In the hallowed and dusty library of flagrant transgressions of which churches can hang their heads in sadness and shame, the Episcopal Church stands particularly guilty of Jesus' admonition to let our light shine before others - inasmuch as we do an awfully good job of hiding our light under a bushel basket.

As a rector I have, not infrequently, heard our new members remark, 'Where have you been? I never knew the Episcopal Church was out there, and I'm so glad I found it.' Yes, there are people looking for us.

This summer, we have a terrific opportunity to change this - with a dynamic new plan to reach those who are looking for us via a well-organized, somewhat expensive, but brilliant idea that uses clever and honest marketing and advertising to help locate those who are searching for us and connecting them to a local parish.

Details are laid out on a website in hopes that those voting during the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City in June and July might find the funding to move this initiative forward. To read more about this, click here, and lobby those whom you know to seriously consider this. It's new, innovative (for us) and a really keen way to take the bushel basket off of the light of Christ our tradition has been blessed with bearing.