William Creighton (bishop) explained

Type:bishop
Honorific-Prefix:The Right Reverend
William Creighton
Bishop of Washington
Church:Episcopal Church
Diocese:Washington
Term:1962–1977
Predecessor:Angus Dun
Successor:John T. Walker
Ordination:November 1934
Ordained By:Frederick B. Bartlett
Consecration:May 1, 1959
Consecrated By:Arthur C. Lichtenberger
Birth Date:23 July 1909
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Death Place:Washington, D.C., United States
Buried:Washington National Cathedral
Parents:Frank W. Creighton
Spouse:Marie-Louise Forrest Creighton[1]
Children:3
Alma Mater:University of Pennsylvania
Previous Post:Coadjutor Bishop of Washington (1959-1962)

William Forman Creighton (July 23, 1909 – May 20, 1987) was an American Episcopal bishop. He was the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Washington in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.[2]

Early life

Creighton was born the son of Bishop Frank W. Creighton[3] and Maud R. (Hawk) Creighton. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity in 1931.[4] He graduated from Philadelphia Divinity School in 1934.[5]

Early ministry

He was ordained deacon by his father Frank W. Creighton in April 1934 and priest by Bishop Frederick B. Bartlett in November 1934. After being ordained his first assignment was at St. Mark's church in Oakes, North Dakota After three years there he moved to St. Clement's church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was then a Navy chaplain during World War II. After the war he was assigned to St. John's church in Bethesda, Maryland.[1]

Bishop

In 1958, Bishop Angus Dun knew that he would be retiring in several years and called for the election of a Bishop Coadjutor. John Bowen Coburn was selected during the first election but he turned down the position. On the second election Creighton was selected over William G. Pollard. Creighton would serve as Bishop Coadjutor until 1962.[5]

Creighton was respected for his theological and intellectual acumen. In the 1962 heresy hearing of Bishop James Pike he wrote the minority opinion while his superior, Bishop Dun, wrote the majority opinion.[2] He would become bishop of the diocese later that year.

On November 25, 1963 he represented presiding bishop, the Rt. Rev. Arthur C. Lichtenberger, in the funeral procession President John F. Kennedy.[6]

Throughout the 1960s he worked with other religious leaders to overcome racial tensions. He was criticized by some for being a member of several institutions that excluded blacks. He would eventually resign from them.[7]

Creighton was an early supporter of the ordination of women into the priesthood. In 1975, he attempted to put pressure on the 1976 General Convention to approve women for the priesthood by declaring that he would not ordain anyone until it did so. There were some supporters who would not wait for the convention and ordained five women in 1975. After female priest were twice involved in celebrating the Eucharist against his wishes he put Rev. William A. Wendt on church trial for disobedience. Wendt was found guilty and censured.[7] [8] Creighton vowed to ordain women after the 1976 convention no matter what it decided.[9]

Family

His father, Frank W. Creighton, was the second missionary bishop of the Diocese of Mexico, sixth bishop of the Diocese of Michigan, and a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Long Island. His son, Michael W. Creighton, was the ninth bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.[3]

Retirement

After retiring in 1977 he continued to serve as a parish priest at St. John's church in Washington D.C. until right before his death in 1987.[7]

His remains are interred in the Washington National Cathedral where he served.

Notes and References

  1. News: . February 11, 2006 . Marie-Louise Creighton, Bishop's Wife . Washington Post . Washington, D.C. . September 25, 2017.
  2. News: Hyer . Marjorie . May 22, 1987 . Bishop William F. Creighton Dies . Washington Post . Washington, D.C. . September 25, 2017.
  3. Web site: Bishop Consecrated in Central Pennsylvania . Episcopal Church . The Living Church . December 10, 1995 . March 18, 2014.
  4. Summer 1962. 49. 2. The Emerald of Sigma Pi. Alumni News: Another Bishops. 56.
  5. Book: Quinn, Frederick . A House of Prayer for all People, A History of Washington National Cathedral . Morehouse Publishing Company . v. 1 . 2014 . September 25, 2017 . 57. 9780819229250 .
  6. Winter 1964. 50. 4. The Emerald of Sigma Pi. Sigmap Pi In The News. 182–183.
  7. Web site: Heart Attack Fells Bishop Creighton. Episcopal News Service. June 11, 1987.
  8. News: Blau . Eleanor . June 6, 1975 . Episcopal Court Convicts Priest . New York Times . New York, New York . September 26, 2017.
  9. News: Briggs . Kenneth . September 7, 1975 . Episcopal Women Rehearse Rites . New York Times . New York, New York . September 26, 2017.