A $5 million challenge grant, made by Mr. and Mrs. William Goodwin, parishioners of St. Stephen's Church, Richmond, in the Diocese of Virginia, aims to help pay for "the initial operating costs of new parishes, the acquisition of land for new parishes, and a significant contribution to the construction of new parish buildings" in the diocese.

According to the terms of the challenge, the funds will be given over a five-year period to match funds raised by the diocese during that same time. But there's more. "If this first five-year effort goes well," said the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, who announced the challenge, "the Goodwins are prepared to renew their pledge with an additional $5 million to be matched in a second five-year period."

The news buoyed the diocese's annual council Feb. 4-5 in Reston. When Bishop Lee made the announcement during his pastoral address, council reacted with applause. Explaining the challenge, the bishop said, "that's where the applause needs to be." He noted that the grant alone is nothing without the full support and participation of the members of the diocese in the challenge.

In other council business, planning for a capital campaign with church planting specified as one of the areas of focus was approved. Campaign priorities include planting new churches, assisting existing churches, strengthening youth ministry and furthering outreach.

Council adopted a series of social justice resolutions and agreed to the formation of a new fund to support short-term missionaries - operating independently of the diocesan budget to provide monetary grants in individuals and teams embarking on short-term mission trips.

Finally delegates considered and approved a budget of nearly $4.2 million, an increase of about 9 percent over 1999 and the largest program budget in the history of the diocese.