My wife and I have supported and subscribed to TLC for many years. During recent years of increased turmoil we think the magazine has done a commendable job of striving for balance and fairness in its letters, editorials and selected articles. One need only examine the eight letters of the Jan. 21 issue to see evidence of a conscious nod to both sides.

Judging from the letters section, we have also noticed a pattern of increasing dissatisfaction among readers with their church's handling of questions of waning orthodoxy. After 40 years of membership in ECUSA, we gave up last fall and submitted our resignation by sending a copy to the Presiding Bishop and all 100 dioceses in the United States. We were not seeking personal deference, but hoping for national, hierarchical attention to the points we raised.

Five bishops answered. Neither our present nor our former diocesan was among them. The letters were long and pastoral in tone, and I reciprocated by replying at length. Grateful as we were to have heard from anybody, it was disappointing to see first-hand how unwilling most bishops are to recognize the church's faults and to act inclusively.

It was not easy to give up our church in the evening of life. Perhaps we took our beliefs too seriously, but I find that even now, not far from age 70, I still have a conscience.

D.D. Hook

Milton, Del.