After the sad events of Sunday, May 27 [p. 6], it is not difficult to conclude that there's no good news to be found in the ongoing struggle at Christ Church, Accokeek, Md. The visit of Bishop Jane Dixon that day to the 303-year-old church turned into a media circus amid a series of unfortunate events from which the parish may never recover.

The central issue is the fact that Bishop Dixon, Bishop Pro Tempore of Washington, has refused to allow the Rev. Samuel Edwards to become the rector of Christ Church. Citing Fr. Edwards' belief that women cannot be priests, and showing justifiable concern for some of his writings, she has told the vestry of Christ Church that he cannot be the rector. The situation has deteriorated during the past two months and reached its low point when Bishop Dixon and an entourage went to Christ Church on the Sunday of the Memorial Day weekend and wound up celebrating the Eucharist at a card table on an outdoor basketball court.

The stalemate has brought about the following regrettable incidents: A bishop being turned away at a parish in her own diocese, division among members of the congregation, the bishop writing an ill-timed letter to Fr. Edwards containing provisions that no priest would be able to accept, opponents trying to shout down the bishop as she attempts to celebrate the Eucharist, a barrage of mail from the diocese opposing Fr. Edwards being sent to members and former members of the parish, a bishop from another diocese deciding to take pastoral oversight of the parish, the former diocesan bishop being appointed priest-in-charge of the parish, the presence in Accokeek of non-members of the parish representing both sides of the argument, the apparent need to have bishops on both sides of the conflict declaring themselves to be in support, the presence of law enforcement officers on the grounds on a Sunday morning, Bishop Dixon's use of force to resolve the situation, and the creation of an atmosphere in which it is difficult to carry out the church's ministries such as evangelism and pastoral care.

The fact that both sides have turned to the church's canons in an attempt to defend their positions brings about the likelihood that the matter eventually will end up in a court of law. This would, of course, be a sad development, especially for the people of Christ Church, Accokeek. Its vestry has called a rector who is in place and is being vilified for holding a theological position still recognized as valid throughout the Anglican Communion. He should be permitted to carry out the ministry to which he was called. Regardless of the outcome of this case, there will be no winners. Only a large number of hurting Episcopalians.