Substantial debate took place on the diocesan budget and amendments to the canons when the Diocese of Springfield held its annual synod Oct. 20-21, at Trinity Church, Mt. Vernon, Ill.

A budget of $688,477 was adopted for 1996, an increase of more than $9,000 from 1995. It includes a $13,500 decrease in the pledge to the national church, which the Rt. Rev. Peter Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield, called "embarrassing."

The amendments to canons approved changed requirements to serve on vestries, altered qualifications for synod membership and increased the terms of members of the commission on ministry.

A request to change diocesan boundaries to enable St. Matthew's Church, Bloomington, to move to the Diocese of Quincy was tabled.