Letter: Secular spin

Sir: Keith Porteous Wood of the National Secular Society could teach the Church of England a thing or two about spin-doctoring, but this time he has been caught out by his own back-spin (letter 29 June). The Church has been ordaining women deacons since 1987, so comparisons with this month's 396 new deacons are perfectly proper.

As for questions about increased numbers and lowering standards, more rigorous selection at the preliminary and diocesan stages means fewer candidates at national selection conferences are disappointed.

To whom will they preach? All those worshippers and parishioners who used to appear in our statistics and all those who did not. It was their non-appearance in the statistics, not their non-appearance in church, we did not wish to publicise.

STEVE JENKINS

Church of England

Archbishops' Council

London SW1