Southwest Florida Ups Venture Goal By $1 Million
Episcopal News Service. November 21, 1979 [79360]
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. -- During the 11th annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida at Punta Gorda in late October, clerical and lay delegates were so moved by a desire to "give our first fruits to the hungry people of the world" that they raised their Venture in Mission/Southwest Florida goal from $2.5 million Venture in Mission/Southwest Florida, the diocesan part of the domestic and world mission program adopted by the General Convention in 1976, was a top priority of the meeting in Punta Gorda. The diocese's original Venture in Mission resolution asked for $1.8 million for the Episcopal Conference Center and the remainder of the $2.5 million was divided between domestic and foreign missions to $3.5 million.
A groundswell of support for an amendment to raise an additional $1 million for the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief arose after the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. E. Paul Haynes, announced the convention offerings would be matched by the diocesan council and sent to Cambodia.
Clergy and laymen lined up before convention microphones to speak in favor of the amendment drawn up by the Rev. Robert M. Demery, rector of St. John the Divine in Ruskin.
Appropriately, the amended resolution was passed unanimously just minutes before the arrival of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin. When asked if he was surprised by the action of convention, he replied, "No, I expect such things from Christians."