The article, "Another Unwelcome Visit," gives a superficial description of the visitation of the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon to the Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes, but fails to communicate the essence of this unwarranted intrusion and of the congregation's refusal to sanction it with our presence.

We do not accept Mrs. Dixon as a bishop in the catholic and apostolic tradition because we have no assurance in either holy scripture or 2,000 years of church practice that a woman can be duly ordained to the priesthood or consecrated successor to the apostles. We therefore viewed her purported episcopal visitation as a violation of our beliefs and of our consciences, and we could respond in no way other than by our absence. At least we parishioners had the privilege of staying away. Our priest was under direct threat from the diocesan bishop to be present or lose his license. This was the greatest outrage of all, for no one, not even a bishop, has authority over another person's conscience. Our young priest-in-charge was bullied into a position in which he had either to disobey the bishop or go against his conscience.

Mrs. Dixon is quoted as saying she had come "not to change (y)our minds, but so we can find some way to be together." If this is true, why did she insist on coming as a bishop? The truth is that she came precisely to flaunt her "authority" and force our acceptance of her in the role of suffragan bishop. Had she sought "some kind of relationship" with us, as she was quoted in the secular press, she could have chosen from a number of options available to her. She and her entourage could have entered our church like everyone else, taken their places in the pews and joined in our magnificent worship.

The truth is that she wants one relationship only with us and that is as bishop to parish, as shepherd to flock. We are not ready to accept this kind of relationship with her, and our position is a legal and valid one in the Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican Communion.

Now we are relieved this "unwelcome visit" is over so that we can get on with the work to which God has called us.

Fay Campbell

Bethesda, Md.