The convention of the Diocese of Indianapolis, meeting Oct. 19-21 at an Indianapolis hotel, approved a master plan for the expansion and renovation of Waycross, the diocesan camp, committed itself to strive toward eliminating racism, agreed to look at equity in salaries, and agreed to study the feasibility of a retirement center.

Elements of a planned $4.4 million, six-year capital fund drive for camp expansion and endowment were presented, and a $500,000 pledge from the diocese to the effort was approved.

"No Longer Strangers, Preparing Ourselves for Jubilee," was the theme of convention, and St. Francis in-the-Fields, Zionsville, was the host church. The Rt. Rev. Chester Talton, Bishop Suffragan of Los Angeles, was the convention chaplain.

The Rt. Rev. Catherine Waynick, Bishop of Indianapolis, spoke to the convention theme in her address.

"Racism is still alive among us," she said. "We forget that God made of one blood all the peoples of the earth."

She also addressed the matter of homosexuality.

"Some have feared that if we do not take a stand - one way or the other - on whether same-sex relationships will be blessed, or persons of homosexual orientation will be ordained, we simply have no way to be credible to the world around us. I would respond by saying that we have indeed taken a stand. Our stand is this: Life is messy, our knowledge incomplete, and our willingness to be arbitrary very small. We will trust in God's guidance, providence and mercy, we will continue to learn from each other and our study of scripture and the traditions of the church, and we will open our hearts to conversion, confessing that none of us knows it all on this matter."