At the 150th annual council of the Diocese of Texas, held in Beaumont, Feb. 4-6, the Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne challenged more than 600 delegates and clergy to find "an alternative way to engage one another" on sensitive and controversial issues. He requested referral of several resolutions to an executive board task force, which would design a non-legislative forum in which to discuss sensitive issues that have caused bitter disagreement within the church for years.

As a result of action taken by the council, such a task force will begin work immediately to plan forums at which divisive and controversial issues can be discussed openly. The task force will include persons known to represent different sides of sensitive issues in planning the forums. Bishop Payne hopes to offer the model to General Convention in 2000.

While dissatisfaction was apparent by those who did not favor referral, others were unhappy with the "need" of some to vote on issues. Muffy Maroney, of St. Stephen's Church, Houston, presented a resolution on hate crimes. She supported referral only "if something is accomplished" by the discussion process. "We have lost our institutional memory about how to disagree with one another," she said.

While Bishop Payne holds an orthodox view of human sexuality, opposing both the ordination of practicing homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions, he has consistently favored a non-legislative process which would encourage discussion within the church and that did not result in "winners" and "losers."

George McGonigle, a delegate from St. David's, Austin, and a newly re-elected deputy to General Convention said, "Now that council has decided it wants to follow Bishop Payne's lead on conversation about divisive issues, the next question is 'will all of those who did not get their way at council participate in the alternative path?'"

In other business, the diocesan budget of more than $3.9 million (which contains more than $1.6 million in clergy insurance premiums) was approved, as was a missionary budget of $2.8 million.

Four dramatic presentations, written and presented by Greg Wise and the theater group of St. John the Divine, Houston, punctuated the missionary spirit that of the diocese.