I am thrilled with Russell J. Levenson's article [TLC, Feb. 21], "Seven Foundations for the Church in the Next Century."

At age 60, I'm beginning to look toward the final lap of my full-time ordained ministry. My prayer is for younger laity and clergy to carry the baton in their generation to "do the work which Christ has given us to do as faithful witnesses ..."

Fr. Levenson has it right. 1. A Humble Church. Arrogance for the laity is unseemly; for a priest, inexcusable! 2. A Praying Church. Praying daily for the Christian ought to be as natural as washing one's hands. 3. A Christ-centered Church. Christ and the gospel inform the issues, not the other way around. 4. An Evangelizing Church. We as Episcopalians had best be about making disciples for Christ from both pew and pulpit or we will be a church remembered in the dusty pages of church history. 5. A Holy Church. How about the Presiding Bishop announcing an annual Sunday for all Episcopalians (a Sunday in Lent) to repent and to return to the Lord? 6. A United Church. Yes, John 17 needs to be prayed daily. Let's drop "conservative-liberal" talk and see ourselves as One in Christ as sisters and brothers in him. 7. A Loving Church. Jesus gave the church a new commandment that "you love one another." Our love for Jesus, for both friend and stranger, will draw others to Christ and strengthen the church.

(The Rev.) John B. Edson

Trinity Church

Monroe, Mich.