Dr.JamesHolsinger,SurgeonGeneralNomineeRevealsBushPlansToRecessAppointHim

PresidentBush’scontroversialSurgeonGeneralnominee,Dr.JamesHolsinger,hasresignedfromtheboardoftrusteesoftheAsburyTheologicalSeminaryinWilmore,KY.Fromaseminarye-mail:

From:CommunicationOffice[atAsburySeminary]
To:ATSInfo,StaffNews,FacultyNews
Subject:AnnouncementfromtheBoardofTrustees
November12,20073:53PM

TheAsburyTheologicalSeminaryBoardofTrusteesmetonNovember12,2007.TheboarddiscussedtheresignationletterssubmittedbyDr.JamesHolsingerandMr.PhillipConnolly.Followingthisdiscussionandprayer,theboardvotedunanimouslytoreceivetheseresignationletterswithregret.

Werealizefromtimetotimeboardmembersresignbeforetheendofatheirterm,howeverwehaveadeepappreciationforthemanyyearsofservice,dedicationandcommitmentofDr.HolsingerandMr.Connolly.Theboardoftrusteeswishesthembothallthebestintheirfutureendeavors.

TheBoardofTrustees

Holsingerisresigningbeforetheendofhisterm.AsourceinWilmoretellsBibleBeltBloggerthatHolsingerisresigningbecauseheexpectstoberecessappointedasSurgeonGeneral:

Holsinger’snomination,opposedbyseveralleadingDemocrats,hasstalledintheSenateHealth,Education,LaborandPensionsCommittee.ButHolsingeristellingpeoplethepresidentplanstoappointhimtothepostanywayoncetheCongressgoesintoitsholidayrecess.

Holsingerhascomeunderintensecriticismforhislonghistoryofprejudicetowardgaysandlesbians.Hefoundedachurchthat“ministerstopeoplewhonolongerwishtobegayorlesbian”and“opposedadecisiontoallowapracticinglesbiantobeanassociatepastor”intheUnitedMethodistChurch.In1991,healsoauthoredagraphicdocumentarguingthatgaysexis“intuitively”unnaturalandcanleadto“lacerations,perforationsanddeaths.”

Lastmonth,ThinkProgressnotedthatthreemonthsafterhisJulyhearing,HolsingerhasstillnotrespondedtoaSenatehealthcommitteefollow-upquestionnaire.Withouthisanswers,thecommitteehasnotscheduledavoteonhisnomination.LookslikethecommitteemightneverreceivearesponsefromHolsingernow.

--ThinkProgress;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor