The first regional meeting of the New Commandment Task Force [TLC, May 7] gathered May 15-19 at Christ Church, Short Hills, N.J.

Fourteen members of the regional team issued a proposal which asks the House of Bishops to study the scriptural and historic role of church leaders as reconcilers, including a study of reconciliation/mediation methods. It then asks that the bishops, after their study, issue a pastoral letter on reconciliation with a study guide.

Other suggestions would require definitive change. For example, a request to develop a process of appeal in situations of theological and pastoral conflict would require the development of a council of bishops and a national church reconciliation team. At the outset, the governing body (vestry or diocesan executive council) would have to approve the request for assistance by a two-thirds vote.

The task force also requests that candidates for ordination, lay leaders and currently ordained clergy undergo a two-day training program in reconciliation and that funding in the amount of $640,000 be approved for reconciliation initiatives during the triennium.