Evening star., 1949-10-04
Episcopal Convention
To Debate 0ustinq
OF DR.. Me|ish Today
By-Cospor konnes
Sfor Sfaf Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. IA
The seth general convention OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the United States of America
will take up an issue expected to
arouse heated debate and pro-
longed discussion today. 1t is the
question of whether to approve or
disapprove the action of Holy
Trinity Church of Brooklyn in
ousting DR.. John Howard Melish
as its rector after IS years Of serv-
ice.
Earlier this year. the vestry Of
the church asked the Right Rev.
James P. De Wolfe. Bishop OF
Long Island, to remove DR.. Melish
because he refused to dismiss his
son, the Rev. William Howard
Melish, as assistant rector. The
younger Mr.. Melish had taken part
III organizing the National Coun-
Gil of Americans Soviet Friendship
and subsequently had been elected
chairman of the council. The
council is listed as subversive or
ganization by the Justice Depart
ment.
Those representing the veStry's
viewpoint assert that while they
believe in "the right of the assist
ant minister, as a private individ-
ual. to express his opinions, If he
believes them to be correct" they
feel that 80 long as the assistant
minister holds his post in Holy
Trinity Church. wherever he
speaks, he is inevitable identified
with and regarded as speaking for
Holy Trinity Church and the min
istry. and the implication is that
the church supports his view
point"
Objections Outlined.
I'VE cannot reconcile ourselves
to seeing a Christian minister
appear to be an apologist for
Soviet communism, when one of
the creeds of communism is athe-
ism. /" We object to the use of
the name of this church to give
weight and prestige to the views of
the assistant minister in support
Of Soviet propaganda and the
views of a Communist organiza-
ton, not necessarily believed in
by the assistant minister but ap-
pearing over his signature"
Melish defenders, however.
claim the controversy has raised
four basic issues. They are:
l. The pastoral relation. Ac-
cording to Melish hackers the
pastoral relation can only be sew
cred in Anglican practice where
there has been gross infidelity or
an actual breakdown in the rela-
tionship. Traditionally, this has
meant, on the part of the min
lister, some grave charge of heresy,
immortality or neglect Of duty to
q degree that clearly damages a
parish. At Holy Trinity no such
charges have been made,
2. The powers Of bishop. De-
tenders claim Bishop De Wolfe
and his standing committee have
indicated a political position
which the diocesan clergy must
respect or be disciplined"
Vestry Status Defined.
3. The status of the vestry.
THE general canons of the Epis-
copal Church define the vestry as
the agent and the representative
of the parish" Supporters Of DR..
Melish assert 10 per cent of the
parish have repudiated the vestry's
action and that the conflict is not
between the parish and the min
lister. but rather the vestry and
the minister. They claim the
vestry "is answerable to the con-
gregation, and its members are
held accountable for their stew
ardship in the sense that they
must stand periodically for re-
election"
4. Freedom Of the ministry
THE most important issue In this
case is the preservation Of the
freedom Of the Christian ministry
to carry out its priestly and pro-
phetic function in the light of the
Christian conscience without un-
due vestry interference, Episcopal
intervention or external public
pressure, Melish defenders state.
The House of Bishops, which,
with the House of Deputies, forms
the legislative body of the Episco-
pal Church. yesterday passed a