I'd like to commend Bill McLean for his frankness in discussing alcoholism and recovery. As a long-time sidelines church worker, I took a first drink to combat a severe loss at the age of 35 and did not sober up for 10 years. I rarely see down-home explanations of what the alcoholic feels and is. To combat the why-doesn't-he-just-stop folks: The alcoholic has an addiction gene and, when that’s coupled with a poor situation leading to drinking, becomes a different person -- one that he grows to prefer.

There comes a time when he could return to his old self, but he doesn't wish to. Then comes the time that he must stop, and he finds he can't. Even if lessening the intake, the alcohol still works its deadly deed until some sort of disaster mandates a stop. More general knowledge of this affliction can't help but bring more compassion for those afflicted and fewer repetitions of the well-known words of the Publican.

I saw the new Episcopal Church television ads for the first time today.  My favorite is the one that ends: "Change your channel."  I notice none of the ads mention God or Jesus.  I can understand that so long as we call the ads simply what they are -- advertising.  If we begin to consider the ads evangelism, then I have a problem.

I would prefer that my favorite ad end with: "God can change your channel."   God and Jesus are more than familiar words intentionally omitted to increase marketing value. God and Jesus are why we exist, both as individuals and as congregations.

Scientists and environmentalists have warned for years that climate change is causing more hurricanes and that it is causing hurricanes to be more severe. There is no question amongst true scientists. It is only among those working for coal and oil companies – the cause of climate change – who are hired to spread lies in the name of science. To focus on rebuilding and recovering from Hurricane Katrina without addressing the climate change cause of the destruction is to destine the future with storms that will make Katrina pale in comparison.

Worse, the storm has some politicians saying we need to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Drilling for more oil will only increase climate change gases, causing yet more Katrinas. And it would not lower the price of oil. Economists have found it is such a tiny amount of oil that would not come to market for at least 10 years so as to have virtually no effect on the price of gas.

The way to lower the price of oil and save everyone money at the pump is conservation and efficiency. Increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy to 39 miles per gallon would save far more oil than could ever come out of the Arctic refuge. Having just returned from the great Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, I beg everyone to get active politically and save this last great place. Don’t let oil-company-bought politicians cause a permanent loss of America’s greatest treasure: its last complete ecosystem and traditional native people.

To amplify upon John Danforth’s “Onward, moderate Christian soldiers” (September):  During 265 years in the Army and for 12 years since, I have watched with grave dismay the malignant growth of hyper-Christianity, a creed steeped in smoldering hatred, sinful exclusivity and self-identified superiority. Verily, the anti-Christ at work.

Lifelong, I have known these smug-faced Pharisees whom I have seldom liked, rarely respected and never trusted or believed. Instead of the Sermon on the Mount, they prefer the Sermon of the Mouth, substituting shallow cant, rousing hosannas and glib assurances they are unutterably right. Unfortunately, their assurances remain no assurances at all.

John Danforth, whose moral integrity is well-known, has brought crucial issues before us with his September column (“Onward, Moderate Christian soldiers). He touches on the real problem when he says, "... we ... read the Bible." Look around you. We take the Bible in easy bites and remember the salient passages, but how many established and persisting groups of searching adults do you see reading and discussing the gospel in the Episcopal Church? We do not read the Bible in any serious way.

Moderates, indeed -- how disingenuous! Those who stand against conservatives are properly called liberals, an honorable title only recently cherished by many but now widely avoided. "Moderate" has become a term of refuge: if you scratch the surface of a self-proclaimed moderate, you will find beneath it either a conservative or a liberal.

If the Christians among American liberals would abandon liberalism and turn to the gospel and interpersonal introspection, then liberalism would quickly become known by their lives and their actions, and it would become a shining beacon before us. Those touched by this plea will recognize success on the day that they see their opponents before them, and they love their opponents and see the truth in their opponents' views.

The letter in the September issue from William Hairston of Sulligent, Ala., (“Chaplains have dual role”) is distressing. He should know, having served apparently in the Army, that chaplains in the armed forces are not in the chain of command. We continually hear this, and I have never understood it. Chaplains are indeed commissioned officers, but they are noncombatants who have never been in the chain of command, period.

A Navy chaplain on board ship is privileged to go directly to the captain with a concern at any time, bypassing all others, for the chaplain is, again, in no chain of command. And any sailor or Marine in that ship may at any time approach that chaplain directly, by passing all others. And sermons are not cleared in advance with any chain of command.

When I read “Crisis in the Holy Land” (July/August), I was deeply disturbed, not by the content, but by the fact that it was unfairly slanted.  I've always been proud to be an Episcopalian because, as I've told people, "We see both sides."

The Israelis had to build the wall to stop their citizens from being blown up.  The wall wouldn't be necessary if the Palestinian authorities would make a real, honest effort to stop the suicide bombers.  Arafat received millions of dollars from the United States, but much of it went into his own private accounts and wasn't used to secure peace with Israel or make living conditions better for his people.  If you're going to complain about money being sent by the United States, look into that one.

How would we feel if Canada or Mexico kept sending suicide bombers into our country?  Wouldn't we build a wall or do something to stop them?  Unless we've walked in the shoes of the Israelis, I don't think any of us has the right to criticize them.  The delegation based their judgment on a short stay in that area.  That's unfair.

The war in Iraq is front-page news.  Where is the church? As long as the church remains silently on the sidelines regarding this war, we run the risk of loosing credibility as a community of conscience.  The church should be able to address the issues that matter most to the people of God.  And this war is a matter that concerns just about everyone.

Are we afraid of the conflict this might cause?  Are we afraid we will lose members who disagree with us on this war and our right to address it? Then we’d better keep silent on each and every moral question confronting our world and society.  The generations coming up are watching and waiting for us to show them this church is worth investing in.  They say, “Show us where the church is on the front-page news.” Let’s be the church.  Let’s say and do something about the front-page news.

Tax money is needed to do disaster planning, build up levees, repair barrier islands in the Gulf.  Big business cannot and will not take on those tasks; only the government has wide enough arms to protect Americans against such catastrophes. The incessant litany of tax cuts and lower taxes fails to take care of the needs of the American people and especially the poor. Only the government can finance defense, immigration and disaster planning.

I believe only the government can provide medical insurance for all citizens; only the government can help finance airlines, as big business has failed to make them financially responsible; only the government can assist cities and states in caring for the poor and homeless. The tax-cut mania must give way to compassionate government's financial responsibility for the citizens of America.

The article by Jane Volkema (“Church shopping,” September) was so accurate. I hope many take notice and resolve to be more welcoming to newcomers. It reminded me of an experience I had years ago.  When I was 10, we moved to a new neighborhood and new church, St. Mark's, Milwaukee, and while the other children were very welcoming to me and my younger sister, the rector never once called upon our family or acknowledged our existence.  We continued to sing in the Children's Choir and win Sunday school attendance awards. Our mother attended every single week but was invisible to the rector, who had his set of social friends and never strayed beyond them.

The church changed with the invigorating presence of a new rector, Charles Gaskell (later to be Bishop of Milwaukee), and St. Mark's began welcoming all the varied people from the very interesting university neighborhood.  When I grew up and married, I enrolled my children in Sunday school and became active in guilds and the Couples Club, which hosted the coffee hour after the family service at 9:15.

Our turn to be co-presidents finally came, and I made sure I greeted every newcomer, remembering how lonely it had felt to have been outsiders for so many years. One morning at coffee hour in my 20th year of regular attendance and active participation, I saw a new face peering into the Guild Hall.  I poured out a few more cups of coffee and went to greet this newcomer.  I introduced myself.  "Welcome to St. Mark's.  Please come in and have some coffee with us." The woman looked me up and down.  "How long have you been going to church here?" she asked me.  "This is my 20th year," I answered proudly.  "Well," said she, looking down her nose at me, "I've been going here for 35 years, and I have never seen you before."  And she left. I have never seen her again.  But I still greet people I don't know and introduce myself to strangers.  There are always newcomers, and many become parishioners who keep the lifeblood of this thriving parish moving and renewed.

I read “Church shopping” with fascination. It has also been my experience, over many years. When I found myself in changed circumstances, several times in several parishes, the priests were never heard from again even though I had been very active.

My latest and last attempt, after no responses to cards and questionnaires I filled out and no greetings at coffee hours and even no response to a fairly generous pledge, came when I volunteered to staff the office one day a week. The priest never showed up for our appointment and never called to say why. The Episcopal Church has what I guess is a well-deserved reputation for coldness and elitism. I, a cradle Episcopalian, am finally giving up.

The letter by Judith M. Jones (“Provocateur responses,” September) is a perfect example of liberal misconceptions or just plain ignorance.  Conservatives aren't leaving the Episcopal Church. ECUSA is mutating the traditional teaching and moving the church away from those of us who have remained consistent in our beliefs.

To the best of my knowledge it has never been a sin to be a woman.  It has never been a sin to prefer a different prayer book or hymnal, and you can put the altar in the parking lot, for all I care.  It seems that a number of the current leaders in ECUSA are ordained social workers.  Their flock can do and believe whatever makes them feel positive about themselves.  They seem to believe it is not the place of church leaders to articulate what is right or wrong or to make a judgment.

So Ms. Jones can take her many rooms and distribute them as she believes they should be. I remain in the same room I have always been in, and with great confidence will remain there till the end of my days. She is correct on one point.  There is absolutely no point in attending services that are inconsistent with the traditional teachings of the church, the Bible and Christ.