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OHIO: Bishop highlights mission work locally and globally
[Diocese of Ohio] Delegates from across northern Ohio gathered November 9-10 at Sawmill Creek in Huron, Ohio, for the 191st Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio.In his address, Ohio Bishop Mark Hollingsworth talked about the importance of mission work for the diocese, despite ongoing tensions within the Anglican Communion.
Hollingsworth mentioned work already being done in the diocese through the Mission Summit, the Mission Strategy Task Force, the Commission on Global and Domestic Mission, and the service provided daily by its members. "The reign of God breaks into this world whenever we seek Jesus in all others and serve him through serving them," he said.
He also talked about the importance of a spiritual discipline for Christians and asked a small group of people to work with Susan McDonald, officer for lifelong learning, to develop a diocesan rule of life.
Bishop Philip Baji, guest speaker from the Diocese of Tanga, Tanzania, described the work that has been done in his diocese with people living with HIV/AIDS and the care of orphaned children. Baji's diocese has been able to house, feed, clothe, and educate about half of those orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS. Hollingsworth asked that half of the offering from the Convention Eucharist be earmarked for the Diocese of Tanga.
The convention passed resolutions that:
- dealt with an increase in clergy compensation of 2% over last year;
- requests diocesan funding in 2009 to allow 10 high school students and two adult chaperones to attend the next General Convention; and
- opposes slavery and human trafficking.
Proposed amendments to the diocesan canons dealt with the election of deputies and provisional deputies at General Convention. Deputies for the 2009 General Convention were elected this year, and alternate deputies will be elected next year. The second amendment gives seat and voice but not vote to parishes that do not fully fund a pension plan for their lay employees who work more than 1,000 hours per year. [The 1991 General Convention mandated employers in the Episcopal Church to provide a pension plan for lay employees who work a minimum of 1,000 hours in a year.]