The implementation of a strategy for mission congregations in the Diocese of Washington was a highlight of the 100th diocesan convention, held Jan. 27-28 at Washington National Cathedral.

Eleven mission congregations, under the leadership of the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon, Suffragan Bishop of Washington, formed a five-year plan of development. The new plan sets priorities, beginning this year with unified contributions going toward support of Mission San Juan, a Hispanic ministry which is moving to St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, and toward construction of a new church building for the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Germantown, Md.

Considerable time was spent on a resolution to affirm the statement of Koinonia first presented at General Convention by Bishop John Spong of Newark. The statement says the church should recognize and support committed relationships of same-sex couples and affirms ordination of gays and lesbians. The resolution was adopted, 134-52, with 11 abstentions.

The convention marked the opening of the diocese's centennial celebration, which will conclude at the 1996 convention. Four sets of patens and chalices which were made from the household silver of the first bishop of Maryland, the Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Claggett, were used at the convention Eucharist, and will be circulated to every parish and mission in the diocese during the next year.

Another centennial project is a patchwork quilt, which will be created for display at the 101st convention. Each congregation is asked to "tell" its story in the form of a quilt square.

The Rt. Rev. Ronald Haines, Bishop of Washington, called the diocese "a diocese with remarkable depth, diversity and resiliency. I know that the Holy Spirit is in our midst because I see your good works. I also know that we have a call to go above and beyond what we are."

The Rev. Kortright Davis, rector of the Church of the Holy Comforter, Washington, and professor of theology at Howard University Divinity School, preached at the convention Eucharist.

A budget of $3.1 million was adopted.