The forcing of the visits of Suffragan Bishop Jane Dixon upon three Anglo-Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Washington [TLC, Feb. 4] is a glaring example of the removal of inclusivity from the Episcopal Church. When Bishop Ronald Haines insisted that his suffragan bishop make official visits to three congregations where the majority of members do not accept the ordination of women as priests and bishops, it marked an unwarranted attempt to snuff out a theological position recognized as legitimate in most of the Anglican Communion.

Parishes like St. Luke's, Bladensburg, Md., Ascension and St. Agnes, and St. Paul's, K Street, both in Washington, D.C., possibly some day will recognize the ministry of women priests and bishops. But why was it necessary now to send Bishop Dixon to parishes where most of the members do not accept her ministry?

In a letter dated Jan. 2, Bishop Haines addressed the matter. "While I recognize the right of dissent around the issue of ordination of women," he wrote, "as bishop, my first concern must be with the unity of the whole and the building of our diocesan collegiality." Following the first visit of Bishop Dixon, it would appear that unity and collegiality are no closer to being achieved.

In the same letter, Bishop Haines justifies his action by claiming that the division in the church over ordination of women is actually increasing rather than being overcome by time. The willingness of all but four diocesan bishops to ordain women and the number of congregations which have welcomed the ministry of ordained women would seem to conflict with the bishop's statement.

The necessity of sending Bishop Dixon to the three congregations is questionable. Bishop Haines could have looked to the Diocese of Massachusetts, where the late Bishop David Johnson and his successor, Bishop Tom Shaw, have not attempted to force Suffragan Bishop Barbara Harris on congregations where she might not be welcome.

In past centuries, some churches, including our own, used coercion in their attempt to secure unity of belief and practice. This does not work in America today: Coercion tends rather to consolidate opposition and to encourage that disrespect for authority so widespread today. Whether we like it or not, religion here is voluntary. A bishop in any diocese who desires people to come to know and respect a controversial suffragan does well to adopt tactful and patient steps - which are more likely to be successful in the long run.