Diocese of Newark Affirms the Process Leading to the Ordination of an Openly Gay Priest
Episcopal News Service. May 10, 1990 [90022_Z]
The two diocesan committees that endorsed the Rev. Robert Williams for ordination as an openly gay, noncelibate priest have reexamined the process and concluded there are no grounds to proceed against Williams.
"We did as the bishop requested and reviewed our selection process," the Rev. Richard Shimpfky, president of the diocesan Standing Committee, said in an interview with the Bergen Record. "We came up with a conclusion that the system works just fine."
Bishop John Spong of Newark asked the Commission on Ministry and the Standing Committee "to determine whether or not misrepresentation occurred during the screening process." Spong said in a January 29 letter to bishops of the Episcopal Church that "if the investigation reveals that Robert cannot abide by the standards to which this diocese has arrived after much study and prayer and on the basis of which he was recommended for ordination, then I will invite him to resign from the priesthood of this church."
Williams resigned his ministry with the gay and lesbian community in Hoboken last February in the wake of a furor over comments he made at a Detroit symposium disparaging celibacy and monogamy. He said "monogamy is as unnatural as celibacy" and suggested that Mother Teresa's life would be improved by a sexual relationship.
"We have no plans at this time to take any further action," diocesan spokesman Leslie Smith said. Although he does not serve in any official capacity, Williams remains a priest of the diocese. The only way he could be removed from the priesthood is through a trial.
Williams has told the press that he is writing a book about his experiences and that he will name gay and lesbian priests in the diocese. "Some of the most negative people throughout this whole process have been closeted gay and lesbian clergy, especially lesbians," he said. "At this point, I'm tired of protecting them."