The Editor, Sir:

Please convey to your religion editor, theological student Bro Mark Dawes, the following reflection on his analysis of the Anglican Lambeth Conference and its failure to resolve the issue of homosexuality and the Church.

In his article, published in your last Saturday's edition, Bro Dawes coined the phrase 'purple-shirted flatulence' to describe the deliberations of bishops and archbishops.

In his desire to see the Anglicans fall in line, Bro Dawes commends schism over heresy. He could have gone further.

He might have suggested that after the Church has cleansed the temple of that lot, let's then go for the adulterers and fornicators. There are enough of them right there in the Church of all denominations to occupy us Christians for quite a while.

We could cut to the chase and dispel that tiresome imagery of wheat and tares growing together till the day of harvest.

Incidentally, the Master was not known to have had a purple shirt. I'm sure, however, that Dawes could equip him appropriately.

I am, etc.,

PURPLE OBSERVER

Kingston 5