James Arthur Kelsey
Encyclopedia
James Arthur Kelsey was the tenth bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
, based in Marquette
. He was consecrated July 24, 1999, at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Marquette, and died in a car accident while returning home from a parish visitation.
Kelsey, whose twin brother, the Reverend Stephen Kelsey, is a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut
, was born and reared in Baltimore
and received degrees from Ithaca College
and General Theological Seminary
. He was ordained a deacon
in 1977 and a priest
in 1978 by Bishop Robert S. Kerr of the Diocese of Vermont
. A proponent of Total Ministry
, he served from 1985 to 1989 as canon missioner for cluster ministries in the Oklahoma
, then served for 10 years as ministry development coordinator in Northern Michigan before being elected bishop in 1999.
He was married and had three grown children.
Kelsey's chief consecrator to the office of bishop was Presiding Bishop
Frank Griswold. His consecrators included his predecessor as bishop of Northern Michigan, Thomas K. Ray, Edward L. Lee of Western Michigan
, R. Stewart Wood of Michigan
, and Edwin M. Leidel of Eastern Michigan
. Kelsey was the 948th
bishop in the Episcopal succession.
Diocesan bishop
A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates....
of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America with canonical jurisdiction in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was organized in 1895 as the Episcopal Diocese of Marquette....
, based in Marquette
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
. He was consecrated July 24, 1999, at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Marquette, and died in a car accident while returning home from a parish visitation.
Kelsey, whose twin brother, the Reverend Stephen Kelsey, is a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut
Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut
The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the entire state of Connecticut. It is one of the nine original dioceses of the Episcopal Church and one of seven New England dioceses that make up Province 1.Its first bishop,...
, was born and reared in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and received degrees from Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
and General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
. He was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1977 and a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1978 by Bishop Robert S. Kerr of the Diocese of Vermont
Episcopal Diocese of Vermont
The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the state of Vermont. It was the first diocese in the Episcopal Church to elect a woman, Mary Adelia McLeod, as diocesan bishop....
. A proponent of Total Ministry
Total Ministry
Total Ministry, also sometimes called Local Shared Ministry, Ministering Communities in Mission, Mutual Ministry, or Circular Ministry, is a style of Christian ministry which empowers laity to take on roles traditionally given to parish priests, pastors, etc...
, he served from 1985 to 1989 as canon missioner for cluster ministries in the Oklahoma
Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma
The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma has been a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America since 1919. The diocese consists of all Episcopal congregations in the state of Oklahoma. The seventh Diocesan Bishop is the Right Reverend Edward J. Konieczny, consecrated on September 15,...
, then served for 10 years as ministry development coordinator in Northern Michigan before being elected bishop in 1999.
He was married and had three grown children.
Kelsey's chief consecrator to the office of bishop was Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
Frank Griswold. His consecrators included his predecessor as bishop of Northern Michigan, Thomas K. Ray, Edward L. Lee of Western Michigan
Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan is the Episcopal diocese in the western half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.The diocese is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan and covers a 33-county area that stretches from the Straits of Mackinac southward to the Indiana border and from Lake...
, R. Stewart Wood of Michigan
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan is the Episcopal diocese in the southeast part of Michigan.The diocese traces its roots to the founding of St. Paul's, Detroit in 1824. It became a diocese of the Episcopal Church in 1836, one year before the State of Michigan entered the Union. It covered the...
, and Edwin M. Leidel of Eastern Michigan
Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan
The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan is the Episcopal diocese in the eastern half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, not including the greater Detroit area, which is in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan....
. Kelsey was the 948th
Succession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States
This list consists of the bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, an independent province of the Anglican Communion. This shows the historic succession of the episcopate within this denomination.-Key to chart:...
bishop in the Episcopal succession.