Good news of a large budget surplus in the Diocese of Central Florida was balanced somewhat by the aversion of some clergy and lay deputies to being drawn into a legislative debate over controversial social issues.

Meeting at All Saints' in Winter Park on Jan. 21, the diocese reported that income increased unexpectedly by $225,000. Convention affirmed the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe's desire that the surplus and a potential surplus during the coming year be used to help plant 15 new congregations by 2010.

Deputies, however, tabled a series of seven resolutions that sought to focus the diocese on reaffirming its predominantly "orthodox" tradition.

While many of the handful of speakers, including Bishop Howe, said they agreed in principle with the intent of the resolutions, they said that three or four hours were inadequate for a substantive discussion of the issues. When it was clear that the resolutions would not be approved, the sponsor, the Rev. Gray T. Echols, assistant rector at St. John's in Melbourne, withdrew the remaining five that had not been tabled.

"The major question that emerged is: Is it the responsibility, or even prerogative, of a diocesan convention to do, or redo, the work of the Lambeth Conference?" asked Bishop Howe rhetorically. "I support the substance of what you presented, but with the majority of the delegates today, I think that a diocesan convention legislative session is not the appropriate venue to deal with such issues."

Bishop Howe returned to the theme of an appropriate venue during his address.

"There will be choices to be made, as to whether the Episcopal Church affirms that 'faith once delivered' or rejects it," he said. "But those choices will be made in a much larger context, and they will have global implications. In the meanwhile I can't see how leaving the Episcopal Church, to join something that calls itself 'Anglican,' but isn't recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury as such, will be any kind of a viable solution. Let me put it to you this way: this diocese has not changed, the Anglican Communion has not changed, and we are working on what's in the middle."

Deputies learned that the Rt. Rev. Hugo Pina-Lopez, assistant bishop, received approval from his HMO to undergo surgery for a kidney transplant. Bishop Pina-Lopez is planning to resume his visitations afterward.