Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Diocese of Atlanta
Location
Ecclesiastical province Province IV
Statistics
Congregations 95 (2014)
Members 50,420 (2014)
Information
Rite Episcopal
Cathedral Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip, Atlanta
Current leadership
Bishop Robert Christopher Wright
Keith Bernard Whitmore
(Assistant Bishop)
Don Wimberly
(Assistant Bishop)
Map

Location of the Diocese of Atlanta
Website
episcopalatlanta.org

The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, with jurisdiction over middle and north Georgia. It is in Province IV of the Episcopal Church and its cathedral, the Cathedral of St. Philip, is in Atlanta, as are the diocesan offices.[1]

History

Cathedral of Saint Philip

The Anglican presence in Georgia was established on February 12, 1733, with Christ Church in Savannah, Georgia. By 1841, the Diocese of Georgia had been established. In 1907 the diocesan convention unanimously voted to divide the diocese, forming the Diocese of Atlanta. In December 1907, the Diocese of Atlanta held its first convention at Christ Church, Macon.

In 2007, the diocese celebrated its centennial, and published a history of the diocese: The Diocese of Atlanta: Centennial Celebration 1907–2007, which is available from the Cathedral of St. Philip Book Store, Atlanta, Georgia.

For much of its history, the Diocese has been one of the fastest-growing in the South, if not the country, due to the almost-geometric expansion of the population of metropolitan Atlanta. Although evangelical and high-church alternatives have always existed, most congregations generally hold to a Broad Church, moderate-to-liberal theology and middle-of-the-road worship, with some parishes priding themselves on their progressive stances. The Atlanta Diocese is thus considerably more liberal than many of the dioceses in the Fourth Province, since the area is home to a large population of highly educated, affluent professionals and white-collar employees, constituencies that have long been a mainstay of the Episcopal Church and that are not present in such large numbers elsewhere in the South.

On 26 June 2015, Bishop Wright announced that congregations within the Diocese could perform same-sex marriages.[2]

Bishops

The current bishop is Robert Christopher Wright, who was installed in October 2012. The immediate past bishop is J. Neil Alexander, who was installed in 2001. On January 25, 2006, he was nominated for election as Presiding Bishop, but he was defeated at the 2006 General Convention by Katharine Jefferts Schori.

List of bishops

Bishops of Atlanta
From Until Incumbent Notes
1907 1917 Cleland Kinloch Nelson Translated from Georgia.
1917 1942 Henry J. Mikell Henry Judah Mikell (c. 1866 – 1942)
1942 1951 John M. Walker
1952 John B. Walthour
1953 1972 Randolph R. Claiborne, Jr. Previously suffragan bishop of Alabama.
1967 1974 Milton L. Wood, suffragan bishop
1972 1983 Bennett J. Sims
1983 1988 C. Judson Child, Jr. Suffragan bishop since 1978. April 25, 1923 in North Bergen, New Jersey – 2004
January 1, 1989 2000 Frank Allan Coadjutor bishop from February 7, 1987 to January 1, 1989.
1995 2000 Onell Soto, assistant bishop Previously Bishop of Venezuela.
2000 2001 Robert Tharp, assisting bishop Robert Gould "Bob" Tharp (October 25, 1928, Orlando, FL – May 30, 2003); previously Bishop of East Tennessee.
July 7, 2001 October 2012 J. Neil Alexander
April 2008 present Keith Whitmore, assistant bishop Keith Bernard Whitmore; previously Bishop of Eau Claire
October 2012 present Robert Christopher Wright First African-American elected to the position in the diocese.

Parishes and missions

Map of Diocesan Parishes

The Diocese of Atlanta has 10 convocations (also known as deaneries) divided into 94 parishes and more than 55,000 parishioners.

Schools

College chaplaincies

  1. Absalom Jones Episcopal Student Center and Chapel, Atlanta
  2. Emory Episcopal Center, Atlanta
  3. Episcopal Center at Georgia Tech & GSU, Atlanta
  4. UGA Episcopal Center, Athens
  5. Canterbury Club of Kennesaw State University, a ministry of Christ Church, Kennesaw
  6. Canterbury Club of Northwest Georgia for Berry College, Shorter University and Georgia Highlands College

Ministries

See also

References

  1. ↑ Episcopal Church Annual. Harrisburg, PA, USA: Morehouse Publishing. 2006. pp. 134–135.
  2. ↑ http://news.blog.ajc.com/2015/06/26/bishop-wright-oks-gay-marriage-in-episcopal-diocese-of-atlantat/

Coordinates: 33°49′52″N 84°23′12″W / 33.831145°N 84.386579°W / 33.831145; -84.386579

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