A large tent donated by two parishes in the Diocese of Dallas will be put to good - and multiple - use, says the Rt. Rev. Steven Plummer, Bishop of the Navajoland Area Mission.

The tent was blessed and put to its first use to house the Navajoland Convocation June 13-15 at Bluff, Utah. It was donated, and transported to Bluff, by members of the Church of the Apostles in Coppell, Texas.

The Rev. Rob Smith of Church of the Apostles served as preacher and teacher for the convocation, leading Bible study and healing services. The convocation theme was "Equipping the Saints for Ministry."

He said that the tent, and the trailer which carries it, was a "gift with no strings.'' His church and Church of the Annunciation in Lewisville, Texas, sought and received a diocesan grant for the tent, which he said cost almost $10,000.

Bishop Plummer said the tent, long a goal of his, would be used for revival, evangelism and youth events throughout the Navajo reservation. It will also be used for the annual convocation.

In his address, Bishop Plummer spoke to the need for increased indigenous leadership, and indigenous clergy. He said he will work for "developing our ministry - how to minister to ourselves and the people.

"If the love of Jesus Christ is in us, nothing can or should stop us."

Responding to his call, convocation delegates decided to concentrate efforts toward youth ministry and to re-establish the Episcopal Church Women chapter. Funding to send a representative to the ECW Triennial was approved.

Delegates approved a proposed budget of approximately $349,000. That includes a grant from the national church of $240,766 in the current budget, an amount that will be reduced by 5 percent next year.

Helping to offset the reduction, diocesan treasurer Lucile Blakesley and Bishop Plummer explained that economic development efforts by the area mission are beginning to show benefits in each of its three regions.

Fort Defiance, Ariz., has a retreat center now in operation; the New Mexico region receives income from sale of gravel and from a recently signed oil exploration lease; and the Utah region is planning a youth retreat center at Bluff.