The annual meeting of the Episcopal Diocesan Ecumenical Officers (EDEO), in conjunction with the National Workshop on Christian Unity, was held May 3-6 in Rochester, N.Y.

Speakers included the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop, the Rev. Ellen Wondra, assistant professor of systematic theology at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, and the Rev. John Thomas of the United Presbyterian Church. The tone of the workshop stressed the need for theological integrity in each denominational tradition, and the imperative of accepting grace to overcome the sins of denominational separation on every side. There was a broad consensus among speakers and participants, while each stressed different areas of effort for Christian unity.

Bishop Griswold addressed EDEO on the first day of the gathering and preached the homily for the opening worship service. He also announced that the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Consultation would release a new statement on authority, titled "The Gift of Authority" [TLC, May 30]. It addresses the concern of the Anglican Consultative Council for a stronger global Anglican primacy. Bishop Griswold suggested that the ongoing discussion enhances the possibility of coming to agreement with the Roman Church "in some new way."

In his homily to the assembled delegates of the national workshop on Monday evening, the Presiding Bishop noted that "division is just fine with 99 percent of the baptized people of the church." He also pointed out "how obscene the divisions are" in the terms of the gospel, and asserted the faithful are called to "make the gospel heard" in opposition to separation and selfishness.

Ms. Wondra said, "We are involved in a conversion. We need to talk about sin as a factor in ecumenism - sin at every level." She discussed the ways pious Christians justify divisions by claiming and remaining comfortable with discouragement on the one hand and denomination autonomy on the other. She said the alternative is to become "the community of faith as the body of Christ: There are no autonomous individuals in Christ; there are no autonomous churches. Living into this vision requires grace."

Small workshops and plenary meetings stressed multi-culturalism and the need to respond to global political and economic conditions especially in local programs and plans.

The Rev. Don Armentrout, a member of the faculty at the School of Theology of the University of the South (Sewanee), addressing a group of Lutheran and Episcopal representatives, said the church is "a cocoon" that hinders recognition of all kinds of diversity, but could provide a base and sanctuary of hospitality for all kinds of people.

(The Rev.) Peter Michaelson