So Fr. Edwards and Christ Church will not accept "pro tempore" Bishop Dixon's authority beyond that of an administrator. Well, maybe that is all anyone in that diocese can do. You see, Bishop Dixon is a bishop suffragan, which means she has no authority beyond that given her by a bishop ordinary, or in the absence of said bishop the diocesan standing committee, and they did not make her the ordinary.

In 1968, when I joined the Episcopal Church, we commonly used the term "comprehensive" to describe our many-rooms-under-one-roof church. Too bad we have lost this truly Christian ideal. What I might suggest is that Bishop Dixon try something real liberal like "celebrate diversity," "can't we all get along?", "love," or if nothing else just try not to make things worse for the next Bishop of Washington, whomever he/she may be.

(The Rev.) Robert Keirsey

San Diego, Calif.