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This page last updated 2 October 2003
Anglicans Online last updated 20 August 2000

Letters to AO

EVERY WEEK WE PUBLISH a selection of letters we receive in response to something you've read at Anglicans Online. Stop by and have a look at what other AO readers are thinking.

Alas, we cannot publish every letter we receive. And we won't publish letters that are anonymous, hateful, illiterate, or otherwise in our judgment do not benefit the readers of Anglicans Online. We usually do not publish letters written in response to other letters.

We edit letters to conform with standard AO house style for punctuation, but we do not change, for example, American spelling to conform to English orthography. On occasion we'll gently edit letters that are too verbose in their original form. Email addresses are included when the authors give permission to do so.

If you'd like to write a letter of your own, click here.

Letters received during the week of 21 September 2003

Such a lovely website. Is that lavender font your own handwriting?

JUST A QUICK NOTE ON your commentary of the week. As a publishing professional who has donated her services to redesign print material for more than one parish, I can comment: no amateur wants to be told that he or she isn't just a marvelous designer--and can do a better job than you, the professional, can. It's frustrating and depressing in the extreme.

Belle Minge Bishop
Church of the Holy Communion
Charleston, SC (USA)
22 September 2003

Anglicans Online is so very much slower than Google, but we're always glad to help

I AM DOING SOME FAMILY HISTORY and looking for a Bishop John Charles Broadhurst. Can anyone help? Thank you

Isabel Irvine
St. Matthias
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
25 September 2003

Editor's note: we have directed Ms Irvine to the Bishop of Fulham in the Diocese of London.

All of our executions have been quite excellent

WELL, IF THERE IS ONE THING EPISCOPALIANS ARE KNOWN FOR beyond placing a premium on excellence of execution (with apologies to Henry VIII), it's carping on those who don't maintain standards. Come on, lighten up! Re: your editorial on slipping publication standards, while a good excoriation is always in order, do remember that you work in a glass office. Speaking as "an uncle" who was dragooned into creating Albuquerque's St. John's Cathedral website (www.stjohnsabq.org) because no one else had time--least of all the design professionals in our community--it's not all that bad. I can think of several sites in our Diocese of the Rio Grande, which is easily the most penurious in the country, that, though perhaps somewhat short of your exacting standards, are nonetheless perfectly charming in their straightforward communication. Having visited a number of those parishes throughout New Mexico and the Big Bend of Texas, I can honestly say those sites do a really good job of communicating the tone and flavor of their congregations. That kind of honesty is refreshing. But your main point is well taken: what's needed isn't money or even necessarily skill: it's care. God bless those who do!

Mark Cleveland
Cathedral Church of St. John
Albuquerque, NM USA
25 September 2003

Editor's note: we think your website is pretty nice, and we're impressed by your mastery of Dreamweaver and Photoshop. We're glad you care, and your parish and diocese should be glad you have such skill.

Not everybody in the south feels the same way

I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T PRINT RESPONSES to emails sent to you, but I feel compelled to respond to Alison from Alabama.

Dear Alison,

You seem quite confident that you speak for all southern Episcopalians in you denounciation of the election of Canon Gene Robinson to the episcopate. I would like to inform you that you are quite wrong. Regardless, of the perceived lack of support for Bishop Robinson from the South on your part, I can assure that it exists. So please get off of your "high horse" and stop speaking for all southern Episcopalians.

Thank you.

Wayne Shaw
Church of the Incarnation
Dallas, Texas
texsandman1@msn.com
27 September 2003

Editor's note: sometimes we do. Just don't count on it.

And you don't split infinitives, either: well done

AM I THE ONLY ANGLICAN BRAVE ENOUGH openly to call on Canon Gene Robinson at this point to choose not to be ordained a Christian bishop? It is preposterous that the succession of the apostles and the traditional teachings of the canonical Christian scriptures should be polluted by this man, whose life history already is a disgrace to the Christian priesthood and an offense to Christian laity who continue to work hard to keep their marriages and families strong.

How does getting married anyway even though Robinson thought he was truly homosexual, then managing to beget children with his wife, and then giving up on the marriage in order to live his openly gay life - how does all this not immediately disqualify him for being a regional leader and supervisor for the church of Jesus Christ? Also, the way the other Episcopal bishops hurried to make fools out of whoever said Robinson had sexuality problems makes it pretty clear that Robinson's bishop friends knew there are things about him that need to be covered up. Robinson wearing a bishop's mitre and robes will just look like deliberately offensive dress-ups. Is that how God's child on the cross deserves to be represented? From what I hear across the state line, there are plenty of New Hampshire Episcopalians who are scared to protest that they were "done to" by Robinson's election in the first place.

Anthony Graziano
St. Paul's Cathedral
Boston, Mass.
28 September 2003

Editor's note: anyone interested in the actual facts can find them here.

God is the final judge

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON Rev. Gene Robinson. I am not a gay person, I am not a man, I am a child of God like all of you. I neither like or dislike anyone who has a different view than mine. I want to tell you that for anyone to judge Rev. Robinson (who from all reports I have read), is a very good minister and son of God. He is a listener, a confidant, father, and leader of his church. He chooses to be who he is in truth, and not hide it. Why judge this man, does God really judge his children and banish them for their differences? He loves us for speaking our truth, holding our convictions, knowing that God loves us all no matter color, size, or sex. He doesn't choose any of us over another...he has unconditional love no matter who we are...listen to that unconditional love, if God loves us that much, why can't this church also love a man who is one of your pastors, for who he is? Why make such a big deal of it? I wish there were more people who believed in truth and had the guts to stand their truth to the end like Rev Robinson.

To call a special meeting over this trival reason, and it is trival, is a waste of time, money, energy. The vote has already been cast. Stand true to your convictions and allow Rev. Robinson to do God's work. People will learn more about God than ever before, if they just let go and let God. If Rev. Robinson is to be judged, let God do the judging...not man!

Nancy E Detrick
St Pauls Lutheran
Sarasota, Florida
28 September 2003


Earlier letters

We launched our 'Letters to AO' section on 11 May 2003. All of our letters are in our archives.

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