Clutching the same gavel used in the Diocese of Washington for 106 years, the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon called to order her first convention as diocesan bishop pro tempore on Jan. 26 at Washington National Cathedral.

In her convention address, Bishop Dixon articulated the dream that the church take more seriously opportunities to more fully integrate young persons into the life of the church. To this end, she's inviting junior and senior high students from around the diocese to join her for a weekend retreat at Bishop Claggett Conference Center in October "to engage in a discussion of their hopes and dreams for their lives of faith."

In the aftermath of the retirement of the Rt. Rev. Ronald H. Haines as diocesan bishop last month, the standing committee is in charge of the bishop selection process. At convention, the search and transition committees were both officially commissioned and set to task, with the election of the next bishop scheduled for Jan. 24, 2002.

Years of dialogue and compromise culminated in the adoption of a new unified budget format. For the first time in recent memory, the budget presented was a balanced budget, supported by the "giving" pledged from congregations, along with a small percentage from investments. Every congregation has pledged in support of the budget, with giving now averaging more than 8 percent.

Convention approved petitions from two mission congregations - St. George's, Glenn Dale, Md., and St. Philip the Evangelist, Washington - to organize as parishes, each following more than 100 years of ministry.