Ed McMahon, he's not, but the Bishop of Wakefield in the Church of England is handing out cash. The Rt. Rev. Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Wakefield, is giving cash rewards to successful parishes in his diocese. According to Church Times, the bishop gave four prizes of £500 each to congregations. One of the recipients doubled its attendance over the past two years, another provided food and entertainment for 80 people on Christmas Day, one attracted a large number of families with young children and another offered hospitality to university students. Bishop McCulloch said the churches "deserve all the encouragement we can give them."

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Even more unusual is a strategy in the Diocese of New Westminster in the Anglican Church of Canada. Anglican Journal reports priests who leave parishes or diocesan appointments of their own volition "after serving less than three years will be asked to pay back a portion of their moving expenses."

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Good Shepherd Church in West Lafayette, Ind., home of Purdue University, offers a "Frequent Worshiper Bonus Card." Tidings, Indianapolis's diocesan newspaper, reports the card reads "Have this card initialed by the Rev. Bunder on eight different Sundays and receive a free Good Shepherd T-Shirt and a Frequent Worshiper certificate suitable for framing or sending to skeptical parents."

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The Women's Evening Guild at St. Mark's Church, Jackson Heights, N.Y., is affectionately referred to as W.O.T.L. (Women on the Loose).

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The business card of the Rev. Mitchell Keppler, of Smithville, Texas, reads, "Drive carefully: The life you save may be an Episcopalian."

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Headline in The Adventure, newspaper of the Diocese of Northwest Texas: "Pope to become Catholic."

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This license plate business really is getting out of hand. The Missionary, newspaper of the Diocese of Northern California, has published an article titled "Driven to Evangelize," on members of the diocese who have vanity plates with clever messages. The article mentions DA REV and AAMZIN as owned by Northern California clergy, and has a photo of 4 Z LORD.

Some of my recent spottings: DEUT 8, PADRE I, GODNME.

William Paulk of Cullowhee, N.C., sends B-XALTED. The Rev. Robert Crafts, Jr., of Indio, Calif., saw HVNCNWT, and the Rev. David Baumann, of Placentia, Calif., contributes AHNR HIM.

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Note to Mrs. S. In Baltimore: Yes, we have considered seriously the possibility of biweekly publication, but we have decided to remain a weekly.

David Kalvelage, editor