The Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold asked members of his diocese whether they were ready "to undergo the radical change of heart without which kindness and mercy and forgiveness cannot happen," when the Diocese of Chicago met in convention Nov. 25 in St. James' Cathedral, Chicago.

The openness to change that has been the turning point for many mission congregations is also a touchstone for the development of the diocese as a whole, Bishop Griswold said in his convention address. He spoke of ordering life and ministry around the baptismal covenant, which means to undergo a dramatic shift in awareness, one "so different from our natural ways of perceiving and responding that it can only be described as a dying and rising, a reshaping of our consciousness by conformation to the mind of Christ," he said. "This is what is meant by metanoia, this is change of heart, this is to repent."

The convention dealt with 10 resolutions and adopted seven, including to authorize the appointment of an assistant bishop, to endorse the Concordat of Agreement, and to authorize a study to find ways to increase the bishop's ability to intervene in congregational matters.

Two controversial resolutions were soundly defeated. One called for a "commission on authority and doctrine in the Episcopal Church," and the other called for the diocese to fund therapy for persons "who want to be healed of their homosexual behavior," and banning any cleric or lay person "known to be a practicing homosexual" from being installed or appointed to a parochial or diocesan position.

The Rt. Rev. William Wiedrich, suffragan bishop, addressed convention for the last time before his Dec. 31 retirement.