David Ball (bishop)

For other people named David Ball, see David Ball.

The Right Reverend David Standish Ball (born June 11, 1926) was the seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany in the United States from 1984 to 1998.

Contents

Childhood, education and calling

David Standish Ball was born in June 1926 in Albany, New York, and attended The Milne School, a preparatory school in Albany. Ball served in the United States Navy during World War II. He graduated from Colgate University in 1950.[1]

He answered the call to holy orders in the Episcopal Church. He attended The General Theological Seminary in New York City during the 1950s.

He was ordained a deacon and priest in Albany, and served as a curate at Bethesda Church in Saratoga Springs, in upstate New York. He was elected Canon in 1956, serving until 1961 as Canon Ball.[2] He was then elected Dean of the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany in 1960,[2] and served over two decades, through 1984.

Bishop of Albany

On October 10, 1983, Ball was elected Bishop coadjutor of Albany at the age of 57.[3][4] In early 1984, he was consecrated under apostolic succession by Presiding Bishop John Maury Allin,[5] bishop David E. Richards, formerly suffragan of Albany and then bishop of the Anglican diocese of Central America, and the incumbent sixth bishop Wilbur Emory Hogg.[6] Upon bishop Hogg's retirement, later in 1984, Ball was installed in the cathedra in the choir at the Cathedral of All Saints, as the 7th Bishop of Albany.[7][8]

David S. Ball served from 1984 to 1998 as the seventh Diocesan bishop of Albany.[7][8]

Ball opposed female ordination in the 1970s, but later changed his position, serving with and ordaining female priests and deacons since at least 1989.[9]

He took part in several consecrations of other bishops, including that of his successors.[10][11] He was considered a conservative on issues such as apostolic succession.[12]

In retirement

Upon his retirement, Ball was succeeded by then-bishop Daniel W. Herzog. Ball became active in many local charities.[13] The Bishop Ball Golf Tournament, an annual fundraiser for the Cathedral, is named in his honor.[14] The Doane Stuart School, on whose board he sat until mid-2008, has named a trustee award for him.[15][16]

Ball continues to serve as Bishop-in Residence at the Cathedral of All Saints.[17] In recent years, he has gained a reputation on such issues as ecumenism[18][19] and alternate oversight in the Anglican Community.[20][21][22]

References

  1. ^ Wikipedia article on Colgate_University, section about alumni in religion.
  2. ^ a b George E. DeMille, Pioneer Cathedral: A Brief History of the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, pp. 160, 181-183 (1961).
  3. ^ "Bishop-Elect Chosen", Associated Press story, found in Palladium Times, October 11, 1983, see Fulton History website. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  4. ^ "Western Massachusetts, Albany Elect Bishops," press release, found at Episcopal News Service archives. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  5. ^ See List of Presiding Bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
  6. ^ San Joaquin Apostolic Succession datapgb
  7. ^ a b History of the Albany Episcopal Diocese. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  8. ^ a b The Episcopal Church Annual (2004 Morehouse Publishing), ISBN 0819219703, found at Google Books website. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
  9. ^ Mary S. Donovan, "Women as Priests and Bishops," UALR History Seminar, November 7, 1989; Revised February 13, 1992; July 20, 1992, found at Women as Priests and Bishops. Accessed March 30, 2008.
  10. ^ Journal of the General Convention of ECUSA. Accessed April 14, 2008.
  11. ^ Albany Episcopal Diosecse web site page on Bishop Love. Accessed April 14, 2008.
  12. ^ Robert David Redmile, The Apostolic Succession and the Catholic Episcopate in the Christian Church of Canada, p. 68, found at Google Books. Accessed April 14, 2008.
  13. ^ See, for example: Historic Albany Foundation newsletter, p. 3
  14. ^ Cathedral calendar retrieved June 7, 2007.
  15. ^ Social Scene, Albany Times Union, May 18, 2007, at p. E3. fee required
  16. ^ "DC Counsel Receives Distinguished Trustee Award" May 18, 2006, David Standish Ball White, Case web site. Accessed April 14, 2008.
  17. ^ Cathedral of All Saints clergy web page
  18. ^ Roman Catholic diocese of Albany web site
  19. ^ Doane Stuart School a private school
  20. ^ "Women as Priests and Bishops" by Mary S. Donovan, UALR History Seminar, November 7, 1989, Revised February 13, 1992; July 20, 1992 unpublished article by a CUNY professor Accessed April 22, 2008
  21. ^ Times Union 30 March 2007
  22. ^ Times Union 30 March 2007

External links

See also

Episcopal Church (USA) titles
Preceded by
Wilbur Emory Hogg		 7th Bishop of Albany
1984 – 1998		 Succeeded by
Daniel W. Herzog