Samuel Johnson Howard
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Samuel Johnson Howard (born September 08, 1951) is the eighth bishop
of the Diocese of Florida
in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Howard was elected bishop Coadjutor on May 16, 2003 and entered office on January 29, 2004.
in Williamstown, Massachusetts and has been married to his
wife, Martha Marie, since 1974. They have two grown sons, Augustus and Charles.
Howard graduated from the Wake Forest University School of Law
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1976. He practiced law in Raleigh, North Carolina from 1976 through 1986. He also worked on the staff of the Commerce Committee of the United States Senate.
in Alexandria, Virginia with a Masters of Divinity. He was ordained as a deacon in June, 1989, and a year later was ordained as a priest.
His first position was Assistant to the Rector of Holy Comforter in Charlotte, North Carolina, then Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Howard served as Vicar of Trinity Church Wall Street
from December, 1997 until he left for Florida in 2003.
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...
in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Howard was elected bishop Coadjutor on May 16, 2003 and entered office on January 29, 2004.
Early career
Bishop Howard was born September 8, 1951 and is a North Carolina native. He is a 1973 graduate of Williams CollegeWilliams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in Williamstown, Massachusetts and has been married to his
wife, Martha Marie, since 1974. They have two grown sons, Augustus and Charles.
Howard graduated from the Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law
The Wake Forest University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Wake Forest University. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University School of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American...
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1976. He practiced law in Raleigh, North Carolina from 1976 through 1986. He also worked on the staff of the Commerce Committee of the United States Senate.
Religious career
Bishop Howard radically changed his career by returning to school and graduating from Virginia Theological SeminaryVirginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
in Alexandria, Virginia with a Masters of Divinity. He was ordained as a deacon in June, 1989, and a year later was ordained as a priest.
His first position was Assistant to the Rector of Holy Comforter in Charlotte, North Carolina, then Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Howard served as Vicar of Trinity Church Wall Street
Trinity Church, New York
Trinity Church at 79 Broadway, Lower Manhattan, is a historic, active parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York...
from December, 1997 until he left for Florida in 2003.