(From the editorial page, April 23 issue of The Living Church)

With General Convention less than two months away, it seems that the time for polite listening and graceful conversations may be coming to an end. The moderators of church-related Internet discussion groups are more frequently having to remind their participants to choose their words more carefully before they post their comments. The gloves seem to be coming off with greater regularity.

The Bishop of Arizona recently was subjected to a flurry of bile-filled invective from persons outside his diocese in response to a letter intended for his clergy and lay leaders [p. 14]. His candid remarks in reaction to the spring House of Bishops’ retreat drew heated reaction from those who disagreed with his views. A similar letter from another bishop to his diocese was also critiqued and his character impugned. A widely read website publishes personal attacks on bishops nearly every day.

Ubiquitous discussion lists, blogs, and websites have made instant newsgathering, analysis, and commentary a part of life within the Church. While these forums are invaluable communications tools with powerful potential as tools for ministry, they also can and are being used as powerful weapons. The Internet is largely self-policing, and without care and consideration, the church’s political discourse is devolving into a wrestling cage match in which there will be no winners.

We invite and implore all who will be working to shape the Church’s future in the coming months to do so while keeping in mind that they, their allies, and those with whom they disagree all are members of the one body of Christ. How we live out our membership will have a profound impact on our ability as a Church to make disciples as Jesus commanded.

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