Diocese of North Queensland, Anglican Church of Australia

[Rt. Rev. Clyde M. Wood <clyde.wood@fc.accnet.net.au>]

[transcribed from Bishop Wood's hard copy. -- LC]

					The Rt. Rev. Clyde M. Wood
					The Bishop of North Queensland
					P. O. Box 1244, Townsville
					Q 4810, Australia
					14 September 2001

Dear Louie,

Thank you for the address to me by your letter.  I have not before been
described or addressed as 'Gentle', but I approve wholeheartedly.

I announced last week that I will retire as Bishop of North Queensland at
the end of March 2002.  Therefore your letter creates for me something of
a dilemma.

The dilemma is two-fold.   That is, I would think it would be marvellous
if you could come to this Diocese and that we could find a way to help you
share with people, but I would be reluctant at this time to commit my
successor to such a process.

There are people in this Diocese who would reject whatever it is you have
to say on this subject, simply because I assume you believe that there
can be such a thing as Lesbigay Anglicans.

We have had some fruitful debate since Lambeth.  Some of it has been
painful, but it has been very worthwhile.

I will take up the matter with some of our clergy leadership and see how
we might be able to make some progress on the possibility of such a visit.

I mentioned your letter to Father Michael Merriman, who is the Warden of
St. Mark's College here in Townsville, one of your fellow countrymen, who
makes a marvellous contribution to the life of this Diocese.

Also, I spent some time last October in England with John Spong and if you
see him too, please give him my regards.  We will see if we can find a way
to take this forward.

With best wishes.

Yours in Christ
+Clyde NQ