Bishop John Rucyahana did not go to Little Rock, and neither did Bishop John Spong.

The Rt. Rev. John Rucyahana, Bishop of Shyira in Rwanda, was scheduled to visit St. Andrew's Church for an episcopal visit and confirmation. His visit was postponed at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury and of Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda, who were concerned about a violation of the resolution on diocesan jurisdiction reaffirmed at the Lambeth Conference [TLC, Aug. 30].

The decision, he said, was made neither lightly nor in response to financial threats, but after "much prayer," to provide a "grace-filled time" for the American church to sort out its differences and, in the view of some, to repent of actions contrary to other Lambeth resolutions.

Some 50 Episcopal priests, who came to Little Rock for a First Promise business meeting, participated Sept. 20 in St. Andrew's first Sunday morning Eucharist, a combination of traditional hymns and contemporary praise songs, and including three baptisms.

The congregation, formed over the objections of the Rt. Rev. Larry Maze, Bishop of Arkansas, meets at Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church. The rector, the Rev. Thomas Johnston, transferred from the Diocese of South Carolina to the Diocese of Shyira after refusing to renounce his orders. The Rev. Chuck Murphy, rector of All Saints', Pawleys Island, S.C., recently named chairman of First Promise as a legal foundation, preached and Fr. Johnston celebrated.

Bishop Spong had planned to address the South Central Regional Conference of Integrity, meeting at St. Mark's Church, Sept. 18-19. Conference convener Ted Holder said, "He didn't make it. He had viral meningitis." Instead, he said, Christine Spong, wife of the bishop, attended and spoke at both a Friday evening session, and to the conference session on Saturday.

Mr. Holder said Mrs. Spong felt that the liberal bishops at Lambeth had "had no leadership, no coordination. It was a complete rout." She denied that the bishop had accused Africans of witchcraft. She pledged that "she and her husband would continue to do all they could for their gay and lesbian friends. They have many colleagues whose lives had been impacted" by negative attitudes.

Bishop Spong is reported to be home from the hospital and "on the mend."

Saturday's sessions included a panel discussion by Bishop Maze, Integrity founder Louie Crew, and national president Fred Ellis, on activities to introduce the organization and its goals in parishes. The afternoon closed with a Eucharist celebrated by Bishop Maze.