Friday, July 06, 2007

Priest Claiming Conversion to Islam Given Pastoral Direction

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3476

[The Living Church] 6 July 2007--The priest who revealed in a diocesan newspaper interview last month that she had converted to Islam has received a pastoral direction from the Bishop of Rhode Island, where she is canonically resident.

The Rev. Ann Holmes Redding has not lived in Rhode Island for more than 20 years, according to the Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf, Bishop of Rhode Island. After ordination in 1983, Ms. Redding accepted a position as a consultant for communications at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City.

“After meeting with [Ms. Redding] I issued a pastoral direction giving her the opportunity to reflect on the doctrines of the Christian faith, her vocation as a priest, and what I see as the conflicts inherent in professing both Christianity and Islam,” Bishop Wolf wrote in an e-mail message sent to diocesan clergy as well as members of the standing committee and diocesan council. “During the next year she is not to exercise any of the responsibilities and privileges of an Episcopal priest or deacon. Other aspects of the pastoral direction will remain private.”

Related article:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003776947_redding06m.html
Priest drawn to Islam loses her collar for year - The Seattle Times

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