"This," Henderson remarked, is "the 13th time I have addressed this convention."

"We have journeyed many miles together," he said, adding: "Beloved, we're not home yet."

Focusing on the theme of transition in his address the bishop set forth four goals for the remainder of his episcopacy:

• 100 percent participation in the diocesan Healthy Church Initiative, launched in mid-2006;
• development of an effective mission strategy that includes a plan for planting new churches and a "strategy for assisting congregations already in place for assertive evangelism";
• continuing emphasis on Christian formation "from the womb to the tomb";
• and ongoing engagement with the MDGs.

Upper South Carolina's "Healthy Church Initiative" (HCI) is funded by a gift from a member of the diocese and spearheaded by Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Mark Clevenger and HCI founder the Rev. Tony Watkins. The initiative is designed, in Henderson's words, to assist congregations in developing a plan that will enable them "ever to be more and more effective in reaching and converting the unchurched, while simultaneously enhancing Christian community, spiritual growth and renewal."

If fundraising is required to carry out a local plan, HCI assists and local congregations are asked to pledge 10 percent of the amount raised to fund the diocesan Healthy Church Initiative Foundation, so that, Henderson said, "for the indefinite future we can continue to provide for our parishes and missions the support they need for mission effectiveness." More than $18 million dollars' worth of capital projects have been identified to date.

The diocese's commitment to the MDGs began with a resolution passed at the 83rd Convention in 2005 and was reaffirmed by a resolution adopted at the 84th Convention the following year. Citing the MDGs as a "great opportunity that we have -- unique to our day and time -- to . . . 'do the work that [God] has given us to do,' Henderson said that MDG activity is "not so much a goal in itself as it is a way to measure how effective we are in meeting the three challenges I have set before you: the Healthy Church Initiative, development of a mission strategy, and Christian formation."

"Beloved," Henderson concluded, "it is my most fervent desire that, when the time comes I have the ability to deliver into the hands of my successor a vibrant, confident and healthy diocese and episcopacy. But my desire is not sufficient. It requires the faithful commitment of each of you and that of each person in each pew in each congregation. I need your help to reach this point of clarity and promise. . . . 'Come, labor on.'"

Convention adopted the only resolution proposed in support of the state of "South Carolina's Faith-based Organizations United to Reduce Tobacco Use Resolution" that would, among other things, mandate "increasing South Carolina's cigarette tax rate to at least the national average of state tax rates…to reduce youth smoking and help fund prevention and cessation programs and other health care needs."

Several changes were made to the diocesan canons -- most involving technical, or editorial, changes -- to make the language of the canons consistent throughout.

The single significant canonical change adopted was one guaranteeing youth representation at convention. Added to the canon on "Lay Members of the Convention" was the provision that lay members would include two youth deputies from each convocation, elected to a one-year term.

The diocese approved a Statement of Mission (or budget) totaling $2,846,709.

The Diocese of Upper South Carolina comprises 28,000 communicants in 64 congregations in 22 counties in the northern part of the state of South Carolina with the vision statement "One Body . . . One Mission: Changing Lives."