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BIRMINGHAM: Cathedral Dean Paul Zahl leaving to head TESM
By 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.
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