In the midst of the convention of the Diocese of Newark, during a poignant moment of personal privilege, the Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong called for the election of a bishop coadjutor, to take place at a special convention, June 6, 1998.

In his address the previous evening at the Jan. 24-25 convention held in Whippany, N.J., Bishop Spong expressed his distress over several issues of national and local concern.

Citing "the breakdown of ethical behavior in our communities and workplaces, in the government and in the life of the church," the bishop called for a task force on ethics "to assist this diocese to speak to the moral climate of our times."

Alarmed by the fact that "New Jersey ranks 47th out of 50 states on the question of equal distribution of resources between rich and poor school districts," Bishop Spong called for the diocesan council to appoint a committee to study the crisis in education in New Jersey.

The convention not only heard and accepted the report of the task force on prayer book revision, it also experienced a "traditional, BCP, Rite II, Prayer A service" on Friday, at which the Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam, Suffragan Bishop of New York, preached and the Rt. Rev. Jack M. McKelvey, Suffragan Bishop of Newark, presided. This was counter-balanced by what was described as a lively, creative, "inclusive" (in terms of language) and "diverse" (in terms of musical expression of different cultures) liturgy on Saturday morning at which Bishop Spong presided and the Rt. Rev. Edwin Gulick, Bishop of Kentucky, preached.

The convention resolved to request the 72nd General Convention to do the following: 1. direct the Standing Liturgical Commission to develop rites for the blessing of committed relationships between persons of the same gender; 2. direct the Standing Commission on Health to study the theology and ethics of physician assisted suicide; 3. affirm the resolution adopted by the House of Bishops which states that Canon III.8.1 is mandatory in all dioceses of this church; 4. direct that Canon 1.17 be amended to add a new Sec. 6, stating: no person shall be allowed to hold the office of warden or vestry member or serve on diocesan standing committees, council or commission on ministry, unless willing to uphold the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church; and 5. direct the pension fund to make available benefits to domestic partners.

An annual budget of $2.47 million was approved. Convention also approved diocesan insurance coverage to domestic partners and their children.

(The Rev. Canon) Elizabeth Kaeton