HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - Representatives from the Diocese of Southwest Florida attended the Province IV synod at Kanuga in preparation for General Convention.

Highlights of the meeting included a presentation from Presiding Bishop on the future direction of the church and a presentation on church structure from Dr. Dwight Zschiele, assistant professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary. Zschiele is associate rector at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minn.

The group heard an overview of the General Convention by Bonnie Anderson, president, House of Deputies, and the Rev. Gregory Straub, executive officer and secretary of the General Convention. Presentations and discussions heard included the budget, the denominational health plan, the lay employee pension system and a proposed liturgy for same-sex blessings.

Pictured here are General Convention Deputies Judy Stark, Roger D. Schwenke, the Very Rev. Cesar Olivero, Joan Kline, the Rev. John Hiers, Bishop Dabney Smith, the Rev. Douglas Scharf, the Rev. Sharon Lewis, the Rev. Douglas Zimmerman, Karen O. Patterson, Dr. Navita Cummings-James.