The Diocese of Southwest Florida welcomed two new parishes, mourned the demise of a third and changed the way the diocese will be funded at its 31st annual convention Oct. 9 in Punta Gorda, Fla.

In addition, the Rt. Rev. John B. Lipscomb, Bishop of Southwest Florida, in his keynote address, called on the diocese to establish a "long-range planning process" to "attempt to set the compass for the work of Christ in this diocese" well into the next millennium.

Bishop Lipscomb said the process, which he named "Horizons 20/20," must ensure the next generation will have the resources and the will to continue the work of the great commission.

Two missions, Church of the Nativity, Sarasota, and Holy Trinity, Clearwater, were granted parish status.

The closing of Holy Cross Church, St. Petersburg, was noted at the meeting. The 40-year-old parish voted to dissolve Sept. 30, citing declining membership and financial problems. The property will be retained by the diocese in hopes that an ecumenical center can be established in the area.

Thirteen deacons publicly gave up their right to vote at convention, in response to a request by Bishop Lipscomb to all deacons in the diocese. The request was made to distance the diaconate from politics, so they may concentrate "strictly on the ministry to the world," according to one of the participating deacons, the Rev. Barbara Carmine. The diocese presently has about 60 deacons, 50 of whom had voting positions at the convention.

Delegates and clergy also approved a resolution to change the method of apportionment from the current formula method to that of the tithe. At present, congregations pay from 4 percent to 20 percent of their operating budget to the diocese each year. The tithing system will be phased in over the next three years and capital fund drives that begin before 2003 will be exempt. This may encourage some congregations to pare down debt, according to deputy for administration Glenn Schatzberg.

Diocesan deputies to the General Convention in Denver next year will propose that the national church adopt the same policy.

The convention adopted a $2.25 million budget.