The Diocese of North Carolina, meeting in Raleigh for its convention Jan. 29-31, reaffirmed its commitment to the national and worldwide mission of the Episcopal Church, urged by its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Robert C. Johnson, Jr., who told delegates he believes North Carolina is part of the "vast center" of the church.

Overwhelmingly defeating a motion to reduce giving to the national church, delegates approved a contribution of $712,000, which constitutes 22.3 percent of the 1998 diocesan budget of $3.157 million.

Bishop Johnson also announced hiring of a new full-time stewardship officer and a full-time priest for a new Hispanic mission in Durham, the first such effort in the diocese.

Delegates considered a resolution asking the diocese to endorse the Kuala Lumpur Statement on human sexuality. After lengthy hearings on opening night, the convention Committee on Faith and Morals recommended rejection of the resolution. It was brought to the floor the following day, but following debate it was defeated, 420-60.

The convention adopted resolutions on supporting ministries to children at risk, on supporting work of the Farmworker Labor Organizing Committee and promoting mass transit. After extended debate, it approved by a 207-181 vote a resolution calling for church monitoring of welfare reform.

Delegates also participated in an exercise providing information to the diocesan Visioning Committee, as it attempts to determine the need for a capital campaign for improving the conference center and possible other projects.

The diocese affirmed its work with companion diocese Costa Rica and heard remarks from the Rev. Rosa Brown, a Costa Rican priest.

The Rt. Rev. J. Gary Gloster, bishop suffragan, reminded delegates to remember that beyond the diocese is the national mission of the Episcopal Church family and of the Anglican Communion, carried on by and made up of "even more diverse and complex mixtures involving people of widely differing backgrounds and cultures." When we are tempted to exclude anyone, we waste precious gifts of grace and opportunities to proclaim the good news of God in Christ, he said.

The bishops and many delegates took part in an anti-death-penalty vigil the opening night of convention, when a prisoner was executed at Central Prison in Raleigh.

(The Rev. Canon) E.T. Malone, Jr.