From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette-When the Rev. Harold T. Lewis became rector of the mostly white and wealthy Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside in 1996, the city was reeling from racial turmoil, and Father Lewis, who is African-American, was expected to be a leader in addressing social injustice.
But circumstances have led him to retire as a renowned advocate for Episcopal canon law.
Five years before the 2008 schism in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, he filed a lawsuit to stop anyone from taking property out of the Episcopal Church.
"If you had asked me when I was ordained ... if I would ever sue my bishop, I would have said you were crazy," said Father Lewis, 65, who retired Sunday.
"It was painful for me to take that step, but it had to be taken for the sake of the church. There were people who said I was crazy, vindictive or jealous, out to lunch. But it turned out to be prophetic."
Father Lewis is a high church Anglican by conviction and heritage. He was raised in such a thriving black Episcopal parish that he was on the road to priesthood before he realized he was a racial outsider in his denomination. He was intellectually and musically gifted: His piano teacher at a high school for the arts urged him to pursue music professionally. But he chose to serve God.
Read more:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/lifestyle/rector-of-calvary-episcopal-in-pittsburgh-retires-663640/#ixzz2DKTSBJBh
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