MONDAY MADNESS

“Just Hitting

Another Brick

Wall”

"I am both Muslim and Christian"

By Janet I. Tu

Seattle Times religion reporter

Shortly after noon on Fridays, the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding ties on a black headscarf, preparing to pray with her Muslim group on First Hill.

On Sunday mornings, Redding puts on the white collar of an Episcopal priest. She does both, she says, because she's Christian and Muslim.

Redding, who until recently was director of faith formation at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, has been a priest for more than 20 years. Now she's ready to tell people that, for the last 15 months, she's also been a Muslim — drawn to the faith after an introduction to Islamic prayers left her profoundly moved.

Her announcement has provoked surprise and bewilderment in many, raising an obvious question: How can someone be both a Christian and a Muslim? But it has drawn other reactions too. Friends generally say they support her, while religious scholars are mixed: Some say that, depending on how one interprets the tenets of the two faiths, it is, indeed, possible to be both. Others consider the two faiths mutually exclusive.

"There are tenets of the faiths that are very, very different," said Kurt Fredrickson, director of the doctor of ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. "The most basic would be: What do you do with Jesus?"

Christianity has historically regarded Jesus as the son of God and God incarnate, both fully human and fully divine. Muslims, though they regard Jesus as a great prophet, do not see him as divine and do not consider him the son of God. "I don't think it's possible" to be both, Fredrickson said, just like "you can't be a Republican and a Democrat."

Redding, who will begin teaching the New Testament as a visiting assistant professor at Seattle University this fall, has a different analogy: "I am both Muslim and Christian, just like I'm both an American of African descent and a woman. I'm 100 percent both."

Redding doesn't feel she has to resolve all the contradictions. People within one religion can't even agree on all the details, she said. "So why would I spend time to try to reconcile all of Christian belief with all of Islam? At the most basic level, I understand the two religions to be compatible. That's all I need." (And this clown is going to be a New Testament professor?)

She says she felt an inexplicable call to become Muslim, and to surrender to God — the meaning of the word "Islam." "It wasn't about intellect," she said. "All I know is the calling of my heart to Islam was very much something about my identity and who I am supposed to be.

Redding's situation is highly unusual. Officials at the national Episcopal Church headquarters said they are not aware of any other instance in which a priest has also been a believer in another faith. They said it's up to the local bishop to decide whether such a priest could continue in that role.(Of course such a priest CANNOT continue in that role, but of course, being Episcopalian there is no telling what they may decide, and here is his verdict).

Redding's bishop, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, says he accepts Redding as an Episcopal priest and a Muslim, and that he finds the interfaith possibilities exciting. Her announcement, first made through a story in her diocese's newspaper, hasn't caused much controversy yet, he said. (Somebody should boot him out on his butt too).

Some local Muslim leaders are perplexed. Being both Muslim and Christian — "I don't know how that works," said Hisham Farajallah, president of the Islamic Center of Washington.

But Redding has been embraced by leaders at the Al-Islam Center of Seattle, the Muslim group she prays with. "Islam doesn't say if you're a Christian, you're not a Muslim," said programming director Ayesha Anderson. "Islam doesn't lay it out like that."

In Redding's car, she has hung up a cross she made of clear crystal beads. Next to it, she has dangled a heart-shaped leather object etched with the Arabic symbol for Allah. For me, that symbolizes who I am," Redding said. "I look through Jesus and I see Allah."*

*The following is a response from my Archbishop, Joseph Thaddeus:

“Blessings to you and those with you in spirit and truth... I believe that this so-called female priest has stated her whole belief in Christianity by what she said in the last line which means "Christ" as a "Christian" is not first and foremost, but since "Allah" is supposed to be "God" for Muslim's, she does not accept "Christ" as God of the Triune God head... Wouldn't you agree that that sums it up and therefore she should be defrocked and excommunicated?”

He went on to say: “As an Orthodox, she is neither a Priest nor minister so shall we start to call her "Imamesse"... And why would a University even allow her to be head of any program is beyond my unworthy self....
Forgive me O Lord, for I see the departing of the flock for other fields closer to hell... Forgive me....”

My response is: “No wonder the churches are going to hell in a hand basket. If I were this woman's bishop, I would have her out of the church so damn fast her head would spin. Ever since the Anglicans have allowed women into the priesthood, I have seen so many strange and un-Christian practices. With this kind of garbage, you can see that we are well on our way to the One World Religion.”

“Lord have mercy on us all.”

“Abouna” Gregori