<snip>It may be that the proliferation of jurisdictions and
bishops is not a bad thing. It may be the
proliferation of communions in the Providence of God
is akin to the lifeboats on the Titanic just as our
bishops said in the 1970's.  Radner suggests we have
the virtue of patience.  I think he is right.

But Charles+, the same thing could be said for the proliferation of all the
churches - either denominational or independent - since the Reformation.
Divided communions, divided resources, divided "you-fill-in-the-blank": I
just don't see this as a strength. We in parish ministry decry the fact that
we can't get Sunday School material or Confirmation material or any number
of other things simply because on our own, we don't have the strength (i.e.,
resources) to get these things produced. And how many of our clergy wives
work simply to supply much-needed health insurance benefits for the family:
again, something we as a small, independent group simply don't have the
resources to obtain. I know these aren't strictly "gospel" issues, but they
are issues nevertheless.
 
MLW+