Keith Ackerman

Keith Lynn Ackerman (born August 3, 1946) is an American bishop. Formerly a bishop of the Episcopal Church, he is currently the bishop vicar of the Diocese of Quincy of the Anglican Church in North America.^[1] Ackerman currently lives in Keller, Texas, works part-time as a therapist in Dallas, Texas, assists the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (ACNA) and serves as vicar of St. Timothy's Church in Fort Worth.^[2] Prior to becoming a bishop, Ackerman served as a curate of the Church of the Transfiguration in Freeport, Long Island, New York (1974-76), then as rector of St. Mary's Church in Charleroi, Pennsylvania (1976-1989) as well as rector of St. Mark's Church in Arlington, Texas.^[1] (1989 - 1994)

Early life and education

Ackerman was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on August 3, 1946. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Marymount College in Salina, Kansas, in 1971 while working at the St. Francis Boys Home in nearby Ellsworth. He later received his Master of Divinity degree from Nashotah House seminary in 1974, and a Doctor of Divinity from the same institution in 1994.^[1]

Ordained ministry

Ackerman was ordained as a deacon in 1974 and to the priesthood the same year in Long Island, Kansas, by Bishop William Davidson of the Diocese of Western Kansas. He served as a curate of the Church of the Transfiguration in Freeport, New York, from 1974 to 1976 when he was called to be rector of St. Mary's Church, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.^[1]

As rector in Charleroi, Ackerman served as president of the Charleroi Clergy Association and founded St. Elizabeth Chapel in nearby Bentleyville. He was also a recipient in 1988 of the Bishop of Pittsburgh's award for extraordinary service to the church. Much of his ministry work was directed at assisting the unemployed and otherwise advancing the interests of local workers. He established five outreach ministries and a Christian counseling service for the unemployed, and also received the Ecumenical Award from Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania in 1984 for his mediation in a labor dispute between union members and management at a local steel-related business. He was active in diocesan life, serving as president of the standing committee and as deputy to General Convention. He was also an active educator, teaching in several institutions including Chichester Theological College in Chichester, England, and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.^[1]

In 1989, Ackerman was called to be rector of St. Mark's Church in Arlington, Texas, in the Diocese of Fort Worth. While there, he served as president of the local ministerial association and was presented the "Minister of the Year" award. He also served as a member of several diocesan committees, including president of the standing committee.^[1]

Election and consecration as bishop

Ackerman was elected as the eighth Bishop of Quincy on January 8, 1994. He was consecrated as a bishop on June 29, 1994, at St. Paul's Cathedral in the see city of Peoria, Illinois. He retired as Bishop of Quincy on November 1, 2008.^[1]

Post-retirement

Ackerman is currently serving as interim vicar of St. Timothy's Anglo-Catholic Church in Fort Worth, Texas.^[3] He also works part-time at City Square Ministries in Dallas as a pastoral counselor.

He previously (until 2012) was President of Forward in Faith North America, conservative Anglo-Catholic movement operating in a number of provinces of the Anglican Communion. Forward in Faith is known for its opposition to the ordination of women as well as to liberal Anglican views of homosexuality.^[4]

Ackerman resigned as superior-general of the American branch of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament in 2010: "I have recently been informed by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church that I am no longer a Bishop in the Episcopal Church, thus making me ineligible to be a member of or to serve as an officer of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America."^[5] After joining the Anglican Church in North America, Ackerman had used the title Bishop Vicar at the Diocese of Quincy. His successor at that ACNA position is Juan Alberto Morales.^[6]

Writings

Ackerman has been a prolific writer, penning weekly columns for the Bentleyville Courier (1979–1985) and the Benworth Times (1983–1985), a monthly column for the Arlington Daily News (1990–1994), and numerous articles for the The Harvest Plain (1994–present), the newspaper of the Diocese of Quincy. He has also written several books, including To God be the Glory, a book co-written with his wife Joann, which was published in 2001.^[1]

Published books

• Why We Do What We Do: A Manual on the Eucharist, 1992, Dovetracts Publications
• The Work of the People: A Guide to the Eucharist, 1993, DoveTracts Publications
• To God be the Glory: Growing Towards a Healthy Church (with Joann Ackerman), 2001, Dovetracts Publications

See also

• List of Succession of Bishops for the Episcopal Church, USA
• Episcopal Diocese of Quincy
• Diocese of Quincy (ACNA)
• Anglican realignment

References

External links

• Diocese of Quincy
• Bishop Ackerman's biography
• Forward in Faith North America
• Parish Press