At the Bangor Civic Center, in the very room where she was elected the eighth Bishop of Maine two years ago, the Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen presided over a quiet diocesan convention Oct. 29-30.

In her address, Bishop Knudsen likened the diocese to a house being built anew and renovated at the same time; a house where each room is open to every other room. The bishop highlighted the extensive work on a new ordination process and deacon formation program, the milestones reached by many congregations, continuing and strengthening the work of outreach ministries, a campaign at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Portland, to repair and renovate its facilities, and the support and development of congregations across the diocese.

Moments of celebration included the move of Trinity Church, Castine, from mission to parish status and the presentation of the Fred C. Scribner Award for distinguished service and lay ministry to Roger F. Woodman, long-time diocesan treasurer and president of the trustees for diocesan funds.

Resolutions discussed and adopted included a charge to present a proposal to next year's convention to make clergy compensation more equitable within the diocese; and a commitment to continue the process of discernment concerning human sexuality. A resolution requiring equal access for clergy in the deployment process drew the greatest discussion. The submitter, the Rev. Tom Luck of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Falmouth, described the experience of an African-American colleague in the diocese who was discouraged from submitting his name to a search process a decade ago by the rector who was leaving. "It was the congregation's loss," Fr. Luck said.

Delegates passed a 2000 budget of $1.3 million, including an addition "from the floor" of $500 for campus ministry at the University of Maine at Orono. The convention approved a three-year task force to study how diocesan revenue is raised.

Workshops on the Children's Charter for the Church, youth ministries, a new on-line discussion forum, the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief "Projects for Hope" program, and General Convention 2000 issues were attended by the 265 delegates present.

Choral Evensong was held at St. John's, Bangor.