U.S. woman vicar picked as new cathedral dean

Press, 13 December 1986, Page 8

U.S. woman vicar picked as new cathedral dean

NZPA-Reuter Louisville, Kentucky A Philadelphia vicar has been chosen as the first female cathedral dean in the history of the United States Episcopal Church and, apparently, the worldwide Anglican Communion, church officials said. The Rev. Geralyn Wolf, aged 39, who ministers to a mostly black urban mission congregation, was chosen after a year-long search as dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville, seat of the Episcopal diocese of Kentucky. “It is. a wonderful step for all women,” Mrs Wolf said of her selection at the 165-year-old church. “But more than that, for me and Christ Church, the Holy Spirit is leading us to be together at this time in our lives.” Bishop David Reed, who nominated Mrs Wolf as dean after she was recommended by a

search panel, said he was “excited by the selection ... I believe she’ll be an exciting leader for the cathedral congregation and a significant leaderj for the diocese. “I’d just as soon disassociate her election from, the feminist issue. She was not chosen or blocked because she was a woman.” Mrs Wolf was picked,' the Bishop said, because of her “strong liturgical ministry, strong spirituality and strong pastoral ministry to people who need it in the community.” Mrs Wolf, who will be formally instituted on February 28, not only becomes the first female dean in the United States but apparently in the 65 million-member Anglican Communion. In the Episcopal Church, a cathedral dean is a prestigious position which often leads to selection as a bishop.