the Writings do not say that we should have episcopal government.
Mr. Cole writes: “The more the church has tried the less it grows.”
Unfortunately this has been true of most of our history, but not all. Some
of our efforts have achieved good results. In Tucson our efforts for growth
resulted in a steady increase for 21 years.
A point of correction: Peter Boericke (letter, “Our Loss,” NovemberDecember 2015) was under the impression that 2015 was the first year in the
history of the General Church that we had a drop in membership. Actually it
was the fifth. (Previous years with losses: 1938, 1958, 1996, 1997)
We need to accept Mr. Cole’s challenge to be loyal to the truth. This may
lead us to become more cautious about accepting doctrinal arguments from
the Writings about issues that are not directly set forth in them.
The Rev. Frank S. Rose
Tucson, Arizona
A Church in Crisis?
To The Editors:
Many thanks for all your work on the New Church Life. I read it from cover to
cover and reflect often on what has been written. It is a treasured publication
that I always enjoy.
With the intense disagreements on the role of women in the Church,
based on many passages from the Writings that others have expounded upon,
I still question whether women can have other expanded roles that have been
dominated by our males. Why can’t couples be the greeters/ushers together
at our doors vs. only male ushers? And why can’t women or couples also be
allowed to take the donations up to the minister just prior to the end of a
service? Finally, why can’t the women, who have the theological training, be
allowed to assist with some of the readings before the sermon?
I love our Church with all my heart and have been a member since birth. I
do not fully understand why we severed our ties with the Convention Church
or the break that occurred with the Nova Hierosolyma Church when the Rev.
Theo Pitcairn left our Church.
When I read in the Bryn Athyn Post of church services in private homes,
“Concert Churches” in the Mitchell Performing Arts Center, the large
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