"From Maintenance to Mission" was the theme as the Diocese of Alaska met in its annual convention Sept. 30-Oct. 3.

As part of their effort to embrace a new vision of mission outlined by the Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, Bishop of Alaska, delegates had to come to grips with the past and the pain that has marked the lives of many native members of the church as a result of their struggle to preserve their native languages.

Sparked by receiving the convention's resolution committee's recommendation that the Rev. Scott Fisher's resolution be discharged without discussion, a long line of native and non-native delegates rose and spoke to the issue in what often proved to be dramatic and emotional statements. Fr. Fisher's resolution asked the diocese to take a public stand against a state ballot proposition which would establish English as the official language of Alaska.

At the conclusion of the presentations, the convention unanimously rejected the committee's recommendation and agreed to oppose the ballot proposition.

In his first address to an Alaskan diocesan convention, Bishop MacDonald outlined four themes that have emerged from his travel throughout the diocese. First, "the diocese is one"; second, there is "a deep desire to see the diocese more regionalized in its focus on ministry"; third, "we need to work on the quality of our connections to each other so that we have a better sense of the whole even as we embody the whole on the local level"; and fourth, to be engaged in mission.

The convention approved a 1999 budget of $988,916. In addition to all the legislative business that had to be attended to, those attending the convention also found time to pray together, honor elders, and learn how to pray in Gwitch'in, Tlinget and Inupiat.