The Editor, Sir:

I read with interest the article on the impotent Anglican bishops. I strongly agree with Mark Dawes' assessment that they are impotent.

We have not had strong bishops for 40 years. However, what was missing in the theological debate, as Dawes portrayed it was, the fundamental issue at work here.

The issue concerns the authority of scripture. What is the Bible? That is the question that is being worked out here at Lambeth.

What concerns me is that the conservatives in our church want to pick and choose which lines of scripture are meant to be taken literally and which are more metaphoric.

Of course, it says that a man lying with a man is an abomination, but it also says that eating shellfish is the same. Do we storm the Lobster Pot restaurant and brand all inside as sinners?

I find that the issue of divorce to be a good marker for this discussion.

In the Bible, Jesus is emphatic, divorce is not permissible, no debate, no back-sliding. And this is Jesus, not Leviticus or St Paul; this is the founder of our faith.

And yet the leaders of our communion seem fairly com-fortable fudging on this one. I wonder how many of the Global Anglican Future Conference Anglican bishops are divorced?

Love thy neighbour

As an Episcopal priest of 15 years, I have found that it is best to see the Bible as a compass rather than a road map.

Each time I read it I am pointed toward goodness and wisdom. I do not have to fret that I didn't execute my children for cursing me as it says to do in Leviticus, I can see is as a recommendation to better discipline my kids.

So, let's all stop dancing around Gene Robinson or (my favourite group) Rowan and The Schismatics.

Let us engage in the real task of discerning God's plan for us through scripture.

Because in the end I hear Jesus say loud and clear, "love your neighbour as yourself." And my neighbour is gay. God's peace.

I am, etc.,

Rev Rob ROSS

Danbury, Connecticut