William Love (bishop)

William Love (born August 14, 1957, in Dallas, Texas) is the Episcopal Bishop of Albany, and a prominent leader of the "loyal opposition" of the conservative or traditional Anglicans in the current disputes and schism in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The ninth Episcopal bishop of Albany, he has served since 2007.

Early education, career, and marriage

William H. Love attended Southwest Texas State University and SUNY Plattsburgh, where he received a bachelor's degree. He received his Master's degree in Divinity in 1991 from Nashotah House, the "high church" Episcopalian seminary. He was ordained a deacon in 1991, and a priest in 1992. Love served as a curate at the Cathedral of All Saints for a year, during which time he served as a delegate to the church's National Convention. He became rector of St. Mary's Church in Lake Luzerne, New York, near Lake George, New York, where he served for 14 years. He is married to his wife, Karen, and they have two teen-aged children. [ [http://www.ncs.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/bishops/0508.html Rutger's data base] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [ [http://www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/news/episcopalian/061107.html Albany Episcopalisn official web site] . Accessed January 22, 2008.]

Bishop of Albany

Love was elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, after several ballots in a highly contested election, on March 25, 2006; he received the consent of the General Convention that summer in Columbus, Ohio. [ [http://www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/news/episcopalian/061107.html Albany Episcopalian official web site] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [ [http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/3577_75777_ENG_HTM.htm Episcopal News Service official web site] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [ [http://www.episcopal-dso.org/GC06/June17-bishop.html Report of Bishop Bishop Ken Price of Southern Ohio] . Accessed January 22, 2008.]

He was consecrated as the bishop coadjutor by the Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, on September 16, 2006, at the Empire State Plaza, and became the ordinary bishop on January 31, 2007. [ [http://www.ncs.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/bishops/0508.html Rutgers College data base] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [ [http://www.anglicantv.org/blog/index.cfm/2006/9/16/Consecration-of-Right-Reverend-William-Love video and link to Anglican TV web site] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [ [http://www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/news/episcopalian/061107.html Albany Episcopalian official web site] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] Amongst the Co-Consecrators and Con-Celebrants were Daniel W. Herzog (then Bishop of Albany, now a Roman Catholic layman), David J. Bena (then, Bishop Suffragan of Albany, since de-frocked, and now an Anglican bishop from Nigeria), David Standish Ball (Bishop of Albany, Retired) and Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Drumore (Ireland). [ [http://www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/news/episcopalian/061107.html Albany Episcopalian official web site] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [The other Episcopalian bishops present were Gladstone B. Adams, III, Bishop of Central New York, Peter H. Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield (Illinois), Robert W. Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, Henry Scriven, Assistant Bishop of Pittsburgh, Gordon P. Scruton, Bishop of Western Massachusetts, and Mark S. Sisk, Bishop of New York, as well as Howard Hubbard, Roman Catholic Bishop of Albany, "q.v." at [http://www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/news/episcopalian/061107.html] .]

Love was invested in February 2007 at upon Herzog's retirement, and was installed in the cathedra in the choir at Albany's historic Cathedral of All Saints, as the 9th bishop of Albany.fact|date=January 2008

"The mainstream of Anglican life and teaching"

Love has consistently stood for the "orthodox" view of scriptures and the stance of the church on human sexuality, but has also kept his diocese in the middle of any squabbles, and thus has acted as leader of the "Loyal opposition" in the denomination. In his own words:quote|The Diocese of Albany, as demonstrated by the results of the Primates’ meeting, stands in the mainstream of Anglican life and teaching. By the grace of God, we will continue to do so. Keeping our focus on Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we reach out to one another in Christian love and charity, treating all people with dignity and respect. As Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we are called by our Lord to be obedient to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with all who will receive it. I ask for the prayers of each member of this Diocese as we continue to move forward in answer to our Lord’s call. May God use each one of us as an instrument of His love and healing grace in this torn and broken world.|William Love, see [ [http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/?p=18024 Classical Anglicanism on line] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [ [http://www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/news/episcopalian/070414.html Albany Episcopal Diocese official web site] . Accessed January 22, 2008.]

On January 19, 2008, Love celebrated eucharist at St. Andrew's church in Albany while hosting Bonnie Anderson, president of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies. A dialogue followed between progressives from "Via media" and the more conservative representatives of the church, and "stressed unity and communication." Both liberals and conservatives in the diocese praised Bishop Love for attending the event. [Marc Parry, "A fractured church seeking common faith: Episcopal leaders discuss -- and disagree on -- the role of gays in their communion," "Albany Times Union", January 20, 2008, found at [http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=656801 "A fractured church seeking common faith" in the "Albany Times Union"] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [Marc Parry, "Episcopal aide seeks to mend relations: House of Deputies president visits Albany as church faces rift", "Albany Times Union", January 18, 2008, found at [http://www.timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?storyID=656277&newsdate=1/22/2008&BCCode=MBTA "Episcopal aide" in the "Albany Times Union"] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] [Marc Parry, "Key U.S. Episcopalian to speak in Albany", "Albany Times Union", January 17, 2008, found at [http://www.timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?storyID=656010&newsdate=1/22/2008&BCCode=MBTA "Key U.S. Episcopalian to speak in Albany" in the "Albany Times Union"] . Accessed January 22, 2008.] The national church's web site posted a highly laudatory story about the event, quoting several of the 300 attendees at the event, including Bishop Love. [Mary Frances Schjonberg, "Bonnie Anderson encourages open conversation in Albany diocese; Communication must remain focused on unity in Christ, Bishop Love says," "Episcopal News Service", January 22, 2008, found at [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_94166_ENG_HTM.htm Episcopal Church USA Official web site] . Accessed January 23, 2008.]

Conservative bloggers, however, angrily attacked Love as "a Neville Chamberlain," who is "nuts" and "worships with heretics", and that they were "disappointed in Bishop Love." [ [http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7533 Virtue On Line] . Accessed January 22, 2008.]

In June 2008, under Bishop Love's leadership, the Episcopal Diocese of Albany passed a resolution stating that only heterosexual marriages may be celebrated within the Diocese. [http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=694502&category=REGION&newsdate=6/8/2008] After the resolution was passed, Bishop Love was quoted as stating that "the important thing . . . is that God loves all people, regardless of where they might be in their life. That doesn't necessarily mean he approves of all of our behaviors." [http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=694502&category=REGION&newsdate=6/8/2008]

References

ee also

* List of Bishop Succession in the Episcopal Church