The convention of the Diocese of Spokane voted overwhelmingly to expand Hispanic ministry in the diocese when it met Oct. 17-19 in Lewiston, Idaho.

Delegates voted to direct a committee to evaluate the development of Hispanic ministry and to report to the 1998 convention on the expenses and staff needed to expand Hispanic ministry.

In his convention address, the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Terry, Bishop of Spokane, reminded delegates that during the next year, "we the people of God in the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, are going to further focus our attention on the rites of initiation, on programs and ways of faith development that lead to transformation - in short, a strengthening of our foundations."

Bishop Terry said he was entering his 10th month on the heart transplant list and called his illness "a time of deepening faith."

The Rev. Leonel Mitchell, retired professor of liturgics at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, was the chaplain for convention.

In business sessions, the convention approved changes to the diocesan constitution, including allowance of a lay person to become president of the standing committee, and a resolution was adopted asking the bishop to appoint a new committee to look at diocesan structures and organizations "to assist the whole community in addressing the church of the future."