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William Love (bishop)
Encyclopedia
William Howard "Bill" Love (born August 14, 1957, in Dallas, Texas
) is the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany
in the United States
. A theological conservative, he is a prominent leader of conservative or traditional Anglicans at a time of disunity and disagreement in the Anglican Communion over theological interpretations of a range of issues surrounding human sexuality, especially the inclusion of homosexual men and women in the ordained ministry and the blessing of same-sex unions.
, the "high church
" Episcopal seminary
. He was ordained a deacon
in 1991, and a priest
in 1992. Love served as a curate
at the Cathedral of All Saints
for a year, during which time he served as a delegate to the church's National Convention. He became rector of St. Mary's Church in Lake Luzerne, New York
, near Lake George, New York
, where he served for 14 years. He is married to his wife, Karen, and they have two teen-aged
children.
Love was elected bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany
, after several ballots in a highly contested election, on March 25, 2006; he received the consent of the General Convention that summer in Columbus, Ohio
.
He was consecrated bishop by the Presiding Bishop
Frank Griswold, on September 16, 2006, at the Empire State Plaza
Amongst the Co-Consecrators and Con-Celebrants were 8th Bishop of Albany Daniel W. Herzog
, David J. Bena (at the time Bishop Suffragan of Albany), 7th Bishop of Albany David Standish Ball
and Harold Miller
, Bishop of Down and Dromore
in Ireland.
On Bishop Herzog's retirement, Bishop Love was installed in the cathedra
in the choir
at Albany's historic Cathedral of All Saints, as the 9th bishop of Albany.
" view of scriptures and the stance of the church on human sexuality, but has also sought to avoid extreme statements and actions, but rather to steer a middle ground between opposing viewpoints. He has come to be regarded as leader of a "loyal opposition
" in the Episcopal Church. In his own words:
On January 19, 2008, Love celebrated the eucharist at St. Andrew's church in Albany while hosting a visit by Dr Bonnie Anderson
, president of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies. A dialogue
followed between progressives from Via media and the more conservative representatives of the church, and "stressed unity and communication." Both liberals
and conservatives in the diocese praised Bishop Love for attending the event. The national church's web site posted a highly laudatory story about the event, quoting several of the 300 attendees at the event, including Bishop Love.
In June 2008, under Bishop Love's leadership, the Episcopal Diocese of Albany passed a resolution stating that only heterosexual marriages may be celebrated within the Diocese. After the resolution was passed, Bishop Love was quoted as stating that "the important thing ... is that God loves all people, regardless of where they might be in their life. That doesn't necessarily mean he approves of all of our behaviors."
In July 2009, Love gained National attention when he explained his views at the Epsicopal Church's convention in Anaheim, California
. At a news conference organized by conservatives at that meeting, Love said "It is breaking my heart to see the church destroy itself." Yet he vowed to remained within the Episcopal Church. Love continued to be in the news in October 2009, when he commented on the state of the church after the Vatican
, in the Apostolic Constitution
Anglicanorum coetibus, announced a canonical framework to integrate groups of disaffected Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church
. Love was quoted as saying, "What state we are in when we get through this, only God knows ..." He also acknowledged that two parishes in the Diocese of Albany are attempting to leave the Episcopal Church.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
) is the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany
Episcopal Diocese of Albany
The Episcopal Diocese of Albany is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church.-History:The Church of Englandarrived in 1674 with a chaplain assigned to the British military garrison at Albany, New York. In 1704 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel sent two missionaries to the Mohawk...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A theological conservative, he is a prominent leader of conservative or traditional Anglicans at a time of disunity and disagreement in the Anglican Communion over theological interpretations of a range of issues surrounding human sexuality, especially the inclusion of homosexual men and women in the ordained ministry and the blessing of same-sex unions.
Early education, career, and marriage
Love attended Southwest Texas State University and SUNY Plattsburgh, where he received a bachelor's degree. He received his Master's degree in Divinity in 1991 from Nashotah HouseNashotah House
Nashotah House is an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church located in Nashotah, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee, in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. The seminary opened its doors in 1842 and received its official charter in 1847...
, the "high church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
" Episcopal 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...
. He 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...
in 1991, 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 1992. Love served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at the Cathedral of All Saints
Cathedral of All Saints
The Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York is the central church of the Episcopal See of the Albany and the seat of the Episcopal Bishop of Albany...
for a year, during which time he served as a delegate to the church's National Convention. He became rector of St. Mary's Church in Lake Luzerne, New York
Lake Luzerne, New York
Lake Luzerne is a town in southern Warren County, New York, United States. The town is located within the Adirondack Park. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lake Luzerne is west of the city of Glens Falls. The town population was 3,219 at the 2000 census.- History...
, near Lake George, New York
Lake George (town), New York
Lake George is a town in Warren County, New York, USA. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the lake, Lake George. Within the town is a village also named Lake George. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The lake was...
, where he served for 14 years. He is married to his wife, Karen, and they have two teen-aged
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
children.
Bishop of Albany
Episcopal Diocese of Albany
The Episcopal Diocese of Albany is part of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church.-History:The Church of Englandarrived in 1674 with a chaplain assigned to the British military garrison at Albany, New York. In 1704 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel sent two missionaries to the Mohawk...
, after several ballots in a highly contested election, on March 25, 2006; he received the consent of the General Convention that summer in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
He was consecrated bishop by the Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
Frank Griswold, on September 16, 2006, at the Empire State Plaza
Empire State Plaza
The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza is a complex of several state government buildings in downtown Albany, New York....
Amongst the Co-Consecrators and Con-Celebrants were 8th Bishop of Albany Daniel W. Herzog
Daniel W. Herzog
Daniel Wilfie Herzog is a retired bishop of the Episcopal Church, who served in the Diocese of Albany from 1998 to 2007. After his retirement, he became a Roman Catholic, but returned to the Episcopal Church three years later.-Biography:...
, David J. Bena (at the time Bishop Suffragan of Albany), 7th Bishop of Albany David Standish Ball
David Standish Ball
The Right Reverend David Standish Ball was the seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany in the United States from 1984 to 1998.-Childhood, education and calling:...
and Harold Miller
Harold Miller (bishop)
Harold Creeth Miller is the current bishop of the Diocese of Down and Dromore in the Church of Ireland. Coming from a Methodist background, he was elected bishop in 1997 and is considered to represent an evangelical position within the Church....
, Bishop of Down and Dromore
Bishop of Down and Dromore
The Bishop of Down and Dromore is the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland Diocese of Down and Dromore in the Province of Armagh. The diocese is situated in the north east of Ireland, which includes all of County Down, about half of the city of Belfast, and some parts of County Armagh east of the...
in Ireland.
On Bishop Herzog's retirement, Bishop Love was installed in the cathedra
Cathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
in the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
at Albany's historic Cathedral of All Saints, as the 9th bishop of Albany.
"The mainstream of Anglican life and teaching"
Love has consistently stood for the "orthodoxOrthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
" view of scriptures and the stance of the church on human sexuality, but has also sought to avoid extreme statements and actions, but rather to steer a middle ground between opposing viewpoints. He has come to be regarded as leader of a "loyal opposition
Loyal opposition
In parliamentary systems of government, the term loyal opposition is applied to the opposition parties in the legislature to indicate that the non-governing parties may oppose the actions of the sitting cabinet typically comprising parliamentarians from the party with the most seats in the elected...
" in the Episcopal Church. In his own words:
On January 19, 2008, Love celebrated the eucharist at St. Andrew's church in Albany while hosting a visit by Dr Bonnie Anderson
Bonnie Anderson
Bonnie Anderson is the current president of the House of Deputies in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Jointly with the Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, she is the most senior figure in the Episcopal Church...
, president of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies. A dialogue
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
followed between progressives from Via media and the more conservative representatives of the church, and "stressed unity and communication." Both liberals
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and conservatives in the diocese praised Bishop Love for attending the event. The national church's web site posted a highly laudatory story about the event, quoting several of the 300 attendees at the event, including Bishop Love.
In June 2008, under Bishop Love's leadership, the Episcopal Diocese of Albany passed a resolution stating that only heterosexual marriages may be celebrated within the Diocese. After the resolution was passed, Bishop Love was quoted as stating that "the important thing ... is that God loves all people, regardless of where they might be in their life. That doesn't necessarily mean he approves of all of our behaviors."
In July 2009, Love gained National attention when he explained his views at the Epsicopal Church's convention in Anaheim, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. At a news conference organized by conservatives at that meeting, Love said "It is breaking my heart to see the church destroy itself." Yet he vowed to remained within the Episcopal Church. Love continued to be in the news in October 2009, when he commented on the state of the church after the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, in the Apostolic Constitution
Apostolic constitution
An apostolic constitution is the highest level of decree issued by the Pope. The use of the term constitution comes from Latin constitutio, which referred to any important law issued by the Roman emperor, and is retained in church documents because of the inheritance that the canon law of the...
Anglicanorum coetibus, announced a canonical framework to integrate groups of disaffected Anglicans into 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...
. Love was quoted as saying, "What state we are in when we get through this, only God knows ..." He also acknowledged that two parishes in the Diocese of Albany are attempting to leave the Episcopal Church.
See also
- List of Bishop Succession in the Episcopal ChurchSuccession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United StatesThis list consists of the bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, an independent province of the Anglican Communion. This shows the historic succession of the episcopate within this denomination.-Key to chart:...