Delegates to the Diocese of Nevada's convention approved a possible May 2000 convention to elect a successor to the late Rt. Rev. Stewart Zabriskie, Bishop of Nevada, who died Sept. 13 after suffering an aortic aneurysm during a diocesan council meeting [TLC, Oct. 3]. Delegates met Oct. 15-17 at the Elko Convention Center. Ginny Hastings, president of the standing committee, chaired the convention.

Mrs. Hastings said the election would take place only if the election committee and nominating committee can complete their work by then. If not, the election will take place at the regular convention in October.

She explained that if the election takes place in May, the necessary consents from the bishops of the church could be obtained during the meeting of the House of Bishops at General Convention in July in Denver. If the election takes place in October, the next bishop could not be consecrated until February or March 2001.

Mrs. Hastings noted the convention theme, "A Spiritual Odyssey" -selected by Bishop Zabriskie - took on a new meaning with the bishop's sudden death.

"We are at a crossroads," she said in her convention address. "We must go through the darkness, but God is with us. And we will go in the light of a new day."

In other business, delegates approved a budget of $671,534 for next year. Allen Duke, diocesan treasurer, noted that the budget is balanced.

Delegates also listened to a controversial plan to enlarge Camp Galilee, the diocesan camp at Lake Tahoe. The camp's committee proposed the plan, which is in preliminary design and which would turn the camp into a full-fledged camp and conference center. Some delegates questioned the impact on the environment of Lake Tahoe and the impact on the diocese's parish at Galilee, and questioned how the proposal would be funded.