I would like to clarify a statement made by the Rev. Canon Edward Rodman [TLC, April 11] that equates the desire of St. Paul's, Brockton, to secede from the diocese, to the Church of the Advent's attempted secession.

Unlike St. Paul's, the Advent's attempted secession was by 13 members of the old self-perpetuating corporation, not by a majority of the parishioners. Also, and unlike St. Paul's, a vote was taken at a special diocesan convention at the request of the Church of the Advent to reduce the status of the church to a mission until the legal conflict was resolved. On Dec. 17, 1997, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, in a unanimous decision, ruled in favor of the bishop, the diocese, the rector and the elected vestry. The November 1998 diocesan convention restored the Church of the Advent to parish status.

Sarah R. Bradshaw

Brookline, Mass.