Richard T. Lawson
Richard T. Lawson | |
|---|---|
| Thirteenth Bishop of Alabama | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | Alabama |
| Elected | January 31, 2026 |
| Installed | June 27, 2026 |
| Predecessor | Glenda Curry |
| Previous posts | Dean and Rector, Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness, Denver, Colorado (2017-2026)
Rector. Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church and School, Memphis. TN (2010-2017) Rector. St. John's Episcopal Church, Decatur, AL (2004-2010) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2001 (deacon) by Onell Soto 2001 (priest) by Henry N. Parsley Jr. |
| Consecration | June 27, 2026 by Sean Rowe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1974 (age 51–52) |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse | Katherine Lawson |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Auburn University, B.A., 1997
General Theological Seminary, M.Div.. 2001 University of the South, M.S.T., 2009 |
| Alma mater | Auburn University General Theological Seminary University of the South |
Richard T. Lawson is the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama.
He was born in Guntersville, Alabama in 1974 and grew up in the United Methodist Church.[1] He was elected on the first ballot at the diocesan convention on January 31, 2026, and was ordained and consecrated at the Cathedral Church of the Advent on June 27, 2026.[2][3] The primary consecrator was Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.[4]
He attended Auburn University where he majored in religion and met his future wife, Katheriine, who was a life long Episcopalian and suggested that he attend an Episcopal Church. They were married in 1998.[1]
Ordained to the priesthood in 2001, after graduating from General Theological Seminary, Lawson served at St. John's Episcopal Church in Decatur, Alabama, from 2001-2010; Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee, 2010-2017; and the Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness in Denver, Colorado, 2017-2026.[5]
Personal
He is married to Katherine, with whom he has two children.
Bibliography
- "Gregory of Nyssa on the Song of Songs: Is the Erotic Left Behind?" in Sewanee Theological Review, 2010.
- “Mysticism and Pragmatism in Modern Religious Architecture” in Anglican Theological Review (Spring 2017)
- "Three Sketches of Symbols and Sacraments" in Reasonable Radical? Reading the Writings of Martyn Percy (edited by Ian Markham and Joshua Daniel) ISBN 978-1498242844
See also
References
- 1 2 Galaraga, Caleb. "For Alabama Bishop-Elect, New Call is a Homecoming". livingchurch.org. The Living Church. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
- ↑ Garrison, Greg (January 31, 2026). "New Episcopal bishop of Alabama elected". AL.com. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Election of the Very Rev. Richard Lawson as 13th Bishop of Alabama". The Episcopal Church in Alabama. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Galaraga, Caleb. "For Alabama Bishop-Elect, New Call is a Homecoming". livingchurch.org. The Living Church. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
- ↑ Garrison, Greg (2026-06-25). "Incoming Episcopal Church bishop with deep Alabama roots returning home with a mission". AL.com. Retrieved 2026-06-28.