Someone actually gets paid for this sort of micromanagement?

And the "we are not a national church" line is frankly disingenuous. As I understand it, we work in foreign countries in order to further the Kingdom, not some world wide Episcopal Empire. When dioceses abroad are ready for and want autonomy - as was the case with Mexico, or the Philippines- we wish them Godspeed; this is not the case when dioceses in the United States decide they want to go it alone. OF COURSE we're a national church; we're just not ONLY a national church.

Bill Dilworth

I dunno -- seems like consistent use of Pantene 193 is really really important - sort of right up there with the 39 articles. LOL

As much as I can appreciate the desire for consistency, this sounds an awful like a multinational corporation enforcing its branding rights--because that's precisely what it is.

I spent some years selling products (t-shirts, buttons, etc...) on CafePress with the Episcopal logo (some of which are still on sale at "episcoware" on CafePress.com). I didn't deface the logo, debase it, or modify it in any way. I didn't make a gazillion dollars on the things I sold, and I used the funds to purchase products for my own parish and to supplement my continuing education fund. One day, I logged on to my account and found that anything with the logo had been blocked by CafePress on legal orders from the Episcopal Church Center legal department. Now, as an Episcopal priest serving in an Episcopal church, I have to justify each and every use of the logo to the legal department of ECC in order to continue to use it. Frankly, in the rush of my parish ministry "day job," I haven't had the time to write and justify each and every use of the logo on each and every product, as requested.

Apparently, now I even have to use the shield logo in accordance with the official style sheet, as well.

Several years ago, I wrote a blog entry about the then much-vaunted national advertising campaign:

http://bloggingpriest.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-is-not-your-grandmotherss.html

I pointed out that the TEC campaign had all the attractiveness of a public service announcement--bland, corporate, doctrine-based. This was in contrast to another ad, this one from a fellow priest, that had a great image from the soup kitchen at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in New York City and presented an engaging invitation to come visit, with the tag line: "No shoes, no shirt, you still get service."

In short, I'm feeling like as we attempt to re-plant, revive, and otherwise grow the Episcopal Church in various contexts, most of the "help" we get from the "mothership" is a warning not to stray to far from the fold.

Or, to use another metaphor: resistance is futile--you will be assimilated....

Ann: With Pantene you get shiny hair; with Pantone you can discuss colors over the telephone with your printer or web designer. Pantone 193 = #BB133E in hex.
--Gretchen Donart

Thanks Gretchen - yes -- I have a whole web site of hex. I was joking. Should have indicated that. Sorry.

If this is the future of Emergent Church, I want no part of it, thankyouverymuch. - Jay Vos

Really?!? I want some of my pennies that made it to 815 back. I'd like to know how much this cost to produce...from time spent creating, reviewing, revising, and laying out this standard and document--then how much spent updating websites, buying newly-branded stationery, replacing business cards, etc. I'm all for a style guide when one is needed, but really?! This was a priority?

I have been surprised by some of the negative response to this publication, which seemed to me, as someone in the business, to be utterly uncontroversial. I am trying to put myself in the shoes of those with objections, but thus far without success.

For me, Jim, it comes down to resources--is this the best use of time and money at this point in Episcopal Church history? Does it truly make a difference in the mission of the church? From where I sit, no.