Mary Gray-Reeves
Encyclopedia
Mary Gray-Reeves became the first woman Episcopal diocesan bishop
in California
on November 10, 2007, when she was ordained and consecrated the third bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
at services in Saratoga
. She had formerly been the archdeacon
for deployment
in the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
.
, in 1962 and grew up in the Miami neighborhood of Coconut Grove
, where she attended St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. After high school, she attended California State University, Fullerton
, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in history in 1987. After her decision to seek holy orders
, she and her husband, Michael Reeves, went to New Zealand
because she could attend theological school
at St John's College, Auckland
, while he could attend to his business which involved much travel in the western Pacific. In 1994 she graduated from St John's and received the equivalent of the American Master of Divinity
degree.
and then priest
in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
. After being assistant rector of two churches in that diocese, she and her husband returned to the Miami area where she became rector of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Miami Lakes
. After six years at St. Margaret's she was appointed archdeacon for deployment for the diocese of Southeast Florida. On June 16, 2007, the Diocese of El Camino Real at convention in Monterey
elected Mary Gray-Reeves its third bishop.
At the 2008 meeting of the Lambeth Conferences of the Anglican Communion, Bishops Mary Gray-Reeves of El Camino Real, Michael Perham of Gloucester, and Gerard Mpango of Western Tanganyika formed a Partnership of their Dioceses. This successful Companion Diocese relationship has resulted in an annual round of visits between the bishops and delegations to each other's home countries and the 2011 book The Hospitality of God by Mary Gray-Reeves and Michael Perham. On 30 June 2010, the three Bishops wrote a joint letter to Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury about what they were learning. In 2010, Bishop Sadock Makaya succeeded Bishop Gerard Mpango in the partnership.
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...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on November 10, 2007, when she was ordained and consecrated the third bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
The Diocese of El Camino Real is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, located in northern and central California. The diocese includes the cities of San Jose , Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo...
at services in Saratoga
Saratoga, California
Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census....
. She had formerly been 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...
for deployment
Deployment
Deployment may refer to:* Deployment flowchart, a process mapping tool used to articulate the steps and stakeholders of a given process* System deployment, transforming a mechanical, electrical, or computer system from a packaged form to an operational state* Software deployment, all of the...
in the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida
The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America which extends from Key West on the south, to Jensen Beach on the north and inland to Clewiston on the west. Major cities in the diocese are Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach...
.
Early life and education
Mary Gray-Reeves was born in Coral Gables, FloridaCoral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
, in 1962 and grew up in the Miami neighborhood of Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove, Florida
Coconut Grove is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami, Florida in Miami-Dade County, United States. The neighborhood is roughly bound by North Prospect Drive to the south, LeJeune Road to the west, South Dixie Highway and Rickenbacker Causeway to the north, and Biscayne Bay to...
, where she attended St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. After high school, she attended California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in history in 1987. After her decision to seek holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, she and her husband, Michael Reeves, went to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
because she could attend theological school
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
at St John's College, Auckland
St John's College, Auckland
The College of St John the Evangelist, located in Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand, is the theological college of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia...
, while he could attend to his business which involved much travel in the western Pacific. In 1994 she graduated from St John's and received the equivalent of the American 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...
degree.
Career
After she and her husband returned to California, she was ordained deaconDeacon
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...
and then 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 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....
. After being assistant rector of two churches in that diocese, she and her husband returned to the Miami area where she became rector of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Miami Lakes
Miami Lakes, Florida
Miami Lakes is a Miami suburban incorporated town and former census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 22,676 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
. After six years at St. Margaret's she was appointed archdeacon for deployment for the diocese of Southeast Florida. On June 16, 2007, the Diocese of El Camino Real at convention in Monterey
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
elected Mary Gray-Reeves its third bishop.
At the 2008 meeting of the Lambeth Conferences of the Anglican Communion, Bishops Mary Gray-Reeves of El Camino Real, Michael Perham of Gloucester, and Gerard Mpango of Western Tanganyika formed a Partnership of their Dioceses. This successful Companion Diocese relationship has resulted in an annual round of visits between the bishops and delegations to each other's home countries and the 2011 book The Hospitality of God by Mary Gray-Reeves and Michael Perham. On 30 June 2010, the three Bishops wrote a joint letter to Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury about what they were learning. In 2010, Bishop Sadock Makaya succeeded Bishop Gerard Mpango in the partnership.
Family
Mary Gray-Reeves and her husband, Michael Reeves, have two teen-aged children,Katherine and Dorian.See also
- Succession of Bishops of The Episcopal Church (U.S.). Mary Gray-Reeves is # 1022 on the list.