The Diocese of Central Pennsylvania held its 130th convention June 9-10 at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa.

The Rev. Harold T. Lewis, of Calvary Church, Pittsburgh, was the keynote speaker and chaplain to the convention. Fr. Lewis, author of Yet With a Steady Beat: The African American Struggle for Recognition in the Episcopal Church, offered a workshop on racism and the church, noting his own experiences. "If you are there when people need you, you are fulfilling your ministry; and if you are there when people need you, they don't care what color you are," Fr. Lewis said.

He also preached at a Eucharist during which five members of the diocese were ordained to the diaconate. The Rt. Rev. Michael Creighton, Bishop of Central Pennsylvania, was celebrant.

Other special guests included the Rt. Rev. Edward Robinson DeBarros Cavalcanti, Bishop of the Diocese of Recife, Brazil, and the Rev. Michael Uchoa, president of the diocesan council for the Diocese of Recife. The men were invited to assist Central Pennsylvania in starting a companion relationship.

As one of four resolutions passed during convention, the diocesan Department of World Mission called for the development and investigation into this companion relationship, with the intention to announce and celebrate this relationship next year.

In other convention business, an operating budget of $1,474,152 was approved.