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The season of denominational conventions is over for 2003, and not a moment too soon. Forty years ago I covered some for this magazine, and from that experience I learned much not only about the vitality of churches working together but also about conflict and combat. All year long I kept company with friendly Presbyterians, United Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans and others, but when looking in on their tribal meetings I found them unfriendly. Not unfriendly to me or atheists or the Orthodox, but to each other.