The Convocation of American Churches in Europe packed an ambitious agenda into Nov. 17-18. The community of Episcopalians in Europe consecrated its first elected bishop, enjoyed an audience with Pope John Paul II, and held its diocesan convention.

Before an overflowing, multi-national congregation at St. Paul's Within the Walls in Rome on Nov. 18, the Rev. Pierre Welté Whalon, bishop-elect, was presented by members of the convocation who represented the five European countries in which Episcopal churches are located: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

In addition to the Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, who presided as chief consecrator, six bishops - representing not only five different countries, but five different churches either within the Anglican Communion or in communion with the Anglican Church - were invited to participate as co-consecrators.

They were: the Rt. Rev. John W. Howe, Bishop of Central Florida, where Bishop Whalon served prior to his election; the Rt. Rev. Jeffery Rowthorn, presently Bishop in Charge of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe; the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Rowell, installed Nov. 1 as Bishop of Gibraltar in the Church of England; the Rt. Rev. Carlos Lopez-Lozano of the Spanish Episcopal Reformed Church; the Rt. Rev. Fernando Soares of the Lusitanian Church of Portugal; and the Rt. Rev. Joachim Vobbe, the Old Catholic Bishop of Germany.

At the conclusion of the service, the Canterbury Cross - which began its pilgrimage in Canterbury in August 1997 and since then has visited all of the churches and missions of the convocation as part of the 1,400th anniversary of St. Augustine's journey to England - was presented to representatives from Emmanuel Church in Geneva, Switzerland. That church will be host for the 2002 convention.

On the morning before the consecration 220 members of the diocese were granted an audience with the pope. They were joined by participants of the Pontifical Council for Promotion of Christian Unity which had just concluded a week-long plenary session at the Vatican.

Nell Toensmann