Wynn Wagner III
Encyclopedia
Early career
During the 1980s and 1990s, Wagner was as the author and maintainer of Opus-CBCSOpus-CBCS
The Opus Computer Based Conversation System was a Fidonet Bulletin Board System.Originally developed by Wynn Wagner III in 1985, Opus was one of the leading Bulletin Board Systems during the late 1980s and early 1990s....
, a computer bulletin board system
Bulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
(BBS). He revolutionized computer communication technology (ZModem
ZMODEM
ZMODEM is a file transfer protocol developed by Chuck Forsberg in 1986, in a project funded by Telenet in order to improve file transfers on their X.25 network...
) making BBS affordable to individuals, introduced a novel discussion system (Echomail) that laid the groundwork for today's internet, and set the spirit of community activism by donating 100% of the proceeds from Opus-CBCS
Opus-CBCS
The Opus Computer Based Conversation System was a Fidonet Bulletin Board System.Originally developed by Wynn Wagner III in 1985, Opus was one of the leading Bulletin Board Systems during the late 1980s and early 1990s....
to HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and AIDS care.
Prior to his career as a computer programmer, Wagner was a professional singer and recording artist. In the 1960s he sang on an album that won a Grammy. In the 1970s he was a broadcast journalist.
Liberal Catholic Church International (2003-6)
In November 2003, Wagner was ordained a deacon of the Liberal Catholic Church InternationalLiberal Catholic Church International
The Liberal Catholic Church International is a Christian church with headquarters based in the United States. The Church traces its founding to Jesus and the Twelve Apostles and sees the Bishops of the Church as the successors of the Apostles...
, which was followed by ordination to the priesthood of the same church in May 2004. Within two years, Wagner's relationship with the LCCI had broken down, and he resigned effective May 2006, citing a breakdown in the relationship with his bishop and theological differences (including perceived flaws in the liturgy of episcopal consecration and the LCCI's refusal to permit gay marriage).
Episcopus vagans (2006)
Despite having previously declared he would never accept consecration to the episcopate, on May 6, 2006, just two years after his ordination to the priesthood, Wagner was consecrated a bishop. Via his personal blog, Wagner declared he had no desire to oversee a jurisdiction and that his new status as an episcopus vagans was desirable as it was the closest possible conformation of church polity to that of the New Testament church.Old Catholic Church
Between May 2006 and December 2006, Wagner's church (Dallas, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) came to style itself as a "progressive independent Old Catholic Church". During this time Wagner ordained several of his parishioners (some of whom had been seminarians of the Liberal Catholic Church) to the episcopacy, priesthood, diaconate, and sub-diaconate.
In early 2007, Wagner reneged on his previous opposition to "jurisdictions" and his parish joined the North American Old Catholic Church
North American Old Catholic Church
The North American Old Catholic Church is an Independent Catholic denomination in the United States. Although not a member of the Union of Utrecht, the denomination adheres to Old Catholic teachings and polity in their governance.- Background :...
(which was itself founded in January 2007). He was later raised to 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...
when he became coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of the North American Old Catholic Church
North American Old Catholic Church
The North American Old Catholic Church is an Independent Catholic denomination in the United States. Although not a member of the Union of Utrecht, the denomination adheres to Old Catholic teachings and polity in their governance.- Background :...
(NAOCC): serving as the Regionary Bishop of the Southern Province USA, which consists of the American states of, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Texas currently has 5 bishops from Texas to Florida.
Since October 2009, Wagner has been wearing regalia similar to that of a cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
of 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...
. The colors are specified in the Canons of the North American Old Catholic Church.
Wagner's protegee, Bishop Thomas Hooker, now serves as the bishop of Texas.
In 2009 Wagner wrote an open letter to State Senator John Cornyn
John Cornyn
John Cornyn, III is the junior United States Senator for Texas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 111th U.S. Congress....
, criticising Senator Cornyn's opposition to healthcare reform. Wagner adopted an uncompromising tone, telling the senator "You have fellow citizens who need health care, and you are helping corporations that are not even based in your state. Your vote today was very sad to me. Shame on you."
Wagner was the first and only president (and, indeed, founder) of the World Conference of Old Catholic Churches (WCOCC), an international organization that let national churches share common resources and experience. As of March 2011
March 2011
March 2011 was the third month of the current year. It began on a Tuesday and ended after 31 days on a Thursday.- Portal:Current events :This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from March 2011....
the WCOCC's activities appear to have ceased.
HIV advocacy
Wagner is HIV positive, and is the author of AEGiS, which AEGiS claims to be the "most widely-read article on HIV ever".Media
In addition to software, Wagner has composed a Eucharist and written several books, mostly dealing with Liberal ChristianityLiberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
and mostly self-published through the company Mystic Ways Books owned by Wagner and his partner:
- Recovering Catholic (ISBN 978-1-4505-1149-0).
- Vamp Camp (Gay Fiction), (ISBN 978-1-4528-1066-9).
- A Pilgrim's Guide to the Old Catholic Church (ISBN 978-1-4499-9279-8)
Older works:
- A Catechism of the Liberal Catholic Church, Wagner's previous affiliation.
- a Book of Prayer (currently out of print)
- Pax et Fides (currently out of print)
- influential (gay fiction)