More than 800 delegates filled the pews of St. James' Cathedral for the convention of the Diocese of Chicago Oct. 28. They heard Bishop Frank Griswold, in his convention address delivered as the Eucharist homily, reaffirm his vision statement for the diocese that he composed in 1994, which calls the diocese to be "a diverse and interactive community gathered around one table, seeking through continual conversion to have the mind and heart of Christ."

"I stand by that statement," Bishop Griswold said. "In fact, it becomes stronger in my conscience day by day." Noting the emergence of "a new kind of tribalism" in the general society, one that drowns out temperate and thoughtful voices, Bishop Griswold challenged delegates to break down the dividing walls of racism, sexism and classism, and renounce sectarian views.

His call for inclusiveness was echoed in the liturgy that followed. Three deacons read the Prayers of the People in English, Korean and Spanish. The theme was also stressed in the report of standing committee president the Rev. Sam Portaro, presented earlier in the proceedings. "We, like the larger church of which we are a part, are challenged in this diocese to change, to grow more and more into what we prayerfully hope to be a closer likeness to the Christ we proclaim, in a body of many diverse members whose mutual trust, cooperation, respect and affection are still our most tangible witness to the world," he said.

The Rev. Bonnie Perry, chair of the diocese's annual campaign committee, reported that 57 of the diocese's 141 congregations had pledged $1.3 million to the 1996 budget, an amount roughly half of this year's budget. Of the 57 churches pledging, 29 increased and 16 decreased their pledge, while 12 stayed the same. From responses during the campaign visits, it is apparent that the voluntary funding of the diocesan budget has widespread support, she said.

All five resolutions presented to convention passed. The closest votes, requiring a show of hands, came on resolutions opposing immigration limits and the death penalty. A third resolution, calling for congregations to lobby state and federal officials for support of affirmative action programs, was passed handily, with fewer than two dozen no votes.