Let's be honest about this right up front. The Episcopal Church is not known for great preaching. Having said that, let's take note of what some people in St. Louis are doing about that.

A member of the Church of St. Michael and St. George, St. Louis, has, through a generous gift, provided the impetus for a preaching competition in honor of the Rt. Rev. William Scarlett, sixth Bishop of Missouri, who died in 1973.

"The purpose of the gift is to identify and honor fine young preachers of the Episcopal Church," said the Rev. Steven Lawler, associate rector of St. Michael and St. George. "The largest hope is for this to raise a certain sense of expectation for the quality of preaching done by the younger clergy of the church."

The competition works like this: Nominations are sent to Fr. Lawler. Copies of sermons are shared with a group of readers, mostly from the St. Louis area. When they find sermons they feel are noteworthy, the committee will ask the preacher for a taped delivery of that sermon. The person selected for the honor will be invited to preach in St. Louis Sept. 22 and will receive a stipend, transportation costs and accommodations.

An obvious question is what does the competition committee mean by "young"?

"The benefactor felt some preference should be given to younger preachers," Fr. Lawler said. "The committee felt somebody who has been a preacher and ordained for three to seven years. In general, we're looking for someone under the age of 45."

And what about those persons who write a brilliant sermon but don't deliver well, or those who speak eloquently but don't have anything to say?

"We need to trust the nominators that persons nominated can both write and preach good sermons," he replied.

Fr. Lawler said the benefactor wanted to honor Bishop Scarlett because "that person had a positive childhood memory of Bishop Scarlett being a guest in their home. Bishop Scarlett's own ministry was distinguished by a care for all people, but especially those whose lives were most difficult. It is hoped that the person chosen for this honor will represent something of the same concern."

While neither Fr. Lawler nor the committee, nor the benefactor, identified a need for better preaching in the Episcopal Church, one might read between the lines ...

"There's some really great preaching out there," Fr. Lawler said. "Some of those preachers don't get to be heard very often.

"Really good preaching can make a difference in the lives of the faithful."

The plan is for the competition to be held annually.

Interested in nominating your curate? Your nephew? Your spouse? Send names to the Rev. Steven Lawler, Church of St. Michael and St. George, 6345 Wydown Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63105.

David Kalvelage, editor