Confrontation Continues over Choice of Rector in Maryland Parish
Episcopal News Service. May 28, 2001 [2001-135]
Jan Nunley
(ENS) Tensions escalated over Memorial Day weekend around the call of a controversial Fort Worth priest to be rector of a small Maryland parish. As the deadline for the Rev. Samuel Edwards to be licensed in the Diocese of Washington passed without resolution, Washington bishop pro tempore Jane Dixon was once again turned away at the door of Christ Church, Accokeek.
Edwards, who took up residence in the parish rectory March 25, had 60 days in which he could function in the diocese as a priest without a license from its bishop. That term expired on May 25. Any worship service conducted by Edwards in the diocese after that time would violate canon law. But Edwards, who contends that he is the lawful rector of the parish-though Dixon has refused to accept him as such on the grounds that he is not "duly qualified"-celebrated the Eucharist at an 8:00 a.m. service on May 27, regardless of the prohibition.
Dixon had sent Edwards a stern letter on May 22, asking for his written guarantee "without qualification" that he would "not support, and would actively oppose" any efforts to take Christ Church, its chapel in Pomonkey or its property out of the Episcopal Church, and that he would "recognize me and my successors" as his bishop in order to be accepted as rector. If he agreed, she said, she would appoint him as priest-in-charge of the parish for the three-year term of his contract, but without the legal and canonical rights of a rector.
Edwards, former executive director of Forward in Faith/North America, opposes the ordination of women and has called the Episcopal Church "the Unchurch," declaring that it is "hell-bound" and urging clergy and congregations to "sever their connections" with it.
In a reply dated May 23, Edwards declined to offer the guarantees sought by Dixon, claiming that to comply would cause him to "violate both canon and my ordination vows, as well as the civil law of Maryland." His refusal set the stage for an emotionally-charged Sunday morning at Christ Church.
Hecklers at an outdoor Eucharist
Recently retired Washington bishop Ronald Haines, whom Dixon asked to serve as priest-in-charge of the parish for the next 30 days, was at the parish on Sunday. Haines reported that retired Quincy bishop Edward MacBurney read a letter to the congregation from Fort Worth bishop Jack Iker, declaring that he was "taking Accokeek under his jurisdiction" at the request of the parish vestry.
When Dixon arrived for the 9:00 a.m. service, Haines said the nave of the church was full, but Dixon was barred from entering by senior warden Barbara Sturman and other vestry members. According to Haines, some 50 people followed Dixon to a nearby pavilion to conduct an alternative worship service. Dixon was accompanied by the Rev. Thomas Andrews, chair of the diocesan standing committee, and Carter Echols, diocesan deployment officer.
Prince George's County police had been summoned, and junior warden Frank McDonough demanded that the officers remove the bishop from the property, claiming that she was "trespassing." Diocesan chancellor JoAnn MacBeth replied that, by canon law, the parish holds the property in trust for the diocese, and therefore the bishop was not trespassing. McDonough countered that the property at Accokeek is held "in fee simple," not in trust. After a brief argument, police declined to intervene, but did stay nearby.
When Dixon began the Eucharist, a man later identified as Stanley Hubert stationed himself close to the makeshift altar and began heckling. "He said 'You're not members of the parish, why are you here?' " reported Haines. "An older man, a member of the parish, turned to him and said, 'You're not either,' and the heckler said, 'No, I'm not, but my wife is.' But he settled down after that."
Haines said in an interview that Ralph Kettell, whom he recognized from St. Luke's in Bladensburg, Maryland, and conservative freelance journalist Robert Stowe England then began singing a hymn "to try to drown out the service," (England denies that he participated in singing) but stopped as the Gospel reading began. Haines preached a homily on the lessons for the day, pointing out that "it is ironic and hopeful that we've read the same lessons out here that they're reading in there."
'Christ Church in exile'
Asked what his plans are as priest-in-charge at Christ Church for the next 30 days, Haines said he's not sure what will happen. The parish owns a small chapel, St. John's, located in Pomonkey, but Haines said a parishioner told him the vestry had locked that building against the bishop's visit as well and that he doubted it could be used without a confrontation. "There's a church in nearby Waldorf which has offered to let us use the parish hall," he said, "and many of those who have left Christ Church are there anyway."
"We'll find a place," Haines said. "I'm an optimist. I think they just need a place to regroup. I don't know, we may be 'Christ Church in exile'--that may be our new name." According to Haines, the parish is split "50-50, or maybe 60-40."
But he doesn't want to involve himself in the struggle any deeper. "What I plan to do is just settle down and be a congregation and let the legal people fight the legal battles," he said.
The standing committee of the diocese meets next week with Bishop Dixon to discuss further plans regarding the parish.
Choosing sides
Endorsements and statements of support for both Edwards and Dixon have been multiplying in recent months. Just days after Edwards arrived in the parish over Dixon's objections, William Wantland, retired bishop of Eau Claire, John Howe, bishop of Central Florida, and Iker issued public statements criticizing her position and demanding that she accept Edwards as rector. They were later joined by bishops Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, Stephen Jecko of Florida, and John Lipscomb of Southwest Florida.
The six agreed with critics that Dixon had waited too long to object to Edwards' selection. Church canons specify a thirty-day limit for a bishop to communicate with a vestry about a proposed rector prior to election. There is no time limit for objection by the bishop after a rector is elected.
On May 4, the American Anglican Council's board of trustees announced that the organization was actively seeking signatures on an online petition backing Edwards, and money for a "Crisis Fund" to "assist Christ Church." The group has not yet released the number of signatures or the amount of money received in the drive.
Then on May 9, the executive board of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association wrote a letter to Dixon expressing approval of her "principled position to protect the polity and property of the Diocese of Washington."
On May 24, a group of 57 bishops issued a statement of support for Dixon, in which they declared their conviction that she was "exercising her pastoral responsibility and canonical authority appropriately and patiently" and noted that she also has "the unanimous support of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Washington."
Potentially divisive effects
In a statement released May 28, presiding bishop Frank Griswold said that he was "deeply distressed" by the conflict at Christ Church. There are many instances in which bishops have declined to approve the call of a rector," Griswold said. "What makes this situation so prominent is the fact that the bishop is a female, and the priest is a man opposed to the ordination of women. There are those who are only too ready to see this as the presenting issue and, therefore, to choose sides.
"For me the real and essential issue has to do with the opinions expressed by the priest in question prior to his election as Rector at Christ Church, Accokeek: opinions which can be construed as encouraging schism. In such an instance it is altogether appropriate, and indeed a pastoral responsibility, for the bishop to ascertain the extent of these opinions and to be assured unequivocally of the priest's willingness to be loyal to the Episcopal Church, and not to seek to separate the congregation from its life. The question then arises as to what is reasonable, both in terms of expectations and assurances.
"I, and my office, are always ready to be of assistance, and regret that the conflict has escalated and engaged the larger church both in terms of seeking support from other bishops, the consequences of which have yet to be seen, and the potentially divisive effects it will have upon other sensitive matters facing the church. Anger and mistrust can never lead to a place of grace and truth, nor can they reveal the image of Christ."