Jeremiah Williamson
Jeremiah David Williamson | |
|---|---|
| 10th Bishop of Albany | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | Albany |
| In office | 2024−present |
| Predecessor | William H. Love |
| Previous post(s) | Rector, Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2016-2023) Rector, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Toledo Ohio (2009-2016) Curate, St. Johns Episcopal Church, Youngstown Ohio (2006-2009) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 17 April 2007 by Mark Hollingsworth |
| Consecration | 24 February 2024 by DeDe Duncan-Probe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 15th, 1980 (43 years old) |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Connie and David Williamson |
| Spouse | Jennifer Williamson |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Drew Theological School (MDiv) Greenville University (B.A.) |
Jeremiah David Williamson (born July 15, 1980) is an American prelate who has served as the 10th Bishop of Albany since February 2024. He previously served as Rector of Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 2016 to 2023, Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Toledo, Ohio from 2009 to 2016, and as Curate of St. John's Episcopal Church, Youngstown, Ohio from 2006 to 2009.[1] He was elected Bishop of the Diocese on September 9th, 2023, and was consecrated on February 24th, 2024, with both events taking place at the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, New York.[2][3]
Early life
Williamson grew up in the eastern Ohio town of Dover and was raised by his parents, Connie and David Williamson. He grew up in the United Methodist Church in Dover, then converted to Pentecostalism, and was a worship leader.[4]
Education
Williamson attended the Free Methodist Church affiliated institution Greenville University in Greenville, Illinois, and earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Contemporary Music and a Minor in Religion and Philosophy. According to his resume, at Greenville, he was a resident assistant, and worked as a member of the WGRN (FM), the campus affiliated radio station.[1]
He then went on to Drew University Theological School in Madison, New Jersey, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree, and served as the Theological Student Association president.[1]
Clergy career
Parish Ministry
On September 19th, 2006, Jeremiah was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons by Bishop John Croneberger,[5] and then served as a curate at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Youngstown, Ohio. There, he was tasked with doing a campus ministry, urban mission, and was named as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches "Hands On" program. While curate of St. Johns, on April 14, 2007, he was ordained as a Priest by Bishop Mark Hollingsworth. [5] In April of 2009, Williamson took the call to serve as Rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Toledo, Ohio, where he led the integration of a non-denominational church into the parish worship space, and was one of the regional deans of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. In 2016, he took the call to serve as the Rector of Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, he led the parish through a remortgage process after the church had lost money due to an alleged theft of church funds.[6] With the assistance of church members, his parish opened their doors of the church after the Club Q shooting to victims, and held a vigil in memory of them in the nave.[7]
Episcopal Ministry
After Bishop William H. Love announced his resignation in 2021 as a result of a Title IV violation for refusing to bless LGBTQ+ marriages, the Episcopal Diocese of Albany began a two year reconciliation process, which culminated in May of 2023 with the Diocese calling for a convention to elect a new Bishop in September of 2023. Later on in May 2023, Williamson was announced as one of four finalists in a global search by the Diocese, and on September 9th, 2023, at a special convention to elect a new bishop, the Diocese elected him as their bishop. He was later consecrated at the Cathedral of All Saints (Albany, New York) on February 24th, 2024, by the Right Reverend DeDe Duncan-Probe, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York with other bishops assisting.
Personal life
Williamson is married to Jennifer, a United Methodist Church elder, and they have two children. [8]
References
- ^ a b c "Jeremiah Williamson resume" (PDF). albanyepiscopaldiocese.org. 2023.
- ^ "THE CALL TO THE ELECTING CONVENTION FINAL" (PDF). albanyepiscopaldiocese.org. 2023.
- ^ Keegan, Meaghan (2024-02-26). "The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Consecrated Feb 24". Episcopal Diocese of Albany. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
- ^ II, Kenneth C. Crowe. "Bishop-elect prepares for role: 'I can see the passion for the church'". Times Union. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
- ^ a b "Church Pension Group | ECD". www.cpg.org. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ Post, Electa Draper | The Denver (2007-08-11). "Cops investigate theft report". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ Lewis ·, Shanna (2022-11-21). "Here are the Club Q vigils across Colorado this week that you can attend". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2023/09/11/jeremiah-williamson-elected-bishop-of-albany/