Former seminary dean and current director of mission Jim Lemler started the morning with a powerful reflection on mission. He believes the church is in the midst of a "mission revolution" right now, as individuals and parishes and dioceses increasingly put mission first. It's our call, our purpose, and our identity, he said. Clarity about mission is a mark of diocesan and congregational vitality, he added. Our job is to translate the gospel so that all can understand it, with words and with actions. "God is at work in this church and in us," Lemler said. "...Tell mission stories to one another; listen to each other's stories. Begin translating the love of God."

Results weren't available until after lunch, due to some complications in the hand-counting efforts, but only one ballot was needed in each election. Standing Committee: The Rev. Harlon L. Dalton (5 year term); the Rev. Matt H. Calkins (1 year term); Ms. Elizabeth Adams. Provincial Synod: The Rev. Sandra H. Stayner; Ms. Melissa Haas. General Convention clerical deputation: The Rev. Dr. Barbara T. Cheney (chair); the Rev. Ellen Tillotson; The Rev. Dr. James G. Bradley; the Rev. Thomas J. Furrer. First alternate: The Rev. Canon Robert G. Carroon; second alternate: the Rev. Mark S. Delcuze; third alternate: the Rev. Andrew H. Zeman; fourth alternate: the Rev. Robert M. Alves. General Convention lay deputation: Ms. Rachel Downs; Mr. A. Theodore Mollegen Jr., Ms. Rose Fichera-Eagen, Mr. Lyn R. Meyers. First alternate: Mr. John F. Sutton; second alternate: Dr. Steven Horst.; third alternate: Ms. Joyce Steimer; fourth alternate: Mr. Bruce T. Swan.

Photo: Casting paper ballots during registration, at 960 Main

Nine resolutions were presented and nine resolutions passed. Photo: A delegate stands at a microphone to address a resolution

Resolution #9, on the merger of three churches into one new church, was presented first. One objection was voiced before the vote was taken: The Rev. Cyril Burke said that he viewed the merger as an act of "despair" and "giving up," and urged a vote against it. The measure passed overwhelmingly, however. Members of the new parish then processed down the center aisle, with a colorful new church "banner" and were received with applause.

Resolutions #1-2 (2008 minimum salary for clergy salary and 2008 budget) passed without debate .

Resolution #3, Concerning the Election of Bishops, was strongly debated. The resolution had three components: (1) To affirm the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church that say all persons should have access to ordination; (2) to dissent from B033 of the 2006 General Convention; and (3) to encourage the Bishop and Standing Committee in the Diocese of Connecticut to consent to the consecration "of all qualified candidates duly elected to the episcopate." Debate against the resolution focused on the importance of patience, unity, respect for the Windsor Report and the importance of staying in the Anglican Communion. One said the issues are similar to the situation in which Bishop Smith asks dissenting congregations to stay in conversation with him; another spoke about needing to be voice for the minority of conservative voices in the church. At the other microphone, speaking for the resolution, people talked about justice and claiming identity; one made a parallel with 1960s civil rights struggles. One person spoke to problems people have when interpreting B033. The question was called after 11 people had spoken, and after a vote by hand, the Bishop ruled that the resolution passed.

The Rev. William Loring offered a two-word amendment to Resolution #4, a revision of Canon II, Section 6, adding the words, "and rate" after the first two words, "The basis". The amendment was a technical clarification, and both the amendment and resolution then passed without further debate.

Resolution #5 offered five types of assistance and encouragement to parishes that were not meeting their 12.5% level of giving to the Diocese. These included education, teaching, training, and non-financial resources. The Rev. Nicholas Porter offered an amendment to have the resolution include a sixth item, more punitive. It said that upon the bishop's discretion, parishes that didn't meet the 12.5% level couldn't hire licensed additional paid clergy until they met the full assessment. (see text for exact wording). Porter, rector of Trinity, Southport, said his church had struggled to reach the 12.5% giving level, and he noted that other churches in similar circumstances chose to hire additional clergy rather than meet the diocesan responsibility. "It's not fair," he said. "It's not fair to parishes that struggle to pay." Two additional people spoke to the amendment, pro and con; it passed, and then the resolution passed. and

Resolutions #6-8 (withdrawal of forces from Iraq; paid sick leave days; and increasing state rental assistance program) all passed without debate.

Photo: Bishop Henri Isingoma and his wife, Mugisa.

In other business, the convention heard an address from visiting Bishop Henri Isingoma from the Diocese of Boga in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Bishop, who spoke in English and French, talked about the current controversies in the Anglican Communion. He urged unity, patience, and prayer for our leaders. "Patience can't be interpreted as a sign of weakness," he said, "but as a strategy to invoke the God we serve." Unity, he said, is a mystery of God in man, and comes from God and the Spirit of God. Bishop Isingoma said his visit is an outward sign of that Christian unity, and he invited the dioceses of Boga and Connecticut to explore mutual missionary collaboration.

Camp Washington reported on a successful summer camp season, and renewed interest by adult groups in year-round retreats due to cabin renovations. The Companions in Mission committee gave its report, stating that it hoped to be able to start providing travel grants to help people take mission trips. Treasurer Guy Cambria, in his last address as treasurer before resigning the position, urged parishes to get their audits done and to pay the 12.5 % to the diocese. The Bishop's Fund for Children reported it gave $248,000 in grants to 53 programs in 2007, and the annual road race raised over $47,000 last year. BFC race organizers awarded the Big Church Trophy to Christ Church Cathedral for having contributed the most money; runners-up were St. Michael's, Naugatuck; St. James', West Hartford; and Trinity, Newtown. Photo: Dean Pendleton receives the trophy from race organizer Kate Smith.

On Friday, Convention members also heard a presentation about Seabury Retirement Community in Bloomfield, an Episcopal affiliate through Church Home of Hartford. Seabury talked about its history, current offerings, and its new endeavor to provide integrated and managed care to people in their homes as an alternative for those who don't want to move into a residential continuing care community.

Bishop Jane Dixon finished her reflections on advocacy and mission during the sermon she delivered at the Convention Eucharist. On Friday in her opening remarks she told us we are created in the image of God to be in relationship with God -- absolutely everyone is created in the image of God. On Friday at Evensong, she told us that we are all to be advocates. In the sermon, she said that though the church has a history of "loving justice and doing mercy," the prophet calls us to "do justice and love mercy." Doing justice means there will be conflict, so it requires a "determinating courage" and a "willingness to be radical."

Photo: A hymn, being signed in American Sign Language during Convention Eucharist. Interpreters for the deaf sign the entire convention proceedings.

The emphasis on mission and advocacy addressed by speakers and found in workshops and the chaplain's reflections, as well as in Scripture and song during worship, seemed to have a strong impact on convention members this year. Linda Cleaver, of St. Peter's, Oxford said this year's convention was "very good" while her husband Will Cleaver went further to say he thought it was "very powerful." Will said that the Rev. Jim Lemler's keynote address was among the best he's ever heard. Ann Johnson, of Christ Church, Ansonia, said simply that she enjoyed the convention, and Ron Gregory, of the new Holy Trinity Church in Enfield described it as "fabulous" because his new parish was recognized. Deacon Pat Jackson, assigned to Trinity, Hartford, said that she loved Bishop Dixon's challenge and the overall theme of the convention, while Deacon Elizabeth Knauff, assigned to Trinity, Tariffville, thought the convention was empowering. "We can't leave and not do something," she added.

After some time for reflection, the Rev. Audrey Scanlon, rector of the Church of Our Saviour, Plainville and St. Gabriel's, East Berlin, described this year's convention as challenging, inspiring, and daunting. "There is, indeed, so much work for us to do," she said, adding that she wished she could have taken the day's speakers -- The Rev. Jim Lemler, Bishop Jane Dixon, and Bishop Henri Isingoma -- home to her congregations. "They were wonderful and I find the focus on global mission to be exciting," she said. "It's a good antidote to the anxiety that we've been centered on lately in the Anglican Communion."

Mission -- and advocacy -- came to the fore in remarks by Bishop Smith as well, when asked for his thoughts about the just-adjourned 223rd convention. "The overwhelming direction of this convention," he said, "pointed us and moved us to mission -- with children, addressing the destructive cultural values and teaching Christian values -- and with parishes, moving them to mission both locally and beyond our borders. There has also been the recognition that an increasing part of our ministry as a Diocese is to speak up and speak out."