Mark Sisk

The Right Reverend Mark Sean Sisk (born Takoma Park, Maryland, 1942) is the 15th Episcopal Bishop of New York.[1]

Contents

Early education, career, and marriage

Sisk received his B.S. in Economics from The University of Maryland in 1964.[1] He had a call to ministry, and went to The General Theological Seminary in New York City, where he earned his M.Div. in 1967.[1] He later got honorary doctorates from General Theological Seminary, Honorary Doctor of Divinity, in 1984, and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, in 1998.[1]

He is married to the former Karen Womack Calvert.[1] They have three children and three grandchildren.[1]

Sisk was a curate for three years at Christ Episcopal Church, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and a priest for three more years at Christ Episcopal Church in Bronxville, New York.[1] He was then rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Kingston, New York from 1973-1977.[1] From 1977 through 1984, he was the Archdeacon of three suburban counties,[2] under the 13th Bishop of New York, Paul Moore.[1] As part of his duties, he started a Japanese congregation, now in Scarsdale, and a Latino congregation in Yonkers.[1]

From 1984 to 1998, Sisk was President and Dean of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.[1][3]

Bishop of New York

Sisk was elected and consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of New York in 1998.[1][3] He was installed as the Bishop of New York at a ceremony on September 29, 2001 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.[1]

As Bishop, he is actively involved in preaching to churches in his diocese,[4][5][6][7] as well as the Cathedral.[8] He raises millions of dollars for Episcopal charities.[9][10] Sisk is also involved in ecumenism with the Roman Catholic Church.[3]

Criticism

Sisk has engendered some criticism from the press for some of his actions as bishop, in particular the firing of a radical priest.[11][12] He also got involved in the controversy over Bishop Moore's bisexuality.[13]

Public comments

As a leader in the church, Sisk is often asked to comment on public issues. He has a regular column in Newsweek and the Washington Post.[14] The New York Times often interviews him on social and religious topics.[15] He takes stances on a variety of issues.[16][17] He has written many letters that have been collected by the Anglican Communion.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Diocese of New York website page on The Right Reverend Mark S. Sisk. Accessed January 20, 2009.
  2. ^ Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counties
  3. ^ a b c US Conference of Catholic Bishops website. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  4. ^ St. Bart's Church website Sermons page. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  5. ^ St. Anne the Virgin's Church website Newsletter page. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  6. ^ St. Augustine's Church website Sermon page. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  7. ^ St. John's Church, Tuckahoe, website Newsletter page. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  8. ^ Cathedral of St. John the Divine official website Easter 2008 page. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  9. ^ Episcopal Charities website. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  10. ^ New York Social Diary No. 3537, found at New York Social Diary website. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  11. ^ Christopher Bonanos, "No Sanctuary at St. Mark’s: Cool priest cast out." New York Magazine, May 22, 2006, found at New York Magazine website. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  12. ^ Mary Reinholz, "Radical priest resigns, then later rethinks, but is rejected," The Villager, November 5–11, 2008, found at The Villager website. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  13. ^ "Revelations Prompt Reevaluation of Bishop’s Legacy," The Living Church, March 3, 2008, found at The Living Church website. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  14. ^ On Faith: Mark S, Sisk. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  15. ^ NY Times website Topics: People: Mark S. Sisk. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  16. ^ andromeda.rutgers.edu website. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  17. ^ Integrity website article on Mark S. Sisk. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  18. ^ Anglican Communion official website Mark S. Sisk's letters. Retrieved January 20, 2009.

External links

Episcopal Church (USA) titles
Preceded by
Richard F. Grein		 15th Bishop of New York
2001 to present		 Succeeded by
current