His response reflects the unhealthy attitude so pervasive in our denomination. When political correctness becomes a substitute for leadership the result is inevitable. Protecting the image will outweigh promoting the values of the institution and the result will be catastrophic. Just ask the United States Coast Guard.

In 1995 Coast Guard Captain Ernie Blanchard, the official spokesman for Coast Guard , found himself the target of a politically correct witch hunt. Speaking at a dinner for cadets at the Coast Guard Academy he made the mistake of using jokes that some attendees found offensive. After receiving the complaint from the academy he wrote back taking full responsibility for his behavior and apologizing for his faux pas. He promised to learn from his mistake. The apology was not only rejected, but he found himself under investigation for possible court martial for sexual harassment. All over a few tasteless jokes

Overwhelmed by these events he offered to resign and was informed it would not be accepted. He was further advised any investigation would continue even if he should retire. While admitting to colleagues and friends the inability to understand how the organization he loved and served faithfully for over twenty five years would refuse to offer him support he found himself left to 'twist in the wind."

Fearing a guilty verdict would cost his career and pension as well as bring disgrace on his family he committed suicide. "Time" Magazine in its May 1996 issue referred to it as death over a "few offensive jokes" The Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Robert Kramek tired to soften the impact by suggesting Captain Blanchard over reacted and the offense was not worthy of court martial. It strains credulity to believe that the spokesman for the Coast Guard could be under investigation to the point of despair while his boss remained unaware of the concerns and implications.

Senior Coast Guard officers as well as senior officers of other military services admit to being horrified by the callous indifference displayed toward Captain Blanchard. What makes this ironic is the Coast Guard is the epitome of a selfless life saving organization and recognized as the greatest organization of its type in the world. Its members constantly risk their the lives to save others. Yet its core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty were abandoned when the institution felt threatened.

Even today members of the Coast Guard are reluctant to speak of this openly. The Commandant of Cadets at the Academy during the incident did not return my phone call. Several retired senior Coast Guard Officers whose names I was given to be of possible assistance in this article did not respond to my emails. My request to the public information office of the Coast Guard for assistance in background data for this article received no response.

Reinhold Neibuhr in his book " Moral Man Immoral Society" warns how individual reason is influenced by the need to follow others even at the cost of loosing one's personal identity to the larger group. The individual desire to protect an organization one loves may be laudable, but when placed in the larger context may cause behavior that is cruel, unreasonable and out of control. The protection of the organization becomes paramount even when conflicting with its core values. This is reflected by the dichotomy between the values that made the Coast Guard great and its treatment of Captain Blanchard.

We face this same disconnect in The Episcopal Church. We mourn the loss of our children while youth ministry budgets are cut. This sacrifice of our future occurs even as budgets increase in such nebulous categories as "prophetic ministries." The Episcopal Church retains Washington lobbyist, and the administrative budget will increase1.4 million dollars this year. Bishop Stacy Sauls, chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church, expresses concern over the lack of money for mission while the Presiding Bishop's administrative cost alone increased by $300,000. People have long abandoned trying to get a clear answer as to the amount of money being spent on litigation.

Additionally, cathedrals have closed in Rhode Island and Delaware. The Washington Cathedral survival is now dependent on its success in robbing an endowment fund created for other purposes. Bishops in North Dakota and Western Kansas double as parish clergy to in order to support themselves and allow their ministry to survive. Vermont can barely raise two million dollars( the yearly budget of many healthy parishes) rather than the eleven million needed. It is reported that the current Bishop of Georgia admits the cost of rescuing its camp and conference center now means his diocese is broke. These are real issues which need our focus and energy.

Our time, however is wasted on protecting our image even if it means the destruction of those who attempt to find workable solutions. This is exactly the same tactic employed against the Bishop of Bethlehem when he attempted to inquire how a former Roman Catholic pederast priest was received into the Diocese of Nevada under the current presiding bishop. Core values are easily forgotten when the image of the institution is at stake.

The time has now come for us to face reality. Tired clichés like those used by Mr. Garner will no longer work. He needs to apologize for his immoderate remarks and General Convention needs to take Canon Heard and Mr. Hylden's recommendations seriously.

If the Episcopal Church is to die then let us go down modeling the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Political correctness has claimed too many good folks already.

Just ask the friends of Captain Ernie Blanchard.

Ladson F. Mills III is a priest with over thirty years parish experience who is retired and lives in South Carolina. He currently serves as Scholar in Residence at the Church of Our Saviour Johns Island and is a regular contributor to Virtueonline