In a message dated 6/26/2002 4:28:04 PM Central Daylight Time, 
anglican@... writes:

<< What I was trying to get across, though, is that we ought all to be shocked
 by our lack of growth.  Yes, we can bemoan the culture that surrounds us and
 go on about how we are going against the tide.  But was that really any
 different in the Early Church? >>

DKD:  I'm with you, Mark.  I wasn't really trying to make a point, just a bit 
of humor.  Yes, the "growth" of the continuing church (and for convenience 
sake I'll include the REC) over the past few decades has been disappointing, 
and the question is bound to arise whether there may be an essential flaw in 
"continuing church" ecclesiology.  Heck, there are times when I seriously 
begin to wonder if we are all but a bunch of Donatists!

Regards,
Daniel+