With gun control and the ordination of homosexual persons living in committed relationships on the agenda, one could have expected the annual convention of the Diocese of Western Michigan, Oct. 23-24, to be contentious, but such was not the case.

A resolution calling upon Congress to extend the Brady Act, which regulates the sale of guns, was debated lightly and then approved. A second resolution, also passed, called upon state and national governments "to take appropriate action to assure that guns and firearms are permitted only for legitimate hunting purposes," law enforcement and security agencies.

"I respect the evenhanded way you handle such controversial issues," said the Rev. William Murphy, rector of St. John's in Sturgis. He was speaking to the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Lee, Jr., Bishop of Western Michigan, concerning a resolution proposing a human sexuality study group composed of persons for and against the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian persons. The study group resolution was broadened to include other potential issues, and approved. A resolution calling for a moratorium by the bishop and the standing committee on accepting candidates for holy orders "who are living, or intending to live, in sexual relationships other than Christian marriage" until General Convention has given a clear directive to proceed, was defeated.

In other business, the lay and clergy delegates approved a diocesan budget of $684,590 for 1999. They rejected a proposed canonical change giving each congregation three representatives to the annual convention in place of those chosen according to the size of the congregation.

Bishop Lee announced his plan to retire in June 2002. A mutual ministry review plan has been set in motion which will not only evaluate the common ministry of bishop and diocese, but also identify some short-term and long-term goals before calling for the election of a bishop coadjutor.

(The Rev.) Joseph Neiman