Now that GC 2009 is over the important work starts--- as Father Whitaker hopes "the Church remaining grounded in our Gospel conviction that all persons are created in the image of God and welcomed in our midst." In my 38-year-relationship with the Episcopal Church, I have always felt the institutional church did a good job of promoting this message, if, sadly, the marching orders got scrambled by the rochet-clad former gentlemen's club on the way to the troops. For most of those years the Cathedral Church of St. Paul has been my parish affiliation and through good and bad times I've seen the message lived out rather successfully. There was a major huff and puff over the request by Integrity to celebrate Mass in the Cathedral, but that was many years and several Deans ago. Many LGBT persons were and are members and have participated in all levels of Cathedral life, including clergy. I never felt any prejudice based on perception of orientation although I suspect it lurked at times in the background.

I regret many felt the necessity to create the alternate Anglican province/presence/whatever it will end up being, but it is now time to concentrate on our own household, (in bishop language) and reestablish the diocesan structure in those troubled places and deal with the precarious financial situation that is causing havoc with funding -- particularly here at the Diocese of Michigan and specifically at the Cathedral. A fellow Episcopalian who heritage is the AME Zion Church reminds me that "the church rolls on" Smaller in its numbers but hopefully more successful in its mission.

Bob Warsham
Detroit MI