Episcopal tent not big enough to include Diocese of Arizona lay chaplain
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2004
Contact: Cynthia P. Brust
202-2976-5360
202-412-8721
LAY CHAPLAIN IN ARIZONA RESIGNS RATHER THAN ‘MODIFY THEOLOGY’
A lay chaplain for the Episcopal Canterbury Fellowship at Northern Arizona University (NAU) has resigned her position rather than compromise her theological convictions. Linda Radosevich describes herself as a “faithful dissident” who was left with no choice but to resign after the Bishop Coadjutor of Arizona, Kirk Smith, insisted she “modify her position” regarding the crisis in the Episcopal Church.
Ms. Radosevich opposes the decisions of General Convention 2003 regarding human sexuality and disagrees with the national Church, the Diocese of Arizona and diocesan bishop Robert Shahan on the issues of the ordination of practicing homosexuals as well as same sex blessings. While she refrained from expressing her opinion regarding these issues in her capacity as lay chaplain, Ms. Radosevich took a stand within the confines of Church of the Epiphany, her home parish.
After General Convention Ms. Radosevich wrote a letter to Epiphany’s leadership, a copy of which she sent to Bishop Shahan. At Epiphany’s annual meeting in January, she designated her financial pledge for use in Epiphany’s ministry, redirecting her contribution from the diocese and national church. Her rector, the Rev. Richard Morrison, considers her actions as neither “disruptive nor destructive” telling Bishop Smith that Ms. Radosevich handled the situation in a most appropriate way.
“I designated my pledge as a protest to the actions of General Convention,” Ms. Radosevich said. During a meeting June 18, 2004, Bishop Smith told her that such a position was “an embarrassment to him.”
“I feel targeted as a conservative lay woman,” Ms. Radosevich noted. “I asked Canon Bill Greeley, who was present at the meeting, how I came on the radar screen, and he told me my opinions were known, and the Bishop wanted to address them. Does this mean the Episcopal Church has become a place where dissenters are not tolerated, much less welcome? I thought the Episcopal tent was a lot bigger than that,” she added.
“I have never abused my position as lay chaplain and have been diligent in supporting the Diocese of Arizona and our bishop,” she asserted. “I have never offered my opinion on issues of sexuality unless I was asked to do so by a student. Most students don’t even know where I stand. But I will not compromise the Truth of Scripture and ‘modify my position’ as Bishop Smith has called upon me to do.”
The Rev. William Thompson, Dean of the Western Convocation of the Anglican Communion Network (ACN), expressed outrage at the situation in Arizona. “Linda Radosevich has been a faithful member of Church of the Epiphany for 52 years and has served the Diocese of Arizona in a number of significant capacities, lending leadership to Faith Alive as well as Cursillo,” Father Thompson noted. “To see a servant like this treated in such a callous manner is appalling. These tactics must end.”
“Tragically, the experience of Ms. Radosevich is not unique,” said Father Thompson. “When the Anglican Communion Network testified to the Eames Commission in June, a ‘book of abuse’ was presented outlining some 60 instances of behavior like this. This situation is the latest example of a clear pattern of intimidation that demonstrates the downward spiral of ECUSA. Reports of harassment are increasing in both number and intensity,” he added.
According to theologian Dr. Kendall Harmon, the Episcopal Church radically changed its teaching and doctrine of human sexuality at last year’s convention. “Even more shocking than this change, which is contrary to Scripture and outside the bounds of Anglicanism, is the speed with which it is now being enforced by the church’s most powerful officials,” he stated. “Still more alarming is the denial by so many Church leaders that a huge theological shift, and its subsequent swift enforcement, is taking place. Unless some way is found to stem the tide, all orthodox voices in ECUSA will be in danger of being drowned out.”
Posted at 12:00 am 7.10.2004 | Permalink