Very Rev. Gary Hall, “Non-Theistic” Dean of National Cathedral, to Resign

[rug]

August 18, 2015
by Linda LaScola

As reported today in an “exclusive” by Washington Post Religion writer Michelle Boorstein, Gary Hall announced that he plans to resign on December 31st 2015. In his resignation letter, he explained:

“Responding to the cultural and financial challenges will require a leader with a long tenure – a decade, perhaps more – and at the age of 66, with two years remaining on my contract, I am not the person for the job ahead.”

Why am I publicizing this on the Patheos Atheist Channel? It’s because I saw him as a friend to humanists who was making the Cathedral more welcoming to all, especially non-believers. He once described himself on DC local NPR as a “non-theistic Christian.” I was listening live and just about fell off my chair. He immediately went on to say,

“…part of what Jesus is critiquing in his teaching is a kind of construction of God that he feels gets in the way. But I also am very congenial to…[the idea of] the cathedral as a kind of cultural landmark and a kind of work of art. And I do think part of the reason for the cathedral’s existence is to be a kind of transcendent space, however you understand that, whether you understand that theistically or whether you understand that aesthetically. There just needs to be more beauty and transcendence in our life, it seems to me, as human beings for us to live abundantly.”

I agree – I love the Cathedral, and visit frequently for its wonderful concerts of both sacred and secular music.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rationaldoubt/2015/08/gary-hall-non-theistic-dean-of-national-cathedral-to-resign/#sthash.wWPWltrY.dpuf

[hrmjustin]

1. Sad to see him go. I worship at the cathedral when i am in DC and always enjoyed his sermons.

[rug]

2. Every time I see him I think of his father, Huntz Hall.

[hrmjustin]

3. Yes. He has preached about his father. The cathedrals worship archive has services

from years past.