The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop, and his wife, Phoebe, were the guests of the Diocese of Southern Virginia during its annual council Feb. 16-18 in Williamsburg.

While many people observe the Presiding Bishop in a worship setting, he and his wife like to hold informal meetings which he calls conversations. He accepts all questions and tries to answer them in the most direct way possible. On Friday, the Griswolds engaged in conversation with clergy and laity. They addressed some of their passions, described their lives in the fish bowl that results from the task of representing the Episcopal Church to the world, and responded to queries from the left, right and center.

"We Episcopalians have always represented the 'diverse center'," Bishop Griswold said in response to one question. "Heresy comes from our inability to deal with paradox. For those holding opposite or paradoxical positions, the other person's position is often considered heretical. Too often, discussion between them is tuned out -- it is more like talking to the wind. There is no conversation going on, just establishing positions.

"The job of the welcoming church is to allow and encourage all, regardless of philosophical attitudes. It is recognized that we all have perspectives and the church must provide a platform for statement, discussion, and resolution of issues for those from all points on the spectrum.

The theme throughout the weekend was that Episcopalians have a responsibility to encourage the four "Cs" of conversation, conversion, communion and commitment. The one truth that we can all agree on is "communion." The hope and truth is that all Christians will feel at home during communion, regardless of their position on a specific issue and, building from there, will be able to engage in the conversation that leads to conversion.

The opening Eucharist at council commemorated the pre-eminent missionary of Southern Virginia's diocesan heritage, the Rt. Rev. James Solomon Russell. The first African American elected to be a bishop, he was the founder of St. Paul's College in Lawrenceville (one of the Episcopal Church's three historically Black colleges). He was the planter of more than 12 churches in the diocese and evangelist to many.

The council passed resolutions after emotional debate dealing with the explosive issues of racism and the death penalty. The racism resolution followed the General Convention's action recognizing that the sin of racism which continues to exist and called on the diocese to address racism within its churches, society and the world. The death penalty resolution calls on all parishes to work actively to abolish the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Last year Virginia ranked only behind Texas in the number of capital executions and prisoners on death row.

A 2001 budget of $1.8 million was adopted.