Are Liberal Christians Becoming Rare? Re "Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?," by Ross Douthat (column, July 15): As an Episcopal priest, I am concerned not that "liberal Christianity" be saved but that authentic Christianity be practiced. The "conservative" churches that seem to be flourishing today often conjoin the flag and the cross, operate racially and economically segregated schools, oppose government programs that help the poor, and deny both scientific learning and biblical scholarship. There has indeed been a lot of foolishness in the Episcopal Church, much of it an outgrowth of the "60s, as Mr. Douthat rightly says. And while we Episcopalians are certainly smaller and, dare I say, humbler than before, we have greater lay participation and more generous giving today than even in the benchmark days of the 1950s. An authentic church for the future will of course be both liberal and conservative, progressive and traditional. That is what the Episcopal Church has been at our best, and that is what we shall be in the years to come as we promote a way of life that models freedom as loving service to God and neighbor. Rev. If liberal Christianity is defined as doing anything to adapt to the culture, I'd be glad to pray over its grave. But that's neither the church I serve nor the diocese I lead. The Episcopal Church is one of many mainline denominations, part of America's ecclesiastical landscape since the beginning of our country. At times, each denomination has reflected an institutional arrogance, assuming that people will know and find us because we've been around so long. My predecessor, Bishop John Shelby Spong, addressed this arrogance by challenging Christians to think critically and become more biblically literate. In the Diocese of Newark of the Episcopal Church, we answer the charge to respect the dignity of every human being by advocating for the rights of women, gays and lesbians, and people of color. We live out our ministries locally, expanding them to meet new needs, like offering "ashes to go" to commuters and worship services for children with special needs and their families. As we engage the world and its unofficial religion of instant gratification, it becomes more important for us to be grounded in faith, committed in spiritual practice, and audaciously witnessing to the Gospel. The mainline dimension of our church may be dying. Requiescat in pace. But what's emerging is transforming lives. I invite Mr. Douthat to come see. Rt. Rev. MARK M. BECKWITH Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Newark Newark, July 17, 2012 Ross Douthat brought up every salient point about the Episcopal Church's demise. Many of us orthodox Episcopalians have been saddened by this catastrophe, and yet we remain deeply puzzled. We can't figure out why church leaders, as Mr. Douthat says, "have a weird self-righteousness about their looming extinction." The reason the beautiful, once-staid Episcopal churches are closing and emptying out is that one can get the same teaching at the neighborhood Starbucks or yoga class. So why bother to go to both? Although I'm usually not politically or theologically on the same page as Ross Douthat, he hits the nail right on the head regarding the demise, however unfortunate, of liberal Christianity. Perhaps that longing for identity, clarity of purpose, belief and transcendent, awe-inspiring liturgy is why the Latin Mass congregation at the local Catholic parish has tripled in attendance, not owing to white-haired folks like me, though some are present. I'm surprised at the numbers of the 20- and 30-somethings. And perhaps that longing is evident in the fact that certain traditional, habit-wearing orders of nuns, like some Dominican congregations and others, are attracting younger members by the dozens and aren't dying out but in fact are growing. We're not in 1968 anymore, and at 65, I can testify to that. The writer, who was raised Roman Catholic, is a retired Episcopal priest. Putting the cart before the horse, Ross Douthat apparently believes that Rome's investigation of progressive nuns was essential, for without it, "the orders in question were likely to disappear." Most educated young women today - and many others for nearly 50 years - have simply found it impossible to even consider becoming a Catholic sister. They are repelled by the Catholic hierarchy's attitude toward women - its general disregard, lack of collegiality and suspicion. SUELLEN HOY Highland Park, Ill., July 16, 2012 The writer is the author of "Good Hearts: Catholic Sisters in Chicago's Past."