The Bishop Pro Tempore of Washington and the rector whose election she challenges [TLC, April 1] confronted each other publicly for the first time in a spirited two-hour parish meeting April 1 at Christ Church, Accokeek, Md., attended by about 175 persons.

Locked out of the church on a Sunday afternoon two weeks earlier because she had called a meeting without the required 10-days notice, the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon addressed a group of about 90 persons at that time, and made known her protest of the call of the Rev. Samuel L. Edwards to the small parish located about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C. Bishop Dixon said Fr. Edwards could not be instituted as rector because he disapproved of ordination of women to the priesthood, would not accept her authority beyond that of an administrator, and would not guarantee that he would not lead the parish out of the Episcopal Church.

In a home nearby, Fr. Edwards asserted that day that he already had become the rector, had signed a contract with the parish, and had been invited to occupy the rectory. On the ensuing Sundays he has preached and celebrated at all services, and has moved his wife and two children from Texas to the Accoceek rectory, a move Bishop Dixon said that cost the parish about $10,000.

The day before the April meeting, the controversy reached the secular press, with the bishop being quoted by the Washington Post as saying, "He's not rector and he's not going to be rector!"

Warden Barbara Sturman opened the April meeting reviewing letters and telephone calls of the previous four months, accusing the bishop of "driving a wedge that is truly evil," and ending with a plea: "Bishop Dixon, leave us alone." She received a prolonged standing ovation.

Bishop Dixon then came forward, speaking for 25 minutes on the various exchanges, telephone calls and meetings and again declared that her only goal is to institute priests who accept her authority, have not written objectionable articles, and will guarantee to keep a parish and its property in the Diocese of Washington.

Fr. Edwards was the next to speak. He, too, covered recent events, beginning with the relinquishment of his ministry as executive director of Forward in Faith North America (FIFNA), headquartered in Fort Worth, and his desire to return to parish life near family members in North Carolina.

A major contention is that the diocese did not object within the 30-day period that canon law gives the diocesan bishop to object to the election of a rector. Mrs. Sturman maintains the search committee and vestry observed all requirements. Bishop Dixon says the background check required by insurance takes a minimum of six weeks.

When the floor was opened to others, Brad Hutt, of the American Anglican Council, suggested a 60-day moratorium, and the Rev. David L. Moyer, rector of Good Shepherd, Rosemont, Pa., and president of FIFNA, endorsed Fr. Edwards as "one of the finest men in the church - a superior priest." Eighteen other persons spoke before the two-hour deadline with views of dismay, anger, sorrow, condemnation and support.

As the meeting drew to a close, nothing appeared to be settled for the embattled parish, one of six founded in the area by the Church of England more than 300 years ago.

(The Rev.) James B. Simpson