wfn.org | New dean for St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle

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99-114

New dean in Seattle hopes cathedral will be place of hope, 
reconciliation and justice

by James Solheim

     (ENS) St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle has chosen a young 
South African with a passion for reconciliation and justice to be 
its new dean. He also happens to be the first openly gay man 
elected to such a position in the Episcopal Church.

     In an August 1 meeting with the 1,800-member congregation at 
the cathedral after his election, the Rev. Robert Taylor of 
Peekskill, New York, called St. Mark's "an astonishing place" 
that he hopes will be known increasingly as "a place of light, a 
place of hope, a place of reconciliation, a place of justice."

     "Robert Taylor brings to us a vision of cathedral in every 
sense of the word," said Bishop Vincent Warner. "He is clear 
about the value of partnership and anticipates making strong 
connections with the diocese, the ecumenical and interfaith 
community, and the city of Seattle. Robert's ministry is grounded 
in liturgy and preaching which emphasizes the grace, generosity 
and joyful presence of God among us. He has a grounded 
spirituality that brings healing and reconciliation to the places 
in which he ministers."

     Taylor was forced to leave South Africa in 1980, with the 
help of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, because of his active and public 
opposition to apartheid during his student days at Rhodes 
University in Grahamstown. Following his participation in a 1977 
demonstration, the secret police ransacked his apartment and 
opened his mail. Facing mandatory military service, it became 
apparent that he faced a jail sentence unless he fled. "When I 
was struggling whether to go to jail, Desmond persuaded me not 
to," offering to help him leave the country. 

     In 1980 he enrolled at Union Theological Seminary in New 
York. Following graduation in 1983, he was ordained and has 
served as rector at St. Peter's Church in Peekskill since 1988. 
During his tenure, the congregation grew from 70 members to more 
than 400.

Sensitive to the community

     When he moves to Seattle, Taylor will be accompanied by 
Andrew Esham, his partner of 15 years. While the cathedral has a 
significant gay and lesbian membership, Taylor made it clear that 
he has no intention of being a poster boy for any factions in the 
congregation. He said that he would be "deeply disappointed if 
the people of St. Mark's only viewed me in that way." He said 
that he hopes to open a conversation with other clergy in the 
diocese on sexuality issues because it is "vitally important to 
be in conversation."

     Roger Sherman, senior warden at the cathedral, said that the 
search committee "did not set out to elect a 'gay dean.' Rather, 
we prayerfully sought to discern God's will in this matter and 
trusted we would be led to the right candidate. That candidate is 
Robert Taylor. We need a strong and prophetic leader--and we have 
found one."

     Offering his reaction to the election, Tutu commented on 
Taylor's inclusive style. "Our God is the ever-welcoming one for 
whom there are no outsiders, all are insiders. That is why Jesus 
broke down the embrace to include all--women, men, children, 
young and old, rich, poor, white, black, heterosexual, gay--all 
are invited and held in this embrace."

     As a rector in Peekskill, Taylor reached out to the 
community, initiating new and innovative programs for children 
and the elderly, summer programs for youth, healing services for 
those living with HIV-AIDS, and a community choir for children.

     "He is a man who will build bridges within the community of 
St. Mark's and throughout the city and the diocese," said the 
Very Rev. Gerald Porter, provost of the diocese who has been 
priest-in-charge at the cathedral following the resignation of 
the previous dean. 

     "He came to New York and took an ailing parish in a state of 
bad decline--and turned it around into a thriving parish and a 
model of outreach and ministry," said Bishop Catherine Roskam, 
suffragan bishop of New York. "He is an excellent preacher and a 
committed activist for justice."

     Taylor expects to begin on the First Sunday in Advent, 
November 28.

(This article is based on reports by Jeff Wilson at St. Mark's 
Cathedral and by John Iwasaki in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.)

--James Solheim is director of the Episcopal Church's Office of 
News and Information.