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In an exclusive interview, Associate Rector Kent Richard Walley shares his views on the controversy surrounding the Episcopal Church.

This interview took place on August 8, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. days after Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest was elected to bishop by the House of Bishops.

Ramesh: Hi! What is your full name?

Kent: Kent Richard Walley

Ramesh: Hi Kent, how long have you been a member of the Episcopal Church?

Kent: Since birth, though I left it for a while in college, so 42 years to be precise.

Ramesh: Why did you join the Episcopal Church?

Kent: The short answer is because God called me there. He placed me there long before I was old enough to make choices as an infant.

Ramesh: Interesting! Where do you currently work at?

Kent: St Luke's Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Ramesh: What is your title?

Kent: Associate Rector, it's like an Associate Pastor! I serve as one of three clergy on staff here.

Ramesh: When did you decide that you wanted to be an Episcopal priest?

Kent: Once again, I'd say, that God decided that long before I had any clue about it. But in college in the early 80's, I perceived God calling me into a ministry of the Word of God and for many years that was as a staff worker with Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship. But then in the late 80's, I began to discern that He was leading me to a ministry of the Word of God in the Episcopal Church.

Ramesh: I see! Where did you get your seminary degree from?

Kent: Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, in Ambridge PA.

Ramesh: How do you feel as Associate Rector of the Episcopal Church regarding a gay bishop being elected by the House of Bishops?

Kent: I feel angry, betrayed by the church, but mostly very, very sad. Actually, remember I am just Associate Rector of an Episcopal Church, not of THE Episcopal Church.

Ramesh: Thank you for the clarification! How are you handling this situation?

Kent: With much prayer, contemplation and Scripture study.

Ramesh: Do you believe the Episcopal Church should split because of the decision to elect a gay bishop?

Kent: I believe the Episcopal Church has split because of the election of a person who openly, unrepentantly engages in sexual relations outside the covenant of marriage. By taking this action the church has moved itself outside the bounds of Christianity. Yet there are some, a faithful remnant, who are seeking to remain part of the world-wide Anglican Communion.

Ramesh: What do you say to Episcopal priests who support the decision to serve under the authority of a bishop who openly professes to be gay?

Kent: One must ask on what basis those who support Gene Robinson for bishop are acting. It cannot be on the basis of Scripture, the Tradition of the church, the constitution of the Episcopal Church, previous statements on ordination and homosexuality made by other conventions of the Episcopal Church, the 77 million other Anglicans world wide, whose bishops firmly said that this action would be inappropriate at a conference in Lambeth, England in 1998. In other words, the only authority that the supporters of Gene Robinson can be acting on is personal experience or cultural trends. To develop morality from either of these is not Christian. It is my opinion, then, that those who voted in favor of Gene Robinson have moved the Episcopal Church USA outside of the Anglican Church worldwide, and outside of the Christian church.

Ramesh: Isn't Scripture a matter of interpretation though?

Kent: There can be some debate about what certain things mean in Scripture, this is true. But the plain reading of Scripture is very clear on many things. Homosexuality is one of them. To suggest that Scripture says something else requires a lot of 'jumping through hoops". A lot of complexity is imposed on passages to make them say something else. But the plain intention of the Scriptures on this issue is clear. God designed humans to rightly enter into sexual relations with another person only within the context of marriage, between a man and a woman. This was the clear teaching of Jesus and is supported by many passages specifically about homosexuality. That doesn't mean that persons with homosexual tendencies should be condemned or are sinful. God loves all people, and all people sin. The people of the church should always love and welcome everyone.

Ramesh: Many have used Scripture to promote slavery and the suppression of women but many societies have done away with that. Is it not possible that this issue of homosexuality is outdated too especially if it is inborn?

Kent: Homosexual persons should not be treated badly or excluded from full participation in the church. The question, the problem is when someone tries to say that sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and woman is ok. It's not! It is harmful to the person, and against God's will & design for humanity. The issue of homosexuality being genetic is an irrelevant issue. A man could have a genetic tendency to rape women, but that would still not mean it is right for him to do so. The question is a moral question. Science and genetics can't answer what's right and wrong.

Ramesh: What about Scripture passages that seem to promote slavery and the suppression of women?

Kent: Scripture can be misused and we should always be careful to read it with a view to the God-inspired author's intent. I do not believe that those who used Scripture to suppress woman or promote slavery were reading Scripture correctly. Paul does much to expand the dignity and respect of women, if you consider what he says in view of the culture of his time.

Ramesh: Do you believe those against homosexuals being in leadership positions of the church are reading Scripture correctly?

Kent: It is the clear, plain reading of many texts of Scripture that they are outside of the will of God. Each question we ask of Scripture must stand on its own grounds. You can't say, because someone goofed in the past therefore you are mistaken today.

Ramesh: I see! How do you respond to priests who say that Jesus never talked about homosexuality so there is nothing wrong having a gay bishop?

Kent: Jesus never spoke about child abuse either, but I think it is clear we know where He stands on that! Actually Jesus did speak of sexuality and God's design when He said "a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh." Further, Jesus said not the least stroke of the pen will pass away from the Scriptures, which were for Him the Old Testament. He clearly upheld the teachings of the Old Testament.

Ramesh: Can so many priests who also studied in seminary and studied Scriptures be wrong in this situation?

Kent: Yes! Atheists, Satanists, and Tyrannical leaders can all go to good schools and learn things. It doesn't make someone right, just because they are educated.

Ramesh: What is to say that your side is right and they are wrong?

Kent: If one stands upon God's Word, the tradition of the Church and the Apostles, Scripture is clear. If one chooses another way, then they are no longer building upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets.

Ramesh: But many of them have known bishop-elect Gene Robinson for many years and feel their decision is based on the Holy Spirit. What do you say to that?

Kent: The arguments used in support of Gene Robinson, that he is a great guy, has had a great ministry, and is gifted in many ways do not qualify someone to be a bishop. I could use those same arguments to support the election of an Atheist bishop. The question of living one's life in accordance with Scripture and what one believes are crucial questions for a bishop-elect.

Ramesh: Are you saying there are qualifications for someone to be a bishop in the Bible and Robinson does not meet those qualifications? If so, what is the Scriptural basis?

Kent: Of course. The Bible says that an "overseer" or "bishop" should be above reproach for just one thing. And Robinson is certainly not above reproach to some 42 out of 109 bishops of the Episcopal Church. Such qualifications are found throughout the Books of I and II Timothy and Titus.

Ramesh: Thank you! In closing, what would you say to congregation members who want to leave the church and how does the Anglican community rectify the situation?

Kent: Well, that's a tough one. In my opinion, the church has left the church. But for now, we should wait and pray. Action is coming from leaders in the Anglican Communion throughout the world. It is best to see what they do and what the meeting of the conservatives taking place in October produces. Our bishop in South Carolina, said that when one is grieving the loss of a loved one, we counsel them not to make any major decisions too quickly in their grief...they might regret them later. So as we grieve the Episcopal Church right now, we should not be too hasty to make decisions.

Ramesh: Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed. It must not have been easy. I appreciate the time. You have the last word!

Kent: It's God's church and I pray for mercy and grace upon the Episcopal Church. I believe that a time of judgment is coming and that all should be on their knees in confession and repentance.

Ramesh: Thank you for the interview! I enjoyed the time!

Ramesh C. Reddy can be reached at rreddy@pittsburghstandard.com

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