Albany Via Media

December 27, 2010

To the Editor:

I feel compelled to respond to Fr. Michael Waverly-Shank's letter. First of all, we in Albany Via Media do not feel that the Diocese does nothing. This writer does feel that the Diocese doesn't do enough to stay engaged in The Episcopal Church. At times it seems the Diocese is "of" The Episcopal Church but not "in" it. If all you read is The Albany Episcopalian, you get a grim and negative attitude of The Episcopal Church. The Albany Episcopalian has become nothing more than a piece of writing that comes out four times a year to advance Bishop Love's agenda. It is not a diocesan newspaper. IF it were a diocesan newspaper, it would have news items of interest that the whole diocese might see as valid. Instead, it serves as an instrument to advance Bishop Love's conservative, narrow-minded agenda.

The Diocese of Albany is a place where inclusion and diversity is not celebrated. Rather, it is looked down upon. Come to Diocesan Convention some year and see how the conservative agenda gets slammed down our throats. See how we are not allowed on committees or boards. See how we have limited debate. See how the business meeting is only conducted partially on Friday and on Saturday. See how Bishop Love monopolizes the time on Friday with his endless list of thank yous and very little of a substantive message.

If we are to have any healing in the Diocese, we need to suspend the rules and have open, frank discussion about our differences in a Christ-like manner. Convention, as it is currently structured, can hardly be a place where that can happen. And, stop bringing in people to convention that are hostile to The Episcopal Church

Dennis Wisnom