I fear that in 50 years it will be more like; "What were we thinking? How could we have gone so wrong?" These 'mainline' Protestant Churches survive because of people like myself who were raised in them from childhood. Continuing in this direction will continue their depopulation and even speed it up. In the 50 years postulated by Rev.Wink, he may be speaking to a very small group of Lutheran-minded, Methodically oriented, Episcopallic Presbyterians gathered in a phone booth!
I am an Episcopalean with gay friends and neighbors whom I treat like everyone else. What the do in their own private space is of no matter to me, but what their group efforts are forcing on my society DOES MATTER TO ME! This is an arrow in my heart and I do not know how to take it out and I fear the consequences. Historically, pressure groups have moved their general society in an attempt to redeem grievances. Sometimes they move too far and their comes a sometimes violent reaction and this is what I do FEAR!
As for me, I am about to take the opposite definition of cleave ( cleaves to his wife ) as I now search for a new church home.
Jesus to the ECUSA, "Not nearly as stupid as the parishioners who think your Holy Eucharist still means something."