Lindsay Urwin, Bishop of Horsham, England, and an Area Bishop in the Diocese of Chichester. The title of Bishop Kelshaw's address was "The Great Compulsion: Gossiping the Gospel." Bishop Urwin's remarks were titled "How Shall We Sing the Lord's Song?" Bishop Kelshaw also preached the sermon during the conference Eucharist, on the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment (Mark 5). The bishops' light-hearted remarks offered conference participants a chance to laugh at themselves, and at the sometimes foolish ways of the church.

In addition to the keynote addresses, a dozen workshops were offered, which focused upon such topics as Spiritual Direction, Small Group Ministries, Extended Families within the Church, Prayer, Youth Ministry, Ministry to Newcomers, Keys to Church Growth, Renewal Ministries, Faith Alive Weekends and Music as a Tool for Evangelism. Workshop presenters were from the dioceses of Fort Worth, West Texas, Fond du Lac and Dallas.

Separate activities for young people geared to their specific age levels were offered throughout the weekend, including a dance at Trinity Church, Fort Worth. The youth council of the diocese worked with the conference planning committee to organize and coordinate these events.