The convention of the Diocese of Kansas met Oct. 23-24 in Wichita, using the theme, "The ministry we all share," emphasizing the ministry of all members of the church.

Keynote speaker was Betsy Greenman, lay canon in the Diocese of Olympia. She set the tone for the rest of the gathering when she began, "Hello, my name is Betsy, and I am a baptized Christian." That phrase was repeated throughout the two-day gathering by visitors, including the Roman Catholic Bishop of Wichita and other ecumenical representatives, by speakers, and in the skit at the evening banquet.

The theme was reiterated by the Rt. Rev. William Smalley, Bishop of Kansas, who proclaimed 1999 as "the year of the ministry of the baptized." To help put that theme into action, Bishop Smalley reorganized the commission on ministry, placing a greater emphasis on developing total ministry while maintaining responsibilities for ministry discernment and continuing education. The convention adopted a resolution urging General Convention to change national church canons relating to diocesan commissions on ministry to reflect this same emphasis.

Other resolutions adopted included: A change in national canons suggested to General Convention to require seat and voice be granted to clergy canonically resident in another diocese but serving a parish in a given diocese; and supporting the persecuted church. Other resolutions called upon the diocese and all parishes to pay employees a living wage; encouraged parishes to participate in the Five Talents Program established by the Lambeth Conference; renewed the church's opposition to the death penalty; and called for a study of hate crimes, with a report to next year's convention.