David Standish Ball
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend David Standish Ball (born June 11, 1926) was the seventh Bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany
in the United States
from 1984 to 1998.
, and attended The Milne School
, a preparatory school
in Albany. Ball served in the United States Navy
during World War II
. He graduated from Colgate University
in 1950.
He answered the call to holy orders
in the Episcopal Church. He attended The General Theological Seminary
in New York City
during the 1950s.
He was ordained a deacon
and priest
in Albany, and served as a curate
at Bethesda Church in Saratoga Springs, in upstate New York
. He was elected Canon
in 1956, serving until 1961 as Canon Ball. He was then elected Dean
of the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany in 1960, and served over two decades, through 1984.
by Presiding Bishop
John Maury Allin
, bishop David E. Richards, formerly suffragan of Albany and then bishop of the Anglican diocese of Central America
, and the incumbent sixth bishop Wilbur Emory Hogg
. Upon bishop Hogg's retirement, later in 1984, Ball was installed in the cathedra
in the choir
at the Cathedral
of All Saints, as the 7th Bishop of Albany.
David S. Ball served from 1984 to 1998 as the seventh Diocesan bishop
of Albany.
Ball opposed female ordination
in the 1970s, but later changed his position, serving with and ordaining female priests and deacons since at least 1989.
He took part in several consecrations of other bishops, including that of his successors. He was considered a conservative on issues such as apostolic succession.
. Ball became active in many local charities. The Bishop Ball Golf Tournament, an annual fundraiser
for the Cathedral, is named in his honor. The Doane Stuart School
, on whose board he sat until mid-2008, has named a trustee award for him.
Ball continues to serve as Bishop-in Residence at the Cathedral of All Saints. In recent years, he has gained a reputation on such issues as ecumenism
and alternate oversight in the Anglican Community.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany
Episcopal Diocese of Albany
The Episcopal Diocese of Albany is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church.-History:The Church of Englandarrived in 1674 with a chaplain assigned to the British military garrison at Albany, New York. In 1704 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel sent two missionaries to the Mohawk...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1984 to 1998.
Childhood, education and calling
David Standish Ball was born in June 1926 in Albany, New YorkAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and attended The Milne School
The Milne School
The Milne School, frequently referred to as Milne High School, was the campus laboratory school for what is now known as the University at Albany, State University of New York, located in Albany, New York. Its mission was to provide a location for prospective teachers to do their practice teaching...
, a preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in Albany. Ball served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He graduated from Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
in 1950.
He answered the call to holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
in the Episcopal Church. He attended The General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
during the 1950s.
He was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in Albany, and served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Bethesda Church in Saratoga Springs, in upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was elected Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
in 1956, serving until 1961 as Canon Ball. He was then elected Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany in 1960, and served over two decades, through 1984.
Bishop of Albany
On October 10, 1983, Ball was elected Bishop coadjutor of Albany at the age of 57. In early 1984, he was consecrated under apostolic successionApostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
by Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
John Maury Allin
John Maury Allin
John Maury Allin was the 23rd presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.-Biography:He was born in Helena, Arkansas. He graduated from the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, and its divinity school, then called St. Luke's Seminary, in 1945. He earned a Master of Education degree in 1962...
, bishop David E. Richards, formerly suffragan of Albany and then bishop of the Anglican diocese of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, and the incumbent sixth bishop Wilbur Emory Hogg
Wilbur Emory Hogg
The Right Reverend Wilbur Emory Hogg was the sixth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany in the United States from 1974 until 1984.-Early life:...
. Upon bishop Hogg's retirement, later in 1984, Ball was installed in the cathedra
Cathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
in the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
at the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of All Saints, as the 7th Bishop of Albany.
David S. Ball served from 1984 to 1998 as the seventh Diocesan bishop
Diocesan bishop
A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates....
of Albany.
Ball opposed female ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in the 1970s, but later changed his position, serving with and ordaining female priests and deacons since at least 1989.
He took part in several consecrations of other bishops, including that of his successors. He was considered a conservative on issues such as apostolic succession.
In retirement
Upon his retirement, Ball was succeeded by then-bishop Daniel W. HerzogDaniel W. Herzog
Daniel Wilfie Herzog is a retired bishop of the Episcopal Church, who served in the Diocese of Albany from 1998 to 2007. After his retirement, he became a Roman Catholic, but returned to the Episcopal Church three years later.-Biography:...
. Ball became active in many local charities. The Bishop Ball Golf Tournament, an annual fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
for the Cathedral, is named in his honor. The Doane Stuart School
Doane Stuart School
The Doane Stuart School is an independent, coeducational school in Rensselaer, New York. The School claims a low student to teacher ratio and a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. The school also has emphases on community service and interfaith tolerance...
, on whose board he sat until mid-2008, has named a trustee award for him.
Ball continues to serve as Bishop-in Residence at the Cathedral of All Saints. In recent years, he has gained a reputation on such issues as ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
and alternate oversight in the Anglican Community.
External links
See also
- List of Episcopal bishops (U.S.)