HAWAII

Episcopal Church hosts conference

“;A Disciple's Journey, Igniting Hearts for God's Mission”; is the theme of a three-day conference under way this weekend at Turtle Bay Resort.

The event, sponsored by the Episcopal Church's Honolulu diocese, was expected to bring about 200 church members from throughout the state.

The keynote speaker is Tex Sample, a professor emeritus at the St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo., discussing ministry in an electronic culture compared with an oral culture. Bishop Winston Halapua of Aotearoa, New Zealand, will lead workshops on “;Sacred Perspectives from the Ocean.”;

Adoption agency plans family picnic

Hope Inc., a Christian adoption agency that has placed 60 Hawaii children in homes in the past five years, will hold a Family Reunion Picnic next Saturday at the Hickam Air Force Base Marina.

The party from noon to 5 p.m. at Marina Cabana One is open to the children and their families as well as supporters of Hope Inc. There will be musical entertainment, games and prizes. Hope Inc. will provide the main dish, and attendees are asked to bring a side dish and nonalcoholic drinks.

Supporters are also asked to bring new or used donations for a fundraising yard sale March 29 in Maili. Gifts are tax-deductible.

Wednesday is the deadline to register for the picnic. Call Bev Larranga, 277-2561, or write to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

NATION

Basketball pool raises charity funds

ST. LOUIS » An Episcopal anti-poverty group is trying to harness the power of March Madness for the greater good.

Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation is running a bracket for the NCAA basketball tournament that raises money for charity.

Dubbed “;March Gladness,”; all the funds in the pot will be donated to nonprofits that work toward reaching the Millennium Development Goals. The eight goals aim to ease poverty, eradicate preventable disease and fight other social ills worldwide. The goals were drafted in 2000 by 189 heads of state and governments, including the United States.