George Edward Councell
Encyclopedia
George Edward Councell, born in 1949 in Detroit, Michigan
, is the 11th bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
and the 990th in succession in the Episcopal Church. He was elected bishop on May 3, 2003, and consecrated on October 18, 2003, at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton
. Officially, Councell followed the Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss as bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
after Doss was forced to resign amidst controversy. David Bruce Joslin served as assisting bishop while the diocese organized to elect its 11th bishop.
Before his election, Councell spent eight years serving as the rector
of the Church of the Holy Spirit
in Lake Forest, Illinois
. From 1986-1995 Councell served as canon to the ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
following eight years as vicar at St. George's Church in Riverside, California
.
Councell has also been active in the church serving on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
(2002-2003), as a trustee to Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
, President of the board of Episcopal Charities and Community Services in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
(1996-2002), Deputy and Chair of deputation to General Convention in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
(1991, 1994), Secretary of Convention, Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
(1988-1993), a member of Executive Committee of the Alumni/Alumnae Association, Episcopal Divinity School
(1988-1992), chair of the Committee for the Future, chaplain and member of the Board of Directors Riverside Hospice, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
(1982-1984).
Councell graduated from the University of California at Riverside Phi Beta Kappa with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in 1971. In 1975 he earned a Master of Divinity
, from Episcopal Divinity School
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. Councell was ordained a priest in 1975 in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
.
Councell lives in Pennington, New Jersey
with his wife, Ruth May Tietjen, an artist and illustrator. They have two grown children: Sarah Councell Turner who graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary with a Master of Theological Studies degree and now working for Bread for the World
in Washington, D.C., and Martha Councell, a professional flutist.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, is the 11th bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey forms part of Province II of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is made up of the southern and central New Jersey counties of Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Atlantic, Gloucester, Salem,...
and the 990th in succession in the Episcopal Church. He was elected bishop on May 3, 2003, and consecrated on October 18, 2003, at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. Officially, Councell followed the Rt. Rev. Joe Morris Doss as bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey
The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey forms part of Province II of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is made up of the southern and central New Jersey counties of Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Atlantic, Gloucester, Salem,...
after Doss was forced to resign amidst controversy. David Bruce Joslin served as assisting bishop while the diocese organized to elect its 11th bishop.
Before his election, Councell spent eight years serving as the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Church of the Holy Spirit
Church of the Holy Spirit
Church of the Holy Spirit or Holy Spirit Church may refer to:* Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit * Church of the Holy Spirit...
in Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
. From 1986-1995 Councell served as canon to the ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the five western counties of Massachusetts. Formed from a division of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, it was officially recognized at the organizing convention of...
following eight years as vicar at St. George's Church in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
.
Councell has also been active in the church serving on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is the official organization of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and Northern Illinois, USA. The diocese is served by The Right Reverend Jeffrey D. Lee, who serves as Bishop of the diocese, and The Right Reverend Victor A. Scantlebury, who serves as Assistant Bishop...
(2002-2003), as a trustee to Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
Seabury-Western Theological Seminary is a seminary of The Episcopal Church, located in Evanston, Illinois. It was formed in 1933 by a merger of Western Theological Seminary of Evanston , and Seabury Divinity School of Faribault, Minnesota...
, President of the board of Episcopal Charities and Community Services in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is the official organization of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and Northern Illinois, USA. The diocese is served by The Right Reverend Jeffrey D. Lee, who serves as Bishop of the diocese, and The Right Reverend Victor A. Scantlebury, who serves as Assistant Bishop...
(1996-2002), Deputy and Chair of deputation to General Convention in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the five western counties of Massachusetts. Formed from a division of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, it was officially recognized at the organizing convention of...
(1991, 1994), Secretary of Convention, Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the five western counties of Massachusetts. Formed from a division of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, it was officially recognized at the organizing convention of...
(1988-1993), a member of Executive Committee of the Alumni/Alumnae Association, Episcopal Divinity School
Episcopal Divinity School
The Episcopal Divinity School is a seminary of the Episcopal Church based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known throughout the Anglican Communion for prophetic teaching and action on issues of civil rights and social justice, its faculty and students have been directly involved in many of the social...
(1988-1992), chair of the Committee for the Future, chaplain and member of the Board of Directors Riverside Hospice, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is a community of 85,000 Episcopalians in 147 congregations, 40 schools, and 18 major institutions, spanning all of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties, and part of Riverside County....
(1982-1984).
Councell graduated from the University of California at Riverside Phi Beta Kappa with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in 1971. In 1975 he earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
, from Episcopal Divinity School
Episcopal Divinity School
The Episcopal Divinity School is a seminary of the Episcopal Church based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known throughout the Anglican Communion for prophetic teaching and action on issues of civil rights and social justice, its faculty and students have been directly involved in many of the social...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. Councell was ordained a priest in 1975 in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is a community of 85,000 Episcopalians in 147 congregations, 40 schools, and 18 major institutions, spanning all of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties, and part of Riverside County....
.
Councell lives in Pennington, New Jersey
Pennington, New Jersey
Pennington is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,585.Pennington was established as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 31, 1890, from portions of Hopewell Township, based on the results of...
with his wife, Ruth May Tietjen, an artist and illustrator. They have two grown children: Sarah Councell Turner who graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary with a Master of Theological Studies degree and now working for Bread for the World
Bread for the World
Bread for the World is a non-partisan, Christian citizens' movement in the United States to end hunger. The organization describes itself as a collective Christian voice urging nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad...
in Washington, D.C., and Martha Councell, a professional flutist.