An update on the Rev’d Ann Holmes Redding
Bishop Geralyn Wolf has sent a letter to the House of Bishops with an update on the Rev’d Ann Holmes Redding. As you may recall, Mother Redding is an ordained priest (canonically resident in the Diocese of Rhode Island) who seeks to follow Islam and Christianity together.
When this story broke about a year ago, the usual suspects on the right used it as an example of ways in which the church has lost its way. And yet she was placed under discipline quite quickly. That kind of took the wind out of the naysayers’ sails. The Episcopal Church may seek to follow the Gospel call to welcome all, but there are boundaries. This reality is not convenient for those on the right, so they continue to use the “Muslim priest” in their mythology, despite the fact that she’s been under a Pastoral Direction since June 2007.
Most sensible people will agree that you cannot be both a Muslim and a Christian priest together. From either perspective, it would seem, these two traditions cannot coexist in one person. Bishop Wolf has dealt with this in a most gracious way, I think. She has respected Mother Redding’s dignity and authenticity, even as she has had to mete out discipline. It seems downright Christian.
I’ve reproduced the most recent letter, below the fold.
June 20, 2008To: Members of the House of Bishops
From: The Rt. Rev’d Geralyn Wolf
Re: The Rev’d Dr. Ann Holmes ReddingIn June of 2007, I issued a Pastoral Direction to The Rev’d Dr. Ann Holmes Redding, a priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Rhode Island but living in Seattle. She claimed to be both a Muslim and a Christian. Among other things, she was suspended from all priestly duties for one year, at which time I would review the situation. If it became necessary to take further action the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Rhode Island would be engaged in early July, 2008.
I met with The Rev’d Dr. Ann Holmes Redding on May 22, 2008, and believe that she remains committed to her profession of both Christianity and Islam. As I am leaving for pre-Lambeth engagements on June 28, prior to the end of her suspension, I have extended the Pastoral Direction until September 15, 2008. I do not think that it is fair to make a decision of this nature from afar; without ready access to either Dr. Redding or the Standing Committee.
The decision for extension was not requested by Dr. Redding, nor does it indicate a change in my understanding of the theological conflicts inherent in professing both traditions.
Dr. Redding is a woman of utmost integrity and our conversations remain open and mutually gratifying. I have great respect for her and the process of exploration to which she is committed. I also remain devoted to our Christian faith and the ordination vows taken by those who have entered the sacred priesthood.
The media is requesting an update from me. Recalling the attention this attracted a year ago, I share this communiqué with you.
Looking forward to seeing you at Lambeth.
GW:ec
Cc: the Rev’d Dr. Ann Holmes Redding; Standing Committee; Diocesan Council;
Email: All Clergy; Ms. Neva Rae Fox; Ms. Janet Tu
Have you ever thought that the Christian/Islamic religions may have both originated with the same God? The difference I notice with Islam is the lack of priesthood. What if God raised up Muhammad to call a nation to repentance and gave him a simple message to set individuals on a strait course toward God, that may have been all God required, that they repent of their sins and be forgiven, being justified before God because of their righteous works and diligent adherence to his commandments. With true Christianity the exact same is required, plus ordinances and covenants which pertain to having priesthood. To those in Islam these seem unnecessary extras as is the additional information on how their sins could be forgiven. When Christ is clearly also identified as a God in the Bible in explanation of the Godhead, they think this defies the one true God teaching they have, so they then reconcile that by claiming the Bible has been corrupted. When this happens Christianity looks at them as anti Christ. This is part of a post I put on an Islamic site about this, it may be interesting for you.
‘Zechariah 12;
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 13;
6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
These wounds identify the God of Israel, the same that testified:
Ezekiel 37:12
‘Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves’
Hosea 13;14
‘I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction’
How will God ransom his people from the grave? What will that ransom be?
Muhammad taught about the ressurection didn’t he?
That there will be such, these Prophets are teaching upon what grounds that will take place, God does work according to just law.
Muhammad taught that man could not be saved in his sins, that an individual must repent of and forsake all their sins, and God would then forgive that person. This is true, it is not contrary to what was taught by Christ and his apostles or any ancient or modern Prophets, it is the same.
What the Bible also teaches is by what means that is done.
Muhammad taught of one true God.
Paul taught of one true God;
1 Corinthians 8;
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
But God has given us more information and more understanding.
Why God didn’t seem to give Muhammad more of this information to teach we can only guess, did Muhammad restore priesthood? I don’t know, but if not then it would be meaningless to have baptism and other priesthood ordinances required of those he was sent to teach. What I can see of Muhammad’s teachings, (and I am limited in my knowledge of this,) was enough that if a man followed them he would be justified before God.
The subject of Christ being refered to as God is something that gives us a better understanding of the nature of God and also of man’s divine potential and pre-existence. Christ is important to us, God the father has given to him authority and work, and this began before the foundation of the earth.’
I’m curious of one thing. Actually of many things, but I’ll stick to just this one.
On the Day of Judgment, when all come before Allah, and ‘line up’ to follow their prophet, will Mother Redding be lining up behind Mohammad, Jesus, Geralyn Wolf, or a leader to be determined at a future time?
Scott,
I apologize for the late response but I missed this when you first posted. Your statment, “And yet she was placed under discipline quite quickly. That kind of took the wind out of the naysayers’ sails. The Episcopal Church may seek to follow the Gospel call to welcome all, but there are boundaries.” This information implies that TEC acted in a unified fashion. Have you forgotten that the Diocese of Olympia was so impressed by this they devoted a large segment of their Diocesan newsletter to the announcement? Or the Bishop of Olympia’s joyful replies of how great this would be for ecumenical relations? Further the conservative blogs were the first to give thanks for Bishop Wolf and her decisive actions.
We do not beat the drum to hear the noise but to alert those who still slumber and are unaware.
Have you ever thought that the Christian/Islamic religions may have both originated with the same God?
But they are two separate and distinct Gods. We worship a triune God, and in this Trinity Jesus is the son of God; a fact that Muslims reject outright. And Jesus said “I am the way…No one comes to the Father except through me.”
It would be nice and warm fuzzies to think that we all are “people of the Book” (Jews, Christians and Muslims) but that is a secular concept, not a theological one. Even the most superficial reading of the New Testament and the Q’uran will show that it absolutely is not so.