In the weeks leading up to convention Oct. 5-7 in Denver it appeared that two controversial resolutions on sexuality would dominate the agenda in the Diocese of Colorado.

Both of those resolutions were defeated with practically no debate. The resolution which garnered the majority of discussion was one which successfully sought - after roughly a 20-year experiment - to change the policy on diocesan assessment from voluntary back to mandatory.

In recent years, diocesan income has been relatively stagnant despite the fact that most churches have experienced significant growth. Last year average giving represented 8.6 percent of pledge and plate income. The resolution, which passed on a voice vote, sought to make mandatory a 10 percent assessment. The policy becomes effective Jan. 1, 2003.

Sponsors of a resolution on clergy deployment withdrew their motion before it came up for debate on the floor. The resolution would have required the diocese to amend current clergy deployment guidelines requiring all priests to be either faithful in heterosexual marriage or single and celibate in favor of one which would also include unmarried clergy living in monogamous relationships with members of either sex.

Shortly after the deployment resolution was tabled, clergy and lay delegates defeated by voice another resolution which called for parishes and missions to engage in a year of study and discussion of the text of D039, a General Convention resolution dealing with relationships and human sexuality.

As presented, the resolution recommended employment of a D039 study guide developed by the Diocese of Wyoming. The Colorado resolution called for each parish to report its results to diocesan convention next year.

In other news, convention approved a balanced diocesan budget of $1.9 million.