The effort to maintain diocesan unity begun at last year's convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania continued at this year's gathering Nov. 4-5 at the Cathedral Church of the Saviour, Philadelphia.

Deputies sent an early message of inclusion by voting to allow the lay deputation from Good Shepherd Church, Rosemont, to be seated, even though that congregation has not paid its 1993 episcopate assessment for theological reasons.

A new standing resolution on unity in the church was adopted as well as an enabling resolution outlining specific actions to help bring about that unity. Words in the standing resolution that those opposed to the ordination of women hold a "recognized theological position" were removed after one of the clergy members of the committee drafting that resolution stated her discomfort with the wording. The resolution still upholds "inclusion of all people regardless of their acceptance or non-acceptance of the ministry of ordained women."

Later in the convention, deputies defeated by a sizable margin a resolution which asked the diocesan bishops to "refrain from ordaining practicing homosexual persons until after General Convention ... specifically approves such ordinations." The vote was viewed by many as showing support for Bishop Allen Bartlett, who ordained to the diaconate a gay man living in a committed relationship last fall. A similar ordination took place a week after this convention.

The Rt. Rev. Charlie McNutt, Bishop of Central Pennsylvania, set the unity theme in his sermon at the opening Eucharist on Friday afternoon. He said the church on the national and diocesan levels is in the midst of change, a process often painful and frequently divisive.

"We need to recognize the faithfulness of all, even when we don't agree with them," Bishop McNutt said. "In a time of change, cling to God, not the past."

The convention welcomed clergy and lay deputies of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Harleysville, to their first convention, and admitted a new parish, Emmanuel and Good Shepherd, Kensington, formed by the merger of two previously yoked churches.

A budget of more than $3.2 million was adopted.