On October 22, 2005, the Diocese of California met in its 156th annual Diocesan Convention. The convention, held at Grace Cathedral, was especially poignant as it was the last convention to be presided over by the Rt. Rev. William Swing. It was also eventful, celebrating the ministries of the most recent graduates of the Academia Teolَgica Latina, the Spanish-language theological academy that is a ministry of the Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership, and the diocesan Latino Commission. It was also timely, passing resolutions that denounced torture, that called for healthcare for all Americans, and which authorized development of a rite for blessing same-sex unions for the consideration of the Diocesan Convention to be held in 2007. It was also reflective, looking back at the fruits of the Jubilaté Deo initiative, and entertaining, with lunchtime musical entertainment provided by the Latin music group Los Chalanes.

Latino Ministers Celebrated

Nora Del Castillo, Ivلn Castaٌeta, Josefa Araise, José Vargas, and Rafael Gonzلles were conspicuously present at convention. Seated near the front, and wearing white albs, these members of the first graduating class of the Academia Teolَgica Latina have trained for ministry each Saturday for three years at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. "Not only have they attended every Saturday and studied during the week," said Bishop Swing while recognizing their accomplishments, "but they continued this on top of their regular jobs in order to become more eloquent spokespersons for the Gospel." The bishop then blessed crosses and tippets (academic stoles) for the graduates, and he prayed in Spanish for their ministries.