I couldn’t say it any better than what the local paper has done:
Lewis also takes positions that ruffle feathers. If he thinks something is unjust, he stirs the pot. He has not always done so gently, and he has not always been diplomatic, so he has had his share of adversaries.
Now West Virginia Episcopal Bishop Michie Klusmeyer has revoked Lewis’ license to preach in churches where he was formerly pastor — not for his controversial positions, but because, the bishop said, Lewis visited the sick, prayed and even, Lord forbid, performed a funeral when a family asked him to do so.
Klusmeyer cited a church policy that says: “Clergy who have formerly had a pastoral relationship with a parish will not continue to minister in the former parish in any way.”
You can read the entire story here.
Rev. Lewis is a long time activist priest here in the Charleston area. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him for a few years (a while ago) and he was always there when I called. He was there to defend the weak and the helpless, regardless of the situation. I suspect there is more than ‘Church Law’ behind it.
The things that the Episcopal Church insist on abiding by…
By the way, Rev. Lewis blogs here.
Joel L. Watts holds a Masters of Arts from United Theological Seminary with a focus in literary and rhetorical criticism of the New Testament. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific discoveries of the past century. He is the author of Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark: Introduction and Commentary (Wipf and Stock, 2013) and a co-editor and contributor to From Fear to Faith: Stories of Hitting Spiritual Walls (Energion, 2013).
Website: → Unsettled Christianity
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Crazy sh!t. My family is still in contact with our church's former pastor, and he even did a house blessing for us a few years ago. I wonder if he'll get in trouble for that (or if the UMC has a similar policy as TEC).
Rev. Lewis does more than a few house blessings, I am afraid. He is sometimes political in his stances – he doesn't campaign, but he does take stances that others may deem controversial.
We have a similar policy in the ELCA. As part of a healthy goodbye, a pastor is expected to be discrete in his dealing with former parishioners. It mainly has to do with letting the appropriately called pastor care for his flock. Exceptions are routinely made, former pastors come back to perform a marriage, funeral, or baptism…but, it usually involves the two pastors and the parishioners working out some kind of arrangement.
I can understand that, but Rev. Lewis has been doing this for years. As a matter of fact, I have only known him as a retired priest – a very, very, active retired priest.
The UMC policy is similar. They do not allow a pastor to return to even visit at the church unless they are formally invited by the current pastor for a special event. Continued relationships are discouraged.
I think I can understand the idea if the pastor is not retired, but Rev. Lewis is. And , as he has been a figment in Charleston's religious scene for decades, why now?