[sweetliberty]

Some of the most committed and scripturally knowledgeable people I have ever known have been Episcopalians and Catholics, neither of which do you normally think of that way, which goes to show that there has been consideralbe revival in the church at many levels. On the other hand, there are those who figure if they pay their pew rent and show up twice a year it guarantees salvation and they have no need of knowing anything because that's what they pay the priest for. But both churches are filled with people between the 2 extremes. I have been in all kinds of churches, alive and dead, of different denominations, and I prefer alive. A priest we used to have always said "the church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." I like that. It says a lot.

[Darlin']

Yes, I like that description, too. Our former priest is a very bright, articulate man, he is very strict, a real stickler for detail and tradition. He strongly encouraged active community involvement among all parishioners and commited our church to many needed and worthwhile programs. Under his approx 11 year tenure our membership nearly tripled, all our original debts/mortgages were retired and three more large building projects were planned, completed and paid off. He is ambitious and I always felt that everything he did he did with an eye toward becoming, at the very least, a Bishop. :)