The "conflicts inherent"

Bishop Geralyn Wolf has told a priest who professes to be both a Christian and a Muslim that she is "not to exercise any of the responsibilities and privileges of an Episcopal priest or deacon" for the next year. The case of the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding had become a cause célèbre among conservative bloggers, but was largely ignored by the mainstream media.

In an email to her diocesan clergy, members of the diocesan council and the standing committee, Bishop Wolf wrote:

As many of you know, The Rev. Dr. Ann Holmes Redding is an Episcopal priest who has recently professed her faith in Islam. Dr. Redding is canonically resident in the Diocese of Rhode Island, though she has not served here for over twenty years.

After meeting with her I issued a Pastoral Direction giving her the opportunity to reflect on the doctrines of the Christian faith, her vocation as a priest, and what I see as the conflicts inherent in professing both Christianity and Islam. During the next year she is not to exercise any of the responsibilities and privileges of an Episcopal priest or deacon. Other aspects of the Pastoral Direction will remain private.

I am sending this e-mail to you because the continued web-site coverage suggests that I be as clear as possible with those exercising leadership in our diocese.

Posted by Jim Naughton on July 5, 2007 1:43 PM | |
Comments (2)

I am happy--and relieved--that Bishop Wolf has taken this step. I don't understand how one can sensibly claim to be a Christian and a Muslim. I was also concerned that if the Rev. Redding continued to function as a priest, it would have validated every stereotype the Christian right has concocted to smear faithful co-religionists who differ with them on the issue of monogamous gay relationships. (Indeed, this happened in spades in all of the predictable places--but, fortunately, in few others.)

It is essential to the credibility of any movement that seeks to liberalize current understandings that it speak not only of freedoms but of limits. Yes to monogamous gay relationships, no to promiscuity--straight or gay. Yes to interfaith understanding, no to syncretism. The religious left has a habit of tolerating behavior that the great majority of its members do not endorse. This not only erodes its credibility with its own membership, but provides its adversaries with an opportunity to portray the fringe as representative of the middle. The Redding situation was a case in point: a small self-inflicted wound that might easily have become a large self-inflicted wound were it not for Bishop Wolf's response.

So three cheers for her.

Posted by Jim Naughton [TypeKey Profile Page] | July 5, 2007 6:18 PM

Jim,

It strikes me just as important how Bishop Wolf handled this situation -- not so much through a canonical/legalistic imposition, but rather much more through a pastoral consultation with Dr. Redding.

While I have not heard Dr. Redding's take on the meeting, my impression from Bishop Wolf's e-mail is that the decision to suspend duties as an ordained priest and enter a period of discernment was reached through mutual agreement and respect.

It seems to me this sets a remarkable and important example how matters that erupt in controversy are best handled.

Posted by The Rev. Richard E. Helmer [TypeKey Profile Page] | July 5, 2007 11:02 PM

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