AN EPISCOPAL MUSLIM?

The Rev. Ann Holmes Redding is an Episcopal priest in Seattle.

She is also a Muslim—or so she says.

The Episcopal Church says: Time out.

Redding has been told by Episcopal authorities that she cannot serve as a priest for a year. During that time, she is expected to “reflect on the doctrines of the Christian faith, her vocation as a priest, and the conflicts inherent in professing both Christianity and Islam.” Redding was the Director of Faith Formation at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle. She announced that she’d become a Muslim—yet still regarded herself to be an Episcopalian. She said she found nothing incompatible in the two faith traditions, adding: “Since entering Islam, I have been, by my own estimation, a better teacher, a better preacher and a better Christian.”

Not long ago I read the above news story on the online edition of the Dallas Morning News. I was piqued by the schizophrenic comments of the Christian/Muslim minister from Seattle and the pathetic response from her diocese.

I have no difficulty at all with women being in leadership positions in the church and in being ordained to public ministry. I am aware that there is still plenty of heated dialogue going on within the church as a whole and as I have written before, the protestant/evangelical world is full of chauvinism and that’s not likely to go away.

No one who is a committed Christian could make the statement that this woman is making. “Since entering Islam, I have been…a better Christian.” I always enjoy the comments made after a controversial article appears; so many writers of these comments think that being vulgar is being cool. It isn’t, but in the interest of free speech, we keep letting them remind us of how great our freedom really is. Tucked among the purveyors of four-letter words there are usually some interesting and humorous comments. One of the online comments about this news story was, “This is like saying, I am a strict vegetarian and, oh, by the way, could I please have a bacon cheeseburger?” Well said!

There is nothing harmonious or compatible between the teachings of Islam and Christianity. Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet (nothing more) and was on a level below that of the prophet Mohammed. Jesus teaches that there is only one way to God and it is not through Mohammed or any other self-proclaimed or publicly-elected demagogue.

Jesus’ friend, Peter, tried to serve two masters. When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water and Peter asked for permission to join Him, Peter did not understand that in so doing, a discrepancy in his faith walk was about to be revealed. After Peter got out of the boat and onto the water, he began to sink. Jesus quickly rescued him with the words, “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). The word doubt means to stand divided. Peter’s duplicity was revealed and Jesus showed him that it had to be gotten rid of.

Peter, like some in the church today, was trying to please and follow the Lord and also please and follow the world system at the same time. “For you will either love the one and hate the other, or you will hate the one and love the other” (see Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13). To try and do both is a sinking proposition.

A Christian and a Muslim at the same time?—I don’t think so! To the confused Muslimiscopal (I just made that up) in Seattle…a discrepancy in your faith walk has appeared. Time to ask Jesus for help!

P.S. If you live in Seattle, I think I would go somewhere else for “faith formation”…just a thought.