More than 300 delegates and clergy gathered Oct. 21-23 in Evansville, Ind., for the convention of the Diocese of Indianapolis. They committed themselves to a prayerful study of evangelism, celebration of a Jubilee year with a focus on evangelism in 2000, and to intentional work and reflection on the stewardship of evangelism in shaping of their ministries. St. Paul's, one of the diocese's most historic churches, having been founded in 1836 by Bishop Jackson Kemper, was host church for the convention.

Diocesan Bishop Catherine Waynick, addressing the convention's opening Evensong, articulated her vision for the diocese. "I want the Diocese of Indianapolis to be a place where the body of Christ, in the lives and ministry of all its members, is exercising the most faithful stewardship possible of all that has been entrusted to us by God," she said. "It is time for the church - and for the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Indianapolis - to exercise more faithful stewardship of the good news. It is time for us to lay hold of our responsibility to share our faith in what God has done for us in Jesus the Christ. It is time for us to equip ourselves for confident proclamation of the gospel.

"We are taking about evangelism ... and there can be no avoiding it. God has acted to redeem and save the world ... and it is our obligation as faithful disciples ... to share that good news ... faithful stewardship of the gospel requires that we share it lavishly, freely and joyfully," she emphasized.

In legislative sessions, the convention also approved a study to examine the feasibility of a capital campaign to support the maintenance and expansion of Waycross Camp and Conference Center. It also affirmed and endorsed the Cambridge Accord of 1999 [TLC, Oct. 24].

The convention passed a 2000 budget of $2.6 million.