Mark S. Sisk
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Mark Sean Sisk (born Takoma Park, Maryland
, 1942) is the 15th Episcopal Bishop of New York.
from The University of Maryland in 1964. He had a call to ministry, and went to The General Theological Seminary
in New York City
, where he earned his M.Div. in 1967. He later got honorary doctorates from General Theological Seminary, Honorary Doctor of Divinity, in 1984, and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
, in 1998.
He is married to the former Karen Womack Calvert. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Sisk was a curate
for three years at Christ Episcopal Church, in New Brunswick, New Jersey
, and a priest
for three more years at Christ Episcopal Church
in Bronxville, New York
. He was then rector
of St. John's Episcopal Church in Kingston, New York
from 1973-1977. From 1977 through 1984, he was the Archdeacon
of three suburban counties, under the 13th Bishop of New York, Paul Moore. As part of his duties, he started a Japanese congregation, now in Scarsdale
, and a Latino congregation in Yonkers.
From 1984 to 1998, Sisk was President and Dean
of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
in Evanston, Illinois
.
As Bishop, he is actively involved in preaching to churches in his diocese, as well as the Cathedral. He raises millions of dollars for Episcopal charities. Sisk is also involved in ecumenism
with the Roman Catholic Church
.
and the Washington Post. The New York Times often interviews him on social and religious topics. He takes stances on a variety of issues. He has written many letters that have been collected by the Anglican Communion
.
Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
, 1942) is the 15th Episcopal Bishop of New York.
Early education, career, and marriage
Sisk received his B.S. in EconomicsEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from The University of Maryland in 1964. He had a call to ministry, and went to The 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....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he earned his M.Div. in 1967. He later got honorary doctorates from General Theological Seminary, Honorary Doctor of Divinity, in 1984, and 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...
, in 1998.
He is married to the former Karen Womack Calvert. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Sisk was a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
for three years at Christ Episcopal Church, in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, 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...
for three more years at Christ Episcopal Church
Christ Episcopal Church
Christ Episcopal Church or Christ Church Episcopal may refer to:Colorado* Christ Episcopal Church , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Fremont County, ColoradoFlorida...
in Bronxville, New York
Bronxville, New York
Bronxville is an affluent village within the town of Eastchester, New York, in the United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately north of midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County. At the 2010 census, Bronxville had a population of 6,323...
. He was then 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 St. John's Episcopal Church in Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
from 1973-1977. From 1977 through 1984, he was the Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of three suburban counties, under the 13th Bishop of New York, Paul Moore. As part of his duties, he started a Japanese congregation, now in Scarsdale
Scarsdale
Scarsdale could be*Scarsdale, New York, a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, for which The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet is named...
, and a Latino congregation in Yonkers.
From 1984 to 1998, Sisk was President and Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of 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...
in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
.
Bishop of New York
Sisk was elected and consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of New York in 1998. He was installed as the Bishop of New York at a ceremony on September 29, 2001 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.As Bishop, he is actively involved in preaching to churches in his diocese, as well as the Cathedral. He raises millions of dollars for Episcopal charities. Sisk is also involved in ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Criticism
Sisk has engendered some criticism from the press for some of his actions as bishop, in particular the firing of a radical priest. He also got involved in the controversy over Bishop Moore's bisexuality.Public comments
As a leader in the church, Sisk is often asked to comment on public issues. He has a regular column in NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
and the Washington Post. The New York Times often interviews him on social and religious topics. He takes stances on a variety of issues. He has written many letters that have been collected by the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.
See also
- List of Bishop Succession in the Episcopal ChurchSuccession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United StatesThis 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:...