Cathedral Dean Paul Zahl to Head TESM
Charles Hohenstein
Controversial priest to take Pennsylvania post
GREG GARRISON
Birmingham News staff writer
May 7, 2004
The top priest at Birmingham's largest Episcopal Church, who stirred
controversy with his strong stance against the denomination's first
openly gay bishop, will be leaving this year.
The Rev. Paul F.M. Zahl, dean of the 3,800-member Cathedral Church of
the Advent, will resign effective July 31 to become president and dean
of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa., said Vice
Dean John Harper.
Harper will become interim dean of the cathedral on Aug. 1, he said.
Zahl plans to take the month of July as vacation, Harper said.
Last year, Zahl repeatedly made headlines as one of the leaders of a
conservative movement in the Episcopal Church that opposes same-sex unions.
Zahl was one of several theologians who signed a position paper saying
the Episcopal Church General Convention has no authority to approve
blessings for same-sex couples.
When the convention approved the Rev. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as
the denomination's first openly gay bishop, Zahl flew a black flag on
the front of the cathedral on 20th Street in downtown Birmingham.
Zahl also led a delegation of priests from the Advent last year to a
meeting of conservative leaders in Dallas to protest the approval of
Robinson.
Zahl was traveling Thursday when the church executive committee learned
of his decision, and was unavailable for comment. In a previous
interview, he said he was stung by the harsh reaction from some members
of his congregation who criticized his leadership after the fallout from
the Robinson decision.
But he had loyal supporters as well.
"Paul has been an inspiration and a friend for all of us who have worked
with him," Harper said. "He lives the Gospel message of grace and we
have experienced graciousness from him. We shall miss him."
Zahl, who has a doctorate in theology from the University of Tubingen in
Germany, has written several books, including "The First Christian:
Universal Truth in the Teachings of Jesus," and "Five Women of the
English Reformation."
Zahl was one of 21 international theologians appointed by his longtime
friend, former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, to serve on the
Inter-Anglican Theological and Doctrinal Commission.
Zahl graduated from Harvard University in 1972 with a degree in classics
and philosophy, received a master's degree from the University of
Nottingham and a diploma in pastoral studies from St. John's Theological
College in Nottingham.
Zahl and his wife, Mary, have three children. He was previously rector
of churches in Scarborough, N.Y., and Charleston, S.C., and curate of
Grace Church in New York City.