Haven't we taken inclusive ... sorry, expansive, language a bit too far? Get a load of this one from the newsletter of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship:

"Patti Browning, our Presiding Bishop's life partner, will be the banquet speaker honoring Brian."

Now I can understand why it is no longer politically correct to refer to someone's wife or husband. I can deal with the word "spouse." But "life partner"? Get a life, partner.

Baseball fans who'll be attending General Convention may be delighted to know that the Phillies have home games during the early part of convention. The Phillies play Montreal July 16 and 17, and Pittsburgh July 18, 19, 20 and 21. The latter two are afternoon games. Baseball ought to provide some blessed relief from the stress and strain of legislative sessions.

Following the announcement of the four nominees for Presiding Bishop [TLC, May 4], several names were mentioned as possible candidates for nominations from the floor. Only Bishop Herbert Thompson of Southern Ohio [TLC, June 29] was willing to let his name go forward. The other names mentioned most prominently were Bishop Frederick Borsch of Los Angeles and Bishop Edward Salmon of South Carolina.

One can only hope we won't have to endure Fred Phelps and his group from Topeka, Kan., and their hate-filled placards at General Convention. Their presence at Indianapolis made for some of the ugliest moments of the 71st convention.

The Record, newspaper of the Diocese of Michigan, conducted a random sample of parishioners in nine parishes and came up with some interesting results. Of those who participated, 79 percent knew the name of the diocesan bishop, 40 percent knew the name of the Presiding Bishop, and only 11 percent could guess within 20 the number of churches in the diocese.

The license-plate watch: Mary Carter Stone, of Danville, Va., saw 1GOD-1WA and HE HEALS. John Talbott, of Washington, D.C., spotted GOD'S JOY attached to a Volvo 940. "I had always assumed that the Lord "bought American," Mr. Talbott writes.

William Paulk of Cullowee, N.C., noticed GLOREE, and Mrs. Charles W. Packer of Winnetka, Ill. (not Green Bay), saw ILCGOD 2.

TLC staffers are looking, too. Patricia Nakamura spotted JEHOVA and PLN SONG, and John Schuessler, OHMYGOD. As for me, I'm running out of sightings. I need to do more traveling.

Note to Fr. B. in Dallas: Yes, the Concordat of Agreement should pass through both houses of General Convention easily, but don't be too certain about the Lutherans.

David Kalvelage, editor