Otis Charles
Encyclopedia
Bishop E. Otis Charles is a retired American bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah
.
, he served first as a priest in Connecticut
. From 1968 until 1982 he was a member of the Standing Liturgical Commission, which developed the 1979 edition of the Book of Common Prayer
. In 1971, he was elected Bishop of Utah. He was active in the peace movement
, and opposed Nevada and Utah being launching sites for the MX missile
. In the House of Bishops
, Charles was chair of the Prayer Book Committee and a member of the Bishops' Committee on Racism. Charles became Dean
of the Episcopal Divinity School
in 1985. Charles also has significant academic achievements, including a Doctorate of Divinity
, and a Doctorate of Sacred Theology
.
as gay
, the first Christian bishop ever to take such a step. Soon after he and his wife divorced.
He currently resides with his same sex spouse in San Francisco
, where he helped to found the California branch of the Oasis Commission
.
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 Utah
Episcopal Diocese of Utah
The Episcopal Diocese of Utah is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States, encompassing the state of Utah, less that part of the Four Corners region which is in the Navajoland Area Mission. It includes a small part of northern Arizona. In 1867, the Episcopal Church was the first...
.
Career
Originally from New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, he served first as a priest in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. From 1968 until 1982 he was a member of the Standing Liturgical Commission, which developed the 1979 edition of the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
. In 1971, he was elected Bishop of Utah. He was active in the peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
, and opposed Nevada and Utah being launching sites for the MX missile
LGM-118A Peacekeeper
The LGM-118A Peacekeeper, also known as the MX missile , was a land-based ICBM deployed by the United States starting in 1986. A total of 50 missiles were deployed. They have since been deactivated....
. In the House of Bishops
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops is the third House in a General Synod of some Anglican churches and the second house in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.-Composition of Houses of Bishops:...
, Charles was chair of the Prayer Book Committee and a member of the Bishops' Committee on Racism. Charles became Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Episcopal Divinity School
Episcopal Divinity School
The Episcopal Divinity School is a seminary of the Episcopal Church based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known throughout the Anglican Communion for prophetic teaching and action on issues of civil rights and social justice, its faculty and students have been directly involved in many of the social...
in 1985. Charles also has significant academic achievements, including a Doctorate of Divinity
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
, and a Doctorate of Sacred Theology
Sacred theology
Sacred theology is the name given to the theological degrees offered in a number of theological colleges, including the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church.It is offered at the following levels:*Bachelor of Sacred Theology...
.
Personal life
Charles was married for 42 years and has five children. After his retirement in 1993, Charles publicly came outComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, the first Christian bishop ever to take such a step. Soon after he and his wife divorced.
He currently resides with his same sex spouse in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, where he helped to found the California branch of the Oasis Commission
Oasis Commission
The Oasis Commission is a ministry of the Episcopal Church to LGBT persons.The first Oasis group met at All Saints Church, Hoboken, in 1990, while the Episcopal Diocese of Newark was under the direction of Bishop John Shelby Spong. At this time, making gay and lesbian people feel welcome in...
.