NO FUSS, NO SQUABBLE AT EPISCOPALIANS' MEETING

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 31, 1993                   TAG: 9301310090
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
NO FUSS, NO SQUABBLE AT EPISCOPALIANS' MEETING
There are some happy Episcopalians holding their annual meeting here this weekend.
For the first time in years there was no painful slicing away at popular programs that could no longer be afforded, no contention over resolutions on abortion or homosexuality.
There is likely to be a yearlong debate over a planning committee report that suggests some major fund-raising and spending initiatives, but that prospect didn't spoil the upbeat mood of this 74th Annual Council.
The council is the legislative body for the 57 congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.
Bishop A. Heath Light was clearly delighted with the upbeat mood of this annual reunion of clergy and laity from throughout Southwest Virginia.
In fact, the bishop's decision to free up some $50,000 in funds at his personal discretion allowed the budget committee to present a balanced spending plan.
This year, the diocese will spend more than $848,000 - almost exactly $100,000 more than was actually spent in 1992.
Besides the bishop's increased allocation, contributions from individual parishes are expected to be up more than $30,000 over 1992.
The diocese was able to almost double last year's contribution to Grace House, a popular coalfields ministry, as well as increase several other smaller ministry projects.
Diocesan employees are getting 4 percent raises for the year. Their compensation packages - including insurance, Social Security, housing allowances, travel, educational expenses - and the expenses of running Evans House, the diocesan headquarters, represent 39 percent of the total budget.
Light's total compensation was valued at almost $91,000.
Despite some questions about the diocesan headquarters expense, delegates offered no amendments to the budget and there was no debate before its apparently unanimous passage Saturday afternoon.
In other action:
Delegates heard a report from a long-range planning committee that recommends, among other things, the construction of a new diocesan center. The report describes the current center, Evans House in downtown Roanoke, as "dark and gloomy" and too small and inconveniently located for diocesan gatherings. The committee recommends building a center for offices, meetings and worship somewhere near Interstate 81. A yearlong study of the report is contemplated. The study did not include specific recommendations on fund raising.
The most fun of the day came in the report of the diocesan stewardship committee. In a comedy skit, the committee tweaked naysayers who contend their churches are too small or too large to carry out missions projects of their own.
Delegates heard a passionate plea for moral and material aid for Christians in the Sudan. Civil war, famine and oppression by a fundamentalist Islamic government bent on converting or killing the country's Christians have devastated the population in southern Sudan, they were told.
Plans are in the making for next year's 75th anniversary of the diocese.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB