The convention of the Diocese of Albany, which met Oct. 11-12, at the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, N.Y., began with the enthronement of the Rt. Rev. Daniel Herzog, the eighth Bishop of Albany, and Evensong sung by the cathedral's choir of men and boys.

The keynote speaker was the Rev. Canon Mary Haggard Hayes, canon missioner of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. She issued a challenge to the new bishop, and the whole diocese, to "reflect the love of God, even if it makes us uncomfortable."

Unity, she said, is dependent upon "God's glory filling us, and on our openness to be known by God, and to be a visible reflection of God's power and glory and love."

At the convention banquet, Bishop Herzog encouraged the diocese to work at being one united church. "We are not an assortment of scattered churches, but one church with many missionary outposts, moving from membership to ministry," he said.

He cited many of the exciting things happening in the diocese, and thanked his predecessor, the Rt. Rev. David S. Ball, for his 14 years of faithful service. Bishop Herzog boldly stated that "A church rigid in style or placid in faith will not survive, but the one committed to glorifying God and carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ, by adapting and growing, will be the vision to lead nations to eternal life. The Diocese of Albany will be part of that dynamic church."

Bishop Herzog said the next convention will be held June 4-6, 1999, at a convention center in the Adirondacks and will include a youth event. The bishop has asked instead of morning services June 6, every parish celebrate the Eucharist at 5 p.m.

A diocesan budget of more than $1.3 million was adopted. A resolution that "reflection and prayer on the scriptures in small-group settings shall be a significant part of the diocesan convention and of every meeting of each committee and commission of the diocese," was set aside as not appropriate for legislation, but a practice to be encouraged.

The convention ended with a celebration of the Eucharist, and a homily by the chairman of the evangelism committee, the Rev. David Bena, rector of Calvary Church, Burnt Hills. He reminded delegates that the world is full of people needing to be evangelized and we are the ones God has chosen to do it. "This is a great time to do evangelism," he said. "Everything's breaking, society is breaking down. Culture is breaking. The stock market is falling apart in front of us. Everything is falling apart. What a great time to do evangelism!"