I make a plea for the church and General Convention to cease behaving like the man with the muckrake in Bunyon's Pilgrims Progress who was so busy with the muck under his feet that he failed to see the crown of glory over his head.

We as a church have spent far too much of our energy and time lately in muckraking. One consequence has been that we have ceased to be civil to one another and are making the passing of the Peace a mockery.

Could we not cease to ask for compromise on the important matters, such as the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral, and instead make some agreeable compromises on the less important matters?

For example, could we not say that anyone who wants to use the 1928 prayer book may do so? Other branches of the Anglican Communion that I have attended seem to find no difficulty having more than one prayer book available.

Then could we let the subject of homosexuality drop? We have had gays and lesbians in the church for nearly 2,000 years. They have been for the most part good contributing members of the church - certainly as "good" as those of us who are heterosexual. A blessing of a relationship between two persons of the same sex would seem to be acceptable - after all, we bless hounds and warships!

Finally, we have talked sex to death. We all know there are problems, but why spend the time of General Convention on rehashing them? Let us concentrate rather on the real business of the church, which is to spread the good news that Jesus our Lord came to make all things new, including us, and let us pray for his strength to carry out the task.

(The Rev. Canon) K.W. Costin Bennington, Vt.