Episcopalians to face priest issue here

By Darrell Holland

Religion Editor

An attempt is being made by northern Ohio Episcopalians to move the issue of women priests from the area of confrontation into the tricky area of ecclesiastical politics.

The Ohio Episcopal Diocese's annual convention this weekend will consider changes in its laws which would permit women to become priests unless the denomination's General Convention gives a flat "no" to female priests.

Dean Perry R. Williams of Trinity Cathedral here, one of 10 sponsors of the proposal, said it is an attempt to force the Episcopal Church to clarify its laws in regard to female priests.

If the convention, which meets Saturday and Sunday at the Sheraton-Cleveland Hotel, passes the canon, it would require its bishop to ordain women after Nov. 1 if the General Convention next September does not define its use of the pronoun "he" in regard to ordination or specifically rejects female priests.

Dean Williams said the canon is not an attempt to defy church law, but to clarify whether the pronoun "he" is used generically and includes females.

The Rev. George E. Ross, rector of St. Paul's Church in Akron and another sponsor of the proposal, said its intention is to make clear that the Ohio diocese believes that the pronoun is used generically.

Dean Williams said that the diocese's delegation to the national convention also will be encouraged, as a last resort, to offer a resolution declaring flatly that the priesthood is for men only.

He said it is presumed that such a motion would fail and that any bishop, if his diocesan canons permit it, could proceed to ordain

women.

The proposal is more than academic for Ohio Episcopalians because there are two female deacons in the diocese who have met all requirements for priesthood and want to become priests.

A diocesan spokesman said yesterday that there has been considerable opposition to the proposal, which could put the diocese in possible conflict with the laws of the denomination.

The spokesman said there is a possibility that the priests who proposed the action would withdraw it before it comes to a vote. Dean Williams said this was possible.

Another diocesan resolution expected to be enacted, calls upon Congress to adopt a national policy which declares that every citizen has a right to an adequate diet and that full employment and economic decency should be guaranteed every citizen.

A move by some delegates to condemn the

ordination of homosexuals and lesbians has been introduced, but the diocese said this has not been approved by the resolutions committee and may not come to a vote. A New York bishop recently ordained a lesbian. .

Bishop John H. Burt, who will preside over the sessions, will give the opening speech shortly after the convention begins 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

In his address last year, Bishop Burt, who favors priesthood for women but who does not believe church laws should be broken in that

support, said he would resign if the General Convention does not approve female priests this year.