Michael Bruce Curry
Encyclopedia
Michael Bruce Curry is a bishop
in the Episcopal Church. He was elected eleventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
on February 11, 2000 and ordained bishop on June 17, 2000, at Duke Chapel
on the campus of Duke University
in Durham, North Carolina
.
The first African American
bishop to lead a southern diocese of the Episcopal Church, he has a national preaching and teaching ministry, having been featured on The Protestant Hour and as a frequent speaker at services of worship and conferences around the country.
Before his ordination, Bishop Curry attended public schools in Buffalo, New York
and graduated with high honors from Hobart College
in Geneva, New York
in 1975. He received the Master of Divinity
degree in 1978 from the Yale Divinity School
. He has also done continued study at The College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary
, Wake Forest University
, the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary's Seminary, and the Institute of Christian Jewish Studies.
Bishop Curry was ordained deacon
in June 1978 and priest
in December 1978. He served initially as deacon-in-charge and subsequently as Rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (1978–1982) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
; then as Rector of St. Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Church in Lincoln Heights, Ohio
(1982–1988); then as Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland (1988–2000).
He resides in Raleigh
, North Carolina
with his wife and two daughters.
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. He was elected eleventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, founded in 1817, roughly corresponds to the segment of the U.S. state of North Carolina between I-77 in the west and I-95 in the east, including the most populous area of the state. Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cary, and Durham are the...
on February 11, 2000 and ordained bishop on June 17, 2000, at Duke Chapel
Duke Chapel
Duke University Chapel is a chapel located at the center of the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. It is an ecumenical Christian chapel and the center of religion at Duke, and has connections to the United Methodist Church...
on the campus of Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
.
The first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
bishop to lead a southern diocese of the Episcopal Church, he has a national preaching and teaching ministry, having been featured on The Protestant Hour and as a frequent speaker at services of worship and conferences around the country.
Before his ordination, Bishop Curry attended public schools in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and graduated with high honors from Hobart College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
in 1975. He received the 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...
degree in 1978 from the Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
. He has also done continued study at The College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
, Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary's Seminary, and the Institute of Christian Jewish Studies.
Bishop Curry was ordained 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...
in June 1978 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 December 1978. He served initially as deacon-in-charge and subsequently as Rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (1978–1982) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
; then as Rector of St. Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Church in Lincoln Heights, Ohio
Lincoln Heights, Ohio
Lincoln Heights is a village in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,113 at the 2000 census. Lincoln Heights, located in southwestern Ohio, is a suburb of Cincinnati.-Geography:Lincoln Heights is located at ....
(1982–1988); then as Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland (1988–2000).
He resides in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
with his wife and two daughters.