When the Rt. Rev. Robert Rowley, Jr., Bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania, met the Rt. Rev. Carlos López-Lozano of the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church in Denver at General Convention last summer, the two bishops explored ways in which their dioceses could develop a companion relationship that went beyond an exchange of visits.

Clergy and lay deputies to the convention of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania took significant steps to make that vision a reality when they met in Erie Nov. 3-4.

A $23,000 new line item to the budget this year will be used to help pay travel expenses for diocesan staff to travel to Madrid beginning in May. The diocese intends to offer advice and consultation to its Spanish counterpart in development of mission and ministry strategies. Bishop López-Lozano also has asked his diocesan partner to help him establish Happening, a weekend spiritual renewal and retreat program for teenagers.

The diocese also hopes to invite Spanish clergy to the United States for at least a semester of continuing education at an Episcopal seminary and in visitation to congregations and institutions of the diocese.

During convention, a display booth carried photos and biographical data on 24 children of clergy from the Spanish diocese. The purpose of the display was to invite convention participants to contribute toward the $200 annual cost of school textbooks, which the family of each schoolchild in Spain is required to purchase. By the end of convention all 24 children were fully sponsored.

In other business, convention passed a 2001 budget of $661,200, which includes $4,000 to support ministry at the Penn State campus in Behrend.