wfn.org | Fort Worth to investigate charges against Edwards

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2001-191

Fort Worth to investigate charges against Edwards

by Jan Nunley

     (ENS) Fort Worth diocesan bishop Jack Iker confirmed July 19 that he has 
called for a special meeting of the diocesan Standing Committee for August 13 in 
order to consider canonical charges against the Rev. Samuel L. Edwards.

     Edwards was called as rector of Christ Church and St. John's Parish, 
Accokeek, Maryland over Washington bishop pro tempore Jane Holmes Dixon's 
objection. He remains a member of the clergy of the Diocese of Fort Worth.

     One of the complaints brought to Iker originated with Dixon, who accused 
Edwards of performing services in the diocese without a license to officiate. 
Iker indicated that one question to be answered was whether or not Edwards had 
been duly elected as a rector, and whether he could be considered to be licensed 
simply by virtue of that election.

     Other charges, which have not yet been forwarded to Fort Worth by Dixon, 
were filed by priests resident in the Washington diocese, accusing Edwards of 
violating the doctrine and discipline of the Episcopal Church by "holding and 
teaching" that the ordination of women is wrong, contrary to canon III.8(d), 
which holds that eligibility for ordination should be "equally applied to men and 
women." 

     In a phone interview, Iker called that charge "a can of worms," since three 
dioceses, including his own, still do not permit women to function as priests or 
bishops. "That charge could take a long time to investigate," he said.

     Iker pledged that "a full and impartial investigation" of the charges 
against Edwards will be conducted. "If the facts warrant it, the case will be 
placed before the Ecclesiastical Court of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth for 
a trial," he said, adding that Edwards is a priest in good standing in his 
diocese and is "presumed innocent until proven guilty."

     "We need something that's not going to have somebody win and somebody lose," 
Iker commented. "We need something where everybody involved can say, 'I may not 
like it, but I can live with it'."

--The Rev. Jan Nunley is deputy director of Episcopal News Service.