Christian educators from more than half the churches in the Diocese of Oregon collected more than 1,000 toddler-to-teen hand prints done in acrylic paint on muslin squares. These were joined quilt-like into three 12-foot-long banners and gave the diocesan convention theme "Hearts Expanding, Hands Extending" a jump-start Nov. 16-18 in Eugene.

Clergy and lay delegates passed a Children's Charter resolution which commits the diocese in theory as well as in practice to the ministry of children.

The Children's Charter was among a number of resolutions passed by General Convention in Denver last summer. Developed in partnership by educators from 12 Episcopal dioceses, it calls upon the church to nurture, minister to and recognize the ministry of children.

"This is intended to be quite far reaching," said Stephanie Wight, diocesan coordinator for Christian education. "The church doesn't always do a good job of relating to children, and this asks every ministry of the diocese to take children into consideration and also lays the groundwork for us to offer those other ministries assistance."

As a first practical step in Oregon, Ms. Wight said she is trying to put together a conference on making worship more accessible to children.

"This (resolution) is laying the groundwork," she said. "It's there as a vision for us as to what children's ministry can be."

In addition to the Children's Charter, convention also adopted resolutions calling for sign language interpreters at diocesan meetings and events attended by deaf clergy or laity, and endorsing parish health ministry and Total Ministry.