Irl A. Gladfelter
Encyclopedia
Irl A. Gladfelter is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
. As such he is the head of this Lutheran church which is also of Anglo-Catholic heritage.
Archbishop Gladfelter received the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery
from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, and was a career officer in the Dental Corps
of the United States Army
, retiring as a lieutenant colonel
after serving more than 20 years on active duty. He is a graduate (with honors) of the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and his military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
with one oak leaf cluster
, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal
with one bronze service star
, the Korea Defense Service Medal
, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon
.
Archbishop Gladfelter was ordained a deacon
and a priest
in the apostolic succession
by Archbishop
Peter Paul Brennan
, O.C.R. of the Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of the Americas, and was ordained a bishop
by Archbishop Brennan as well as Francis Cajetan Spataro, O.C.R., and Paget Elkinah James Mack, O.S.B.M. of the Apostolic Episcopal Church. Archbishop Gladfelter is also a life professed priest of an Augustinian order.
Gladfelter is also the Metropolitan
of the Augustana Catholic Communion, which is a completely separate association of "Evangelical Catholic" Lutheran and "Anglo-Catholic" Anglican churches which claim apostolic
orders (i.e. succession). One of the communion's goals is visible and corporate reunion with the Roman Catholic Church
in whichever form is determined by the Catholic Church to be the most practical. Archbishop Gladfelter serves of Dean of Academic Affairs in the United States for St. Ambrose College, Catholic Theological Consortium.
Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church , formerly the Evangelical Community Church-Lutheran , is a church in the Lutheran Evangelical Catholic tradition. The ALCC claims to be unique among Lutheran churches in that it is of both Lutheran and Anglo-Catholic heritage and has also been significantly...
. As such he is the head of this Lutheran church which is also of Anglo-Catholic heritage.
Archbishop Gladfelter received the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery
Doctor of Dental Surgery
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, and was a career officer in the Dental Corps
Dental Corps
Dental Corps may be one of several specialist military units:* British Royal Army Dental Corps* Royal Australian Army Dental Corps* Royal Canadian Dental Corps* Royal New Zealand Army Dental Corps* United States Army Dental Corps...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, retiring as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
after serving more than 20 years on active duty. He is a graduate (with honors) of the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and his military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with one oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
with one bronze service star
Service star
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...
, the Korea Defense Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
The Korea Defense Service Medal is a United States military award that was first created in 2002 when it was signed into law by President George W. Bush. The bill to create the proposal was introduced and championed by Rep. Elton Gallegly and Sen. Ben "Night Horse" Campbell...
, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
The Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
.
Archbishop Gladfelter 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 a 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 the apostolic succession
Apostolic 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 Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Peter Paul Brennan
Peter Paul Brennan
Peter Paul Brennan is the bishop of the Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of the Americas , a bishop of the African Orthodox Church, the Primate of the Order of Corporate Reunion, and the current President of Married Priests Now!...
, O.C.R. of the Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of the Americas, and was ordained a 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...
by Archbishop Brennan as well as Francis Cajetan Spataro, O.C.R., and Paget Elkinah James Mack, O.S.B.M. of the Apostolic Episcopal Church. Archbishop Gladfelter is also a life professed priest of an Augustinian order.
Gladfelter is also the Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of the Augustana Catholic Communion, which is a completely separate association of "Evangelical Catholic" Lutheran and "Anglo-Catholic" Anglican churches which claim apostolic
Apostolic 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...
orders (i.e. succession). One of the communion's goals is visible and corporate reunion with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in whichever form is determined by the Catholic Church to be the most practical. Archbishop Gladfelter serves of Dean of Academic Affairs in the United States for St. Ambrose College, Catholic Theological Consortium.