"Building the Baptized Community" was the theme of the convention of the Diocese of Rhode Island, Oct. 24-25 at the Cathedral of St. John in Providence.

The convention had an emphasis on children, and in place of the bishop's sermon, a presentation of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was offered by the Rev. Marybeth Way and the Rev. Maria DeCarvalho, emphasizing the simplicity of baptismal faith offered to children in the church.

A resolution committed the diocese to "full integration of children into our worship communities," and also to working in the public sector to ensure that all children of the state receive "high quality public education opportunities." Issues of evangelism and stewardship also were addressed.

In her second convention address as Bishop of Rhode Island, Bishop Geralyn Wolf announced a public advertisement campaign for Lent of 1998. The ads will appear on various cable and broadcast TV outlets 20 times per week for each of the six weeks of Lent. Bishop Wolf issued a call for the congregations to prepare to welcome the 25-40-year-olds who are the target audience for the ads.

The bishop also decried the level of giving of the members of the diocese. She expressed disapproval of parishes which have been using endowment principal for operating expenses, and showed frustration that diocesan canons and state laws prevented diocesan officers from intervening.

Bishop Wolf also called for inclusion of people of all ages in the worship life of the church, including administration of communion to children as young as 3 years of age, with appropriate understanding of their participation. She recommended every-Sunday adult education in each parish, with adult and children's classes meeting at an hour different than worship time.

"To prepare for confirmation much before 16 or 18 is to ask [our children] to go on a journey for which they are not ready," she said.

Bishop Wolf added that most of the children presented to her for confirmation did not have the presence of mind even to answer the vows they were asked to take, because of their immaturity.

Two resolutions proposed by the stewardship commission generated the only controversy of convention. Both were received from General Convention. One concerned tithing of individuals and the other asked congregations to work toward giving 50 percent of income for mission outside the parish. The latter was defeated after debate which raised many diverse concerns. The resolution on tithing was adopted, after clauses requiring a public commitment by convention members were removed by amendment.

A 1998 operating budget of just under $2 million was adopted. It does not include an additional $225,000 of restricted funds for special programs or the $558,000 for Rhode Island Episcopal Charities.

(The Rev.) Peter Michaelson