Thank you for the editorial concerning the "offensive remarks" of the Presiding Bishop. In his final address to General Convention, the Presiding Bishop shows again that he just doesn't get it. He is quoted as saying: "It is time to move past using literalistic readings of the Bible to create prejudices against our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Biblical literalism may be someone's tradition, but it's not our tradition."

Did Bishop Browning not realize that at that convention one of his honored guests, the Archbishop of Canterbury, believes, because of those very scriptures, that it is not right to ordain sexually active homosexuals or to bless same-sex unions. So the Presiding Bishop is speaking of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and countless millions in the Anglican Communion who believe as he does. I thoroughly agree with the Presiding Bishop when he says it is time "we came home to our Anglican roots." Article XX of the Articles of Religion explains very clearly what those roots are: "It is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written." In that statement we show that scripture is pre-eminently our rule of authority, and that we do indeed have one of the highest doctrines of scripture in Christendom.

Years ago Billy Graham spoke about our present dilemma. He said the Church of God has been infiltrated by people who are like "burglars, who have crept in unawares to rob us of our faith in God and his word. When faithful men of God raise an outcry against the presence of these burglars, they are the ones accused of disturbing the peace."

(The Rev.) Brian C. Hobden

St. John's Church

Portsmouth, Va.