Why would the secretary general of the Anglican Communion choose to spend three days lecturing in a small Wyoming town? With a communion numbering 70 million Anglicans, in 164 countries, in 38 provinces, why does it make sense to concentrate on a diocese of 10,000 Episcopalians, visit a town of 9,000 citizens, to speak to an audience of 50?

The answer to these questions not only defines the Very Rev. John Peterson's role, but also points to the wider purpose and identity of the Anglican Communion.

Dean Peterson was guest lecturer at the Christ Church, Cody, Wyo., Spring Forum March 19-21, continuing a relationship with the Diocese of Wyoming which began in the mid 1980s while he was dean of St. George's College in Jerusalem. During his visit, he presented a Compass Rose Society tile to the Rev. Warren Murphy, rector of the parish.

When asked by a participant to define his job, Dean Peterson responded, "My job is to tell the stories of our marvelous Anglican Communion family."

During his talks, Dean Peterson described scenes around the world: displaced Palestinian Christians; the need to establish a medical clinic in the bush in the Diocese of Kaiun (northern Nigeria) — because 60 percent of the children will not live to see their third birthday and 10 percent of their mothers will die in childbirth; a 69 percent AIDS- infected population of young people in Uganda; a gathering of 20,000 in the Sudan where celebrating the Eucharist was not an option - there was no bread and no wine; and an Anglican church in Brazil located literally in a garbage dump - where residents made him a beautiful cross out of scrap paper. "I cried," he said.

"I am telling you these stories," Dean Peterson said, "to challenge you - not to depress you - to take you beyond yourselves - to enlarge your world view."

Dean Peterson did not suggest that American Episcopalians abandon local concerns for an international emphasis. Rather, he challenged his audience as part of the global Anglican family to become involved in projects on four levels: local, diocesan, national and international.

"What should be the position of the church as we approach the third millennium?" he posed. "The core of the gospel is to live in community. How radical dare we be? How willing are we to wear the crown of thorns? How willing are we to let our feet be washed? How willing are we to be servants?"

(The Rev.) David L. Duprey, with Dorothy Goodwin