Four resolutions approved Oct. 20 by the convention of the Diocese of California will be forwarded to General Convention for consideration by all Episcopalians.

A resolution sponsored by Oasis/California calls for the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to prepare for the 2006 General Convention, a rite for the blessing of same-sex unions.

A second Oasis/California-sponsored resolution asked General Convention to "affirm that the church does not insist that gay and lesbian people are in need of therapy to change their sexual orientation"; and that "this church oppose any religious, spiritual, psychological or psychiatric counseling" based on the premise that "homosexuality is a mental, spiritual, religious or ethical disorder." An attempt to remove the words "religious or ethical" failed.

After considerable debate, delegates approved a third resolution requesting church-wide support for a bill by U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., to establish a congressional commission to study the feasibility of restitution for Africans who were enslaved in America.

Several delegates objected to the notion of "feasibility" (i.e., if found "feasible," restitution is a "done deal"), prompting an amendment replacing "to study the feasibility..." with "to examine the institution of slavery and to study the appropriateness of restitution." The amendment was accepted and convention approved the entire resolution in a close vote.

Delegates also concurred with the North American Association of Deacons in requesting General Convention to revise the national canons in order to permit direct ordination to the priesthood. Presently candidates slated for the priesthood are first ordained to the transitional diaconate.

Despite the work of committees created under the Jubilate Deo Initiative adopted by last year's diocesan convention, the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, diocesan bishop, acknowledged "there was simply too much information to internalize" at a regular convention, and called for a special diocesan convention to be held May 4.

Convention adopted a resolution to conduct a year-long study of health benefits and costs. Also adopted was a resolution that empowered Episcopal Charities to coordinate charitable giving within the diocese, link congregational and institutional outreach efforts, and provide consulting services to (any) congregation and social agency with the diocese's geographical area.

The $3.5 million diocesan budget approved for 2002 represented an increase of less than $100,000 over the previous one.