Frank Cerveny
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Frank Stanley Cerveny (born June 04, 1933) was the sixth bishop
of the Diocese of Florida
and the 699th bishop
in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, a province
of the Anglican Communion
.
in the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area
and grew up during the depression. He graduated from Trinity College
in 1955 with a B.A., then earned a Master of Divinity
from the General Theological Seminary
in 1958. Cerveny has been awarded four honorary doctorates.
His first parish was in Miami, Florida
at Church of the Resurrection, where he was ordained as a priest in December, 1958. Next, Reverend Cerveny served on the staff of Trinity Church
in New York City
for several years. He married Emmy Thomas Pettway on November 1, 1961 and they had three children. He became rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jackson, Tennessee
in the Fall of 1963, then led St. John's Episcopal Church in Knoxville, Tennessee
beginning in 1969.
Rev. Cerveny was called to Jacksonville, Florida
in July, 1972 and served as Dean at St. John’s Cathedral
. He was elected bishop Coadjutor on February 23, 1974 and consecrated on May 23, 1974 as the 6th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida
.
, Camp Weed was constructed, as was a conference center (which was named in Cerveny's honor). The Episcopal Foundation was established and two programs were begun to help Cuban Episcopalians: Partners in Mission and Companion Diocese relationships. Christian Healing Ministries, created by Doctors Francis and Judith MacNutt in 1981, was embraced by Bishop Cerveny and relocated to Jacksonville, where their international outreach gave hope and comfort to people throughout the world.
Bishop Cerveny served as a member on the National Board for Theological Education; chairmanships included: the Presiding Bishop's Select Committee, Deans and Bishops Committee, and the Environmental Stewardship Team. He was a Trustee for the University of the South, an official seminary
of the Episcopal Church, USA.
In 1992, he retired as bishop and joined the Church Pension Group (CPG) in New York City as Executive Vice President. CPG provides insurance & financial services to Episcopal churches & institutions and their clergy & lay employees in the United States. He also served as President of the Compass Rose Society.
Bishop Cerveny returned to Jacksonville in 1999 and served as clerical trustee of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund
from 1998 until the organization's rules required that he retire at age 70. He then became a trustee of the Community Foundation in Jacksonville. He and his wife reside on the St. Johns River
in Ortega.
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 Diocese of Florida
Episcopal Diocese of Florida
The Episcopal Diocese of Florida is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America . It originally comprised the whole state of Florida, but is now bounded on the west by the Apalachicola River, on the north by the Georgia state line, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the...
and the 699th bishop
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...
in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, a province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.
Early years
Frank Cerveny was born in Ludlow, MassachusettsLudlow, Massachusetts
Ludlow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,103 as of the 2010 census. It is located in western Massachusetts, north of Springfield, east of Chicopee, southeast of Granby, southwest of Belchertown, west of Wilbraham and is considered part of the...
in the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area
Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area
The Springfield Metropolitan Area is a region that is socio-economically and culturally tied to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Springfield metropolitan statistical area as consisting of three counties in Western Massachusetts. As of...
and grew up during the depression. He graduated from Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in 1955 with a B.A., then earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
from 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 1958. Cerveny has been awarded four honorary doctorates.
His first parish was in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
at Church of the Resurrection, where he was ordained as a priest in December, 1958. Next, Reverend Cerveny served on the staff of Trinity Church
Trinity Church, New York
Trinity Church at 79 Broadway, Lower Manhattan, is a historic, active parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of 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...
for several years. He married Emmy Thomas Pettway on November 1, 1961 and they had three children. He became rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
in the Fall of 1963, then led St. John's Episcopal Church in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
beginning in 1969.
Rev. Cerveny was called to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
in July, 1972 and served as Dean at St. John’s Cathedral
St. John's Cathedral, Jacksonville
St. John's Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Jacksonville, Florida and became the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida in 1951.-History:The congregation was founded in 1834 as St...
. He was elected bishop Coadjutor on February 23, 1974 and consecrated on May 23, 1974 as the 6th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida
Episcopal Diocese of Florida
The Episcopal Diocese of Florida is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America . It originally comprised the whole state of Florida, but is now bounded on the west by the Apalachicola River, on the north by the Georgia state line, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the...
.
Episcopacy
During his 18 years as bishop, membership in the Diocese grew, a site for a new diocean camp was acquired near Live Oak, FloridaLive Oak, Florida
Live Oak is a city in Suwannee County, Florida. The city is the county seat of Suwannee County and is located east of Tallahassee, Florida. The population was 6,480 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,828 ....
, Camp Weed was constructed, as was a conference center (which was named in Cerveny's honor). The Episcopal Foundation was established and two programs were begun to help Cuban Episcopalians: Partners in Mission and Companion Diocese relationships. Christian Healing Ministries, created by Doctors Francis and Judith MacNutt in 1981, was embraced by Bishop Cerveny and relocated to Jacksonville, where their international outreach gave hope and comfort to people throughout the world.
Bishop Cerveny served as a member on the National Board for Theological Education; chairmanships included: the Presiding Bishop's Select Committee, Deans and Bishops Committee, and the Environmental Stewardship Team. He was a Trustee for the University of the South, an official seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of the Episcopal Church, USA.
In 1992, he retired as bishop and joined the Church Pension Group (CPG) in New York City as Executive Vice President. CPG provides insurance & financial services to Episcopal churches & institutions and their clergy & lay employees in the United States. He also served as President of the Compass Rose Society.
Bishop Cerveny returned to Jacksonville in 1999 and served as clerical trustee of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund
Jessie Ball duPont Fund
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund, "Florida's leading national foundation", is a charitable foundation that issues grants to organizations that received support from Jessie Ball duPont during the years 1960-1964 inclusive...
from 1998 until the organization's rules required that he retire at age 70. He then became a trustee of the Community Foundation in Jacksonville. He and his wife reside on the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
in Ortega.