Douglas Sparks
Douglas Everett Sparks (born January 8, 1956) is an American Episcopal bishop. He is the eighth and current bishop of Northern Indiana in The Episcopal Church.
The Right Reverend Douglas Sparks | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Northern Indiana | |
 Bishop Sparks celebrating Holy Eucharist on Ash Wednesday 2016 | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | Northern Indiana |
| Elected | February 6, 2016 |
| In office | 2016–present |
| Predecessor | Edward S. Little II |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | April 9, 1983 (Roman Catholic deacon) June 2, 1984 (Roman Catholic priest) by Jesus Dosado |
| Consecration | June 25, 2016 (Episcopalian) by Michael Bruce Curry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 8, 1956 |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican (prev. Roman Catholic) |
| Residence | South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Dana Wirth Sparks (m. 1988) |
| Children | 3 |
| Previous post(s) | St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Rochester, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | St. Mary's Seminary College |
Ordained ministry
Roman Catholic Church
Sparks studied Philosophy at St. Mary's Seminary College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in May 1980.[1] He attended the De Andreis Institute of Theology, from which he graduated with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in June 1984.[1]
Sparks was ordained in the Roman Catholic Church as a deacon in April 1983 and to the priesthood in June 1984.[1] He then served as a priest in Missouri, Colorado, and Illinois.[1]
Episcopal Church
On June 4, 1989, Sparks was received as a priest into the Episcopal Church.[2] Sparks served as Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Whitewater, Wisconsin from 1990 to 1995.[1]
After a further incumbency at St Matthias in Waukesha, Wisconsin, he spent eighteen months serving as Dean of Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington, New Zealand.[1] Upon his return he became Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Rochester, Minnesota.[3]
On February 6, 2016, Sparks was elected as the next bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana.[4] On June 25, 2016, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, he was consecrated a bishop by Michael Curry.[2]
Personal life
Sparks is married to Dana Wirth Sparks; the couple has three children Christina, Graham, and Gavin.[5]
See also
References
- "Resume: Douglas Everett Sparks" (PDF). Episcopal Elections (pdf). 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
- "Doug Sparks". Episcopal Clerical Directory. Church Pension Group. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
- St Luke's, Whitewater, Wisconsin parish website, stlukesepiscopal.org; accessed September 1, 2017.
- "Northern Indiana diocese elects Douglas E. Sparks as eighth bishop". Episcopal News Service. The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. February 8, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
- "The Rev. Dr. Douglas Everett Sparks". Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 1, 2017.