The Right Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, Episcopal Bishop of Utah, has sent a letter to all Utah Episcopalians telling them she is taking an indefinite medical leave to "strengthen my program of recovery" from "the disease of alcoholism."
Ordained in May 1996 as the first female Episcopal Bishop of Utah, Bishop Irish is known by many as an effective community leader who most recently formed a coalition of clergy calling on Utah lawmakers to ban guns in churches and schools. She is the first woman to head a major denomination in the history of the Beehive State.The letter, dated Oct. 20 and addressed to "Dear Friends in Christ," said her leave begins "as soon as possible. I find I have not done the necessary work to maintain my recovery from the disease of alcoholism. I know this failure will disappoint you as much as it does me. Our pastoral relationship is one of trust, and I have not been worthy of your trust in the past few months. I am very very sorry I have let you and others (as well as myself) down.
"For my part I will do all I can to strengthen my program of recovery, and to serve you faithfully. Please keep me in your prayers, as you are always in mine." The letter is signed, "With love, Carolyn."
The Rev. Jeffrey Sells, spokesman for the diocese, said her leave will not affect the administration of the diocese. Her leadership team will continue to carry out the programs she has started until she's ready to return to work. He was not sure Thursday whether Bishop Irish would speak to the press but said she "definitely understands her own story and it is hers to tell if she wishes to do so."
Sells also said the staff at the diocesan office has been and will continue to be supportive of the bishop in any way they can.
Bishop Irish grew up in Salt Lake City, the daughter of the late jeweler Obert C. Tanner and his wife, Grace. She now serves as chairman of the board of O.C. Tanner Co. As a child, she was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but she joined the Episcopal Church in 1975, was ordained a deacon in June 1983 and a priest in January 1984.
She studied philosophy at Stanford and graduated from the University of Michigan, earned a masters in philosophy at Oxford and a master of divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Before her appointment as bishop, she served as a staff associate for spiritual development at the Washington National Cathedral.
Since returning to Utah, Bishop Irish has overseen a diocese that has spread its wealth through the community in several ways following the sale of St. Mark's Hospital.
Bishop Irish joined Desmond Tutu last spring as a recipient of an honorary doctorate of divinity award from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. The citation that accompanied the award said she "has the vision to position the church for the next century, and in so doing has been the catalyst in bringing together disparate community leaders to address difficult societal issues. She has effectively reached out to and included people of other faith traditions and diverse life styles in addressing the needs and concerns of the wider community.
"She is not afraid to take a controversial position when she is sure that it is the right thing to do. Such decisions are grounded in prayer and taken after a substantial time of discernment."
Bishop Irish has known personal tragedy before, surviving a near-death bout with polio as a child and a divorce in later years.
Local religious leaders expressed their support for her upon hearing of the announcement.
Bishop George Niederauer, of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, said he has worked with Bishop Irish "most recently and fairly closely in our support of the initiative to keep guns out of schools and churches in Utah. Before that, we've very often participated at prayer services together. We've had lunch from time to time and compared notes on various things.
"In the 4 1/2 years she has been here, we've become good friends and colleagues. I have great respect for her and her leadership. It takes genuine courage to admit that you have something to deal with and to go ahead and deal with it. Her Catholic brothers and sisters will keep her in our prayers and we wish her well."
Pastor France Davis of Calvary Baptist Church said he "would certainly like to express my support for her. I'm not aware of the issue she is dealing with, but I will certainly support and pray for her. She is a good friend, we've done lots of things together, and I look forward to continuing to do so."