Hero Priest

ROME, GA - John Merchant, an Episcopal priest, accepted the job as chaplain at the Darlington School in Rome last summer. He was forced to resign and kicked off campus nine weeks later.

Merchant’s troubles began when the student editor of Darlington’s campus newspaper asked him to write a column about his views on homosexuality after the Episcopal Church’s confirmation of V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest, as Episcopal bishop in New Hampshire. Merchant, 57, supported the confirmation.

"I didn’t have to ponder where I stood."

Merchant resigned after the school administration asked him to meet with and apologize to dozens of people upset with the column.

The column, published in the Sept. 3 issue of The Darlington, touched off the same kind of raw debate at the nondenominational school and in the Rome community that the Robinson confirmation has in the Episcopal Church and beyond.

Many were solidly behind the school’s decision. "It seemed he was watering down the word of God," said Jeff Gable, 33, of Rome. "From my background, I was taught the Bible was absolute. Now we’re to think that wife-swapping is OK. That homosexuality is OK. That you can be gay and be a good Christian. Couple that with what’s going on in the Catholic Church, molesting young boys, and I worry."

After the column appeared, Merchant was told by school President David Hicks and Headmaster David Rhodes that some school donors were considering withdrawing their support of the academy, where tuition and board can run up to $27,000 annually. They said he had to apologize.

"Specifically, we want you to initiate between 50 and 75 one-on-one meetings over the next 30 days," Rhodes and Hicks said in a Sept. 30 letter to Merchant.

"These meetings will be with those who have expressed dissent with your views, concern over your chaplaincy, or the intention to withdraw their children or support from the school."

At 6:45 p.m. Oct. 7, Rhodes went by Merchant’s campus apartment and told him the administration wanted him off campus the next day.

Merchant complied.

"When I got in my car to leave, I have never felt so utterly alone," Merchant said.