C. Wallis Ohl
Encyclopedia
Charles Wallis Ohl, Jr. is the Provisional Bishop
of Fort Worth in The Episcopal Church. Jack Iker had been the Bishop of Fort Worth in the Episcopal Church until a super-majority of the diocese voted to dissolve its union with the General Convention at the 2007 and 2008 diocesan conventions. Those members of the diocese who wished to remain in the Episcopal Church met in a special convention on February 7, 2009. Edwin F. Gulick, Jr., the Bishop of Kentucky who was planning to retire soon, was appointed as Provisional Bishop. In November 2009, the Annual Convention of that diocese elected Ohl as their new provisional bishop.
. His parents, a doctor and a nurse, raised him in Chickasha, Oklahoma
, where he lived until graduating from High School in 1961. He then attended the University of the South, where he received a BA in English literature in 1965. For the next six years he worked as in consumer finance. During that time he also spent two years serving in the US Marine Corps, completing his active duty as a corporal (E-4). In 1971, he moved to Nashotah, Wisconsin
with his wife, Sheila, to begin seminary at Nashotah House
in preparation for becoming an Episcopal priest. He was ordained deacon in December 1973 and priest in June 1974, both by Bishop Chilton Robert Powell, then Bishop of Oklahoma.
During his time as a priest, Ohl served several parishes, first in Oklahoma and then in Colorado. He began his ordained ministry at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oklahoma City before becoming the vicar of St. Michael's, a new mission the diocese had planted in Norman, Oklahoma
. After four years leading the parish as a mission, it was admitted to the diocese as a full parish. He continued to serve the parish until 1991 when St. Michael the Archangel in Colorado Springs, Colorado
called him to be their next rector.
In 1997, the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas
elected Ohl to be their next bishop. He was consecrated as the fourth Bishop of Northwest Texas
at the diocese's annual convention. As bishop, he served for nine years as a member of the Task Force on Title IV (the discipline canons for the Episcopal Church) and as a member of the Title IV Review Committee, the group which adjudicates alleged Title IV violations by clergy.
While Bishop of Northwest Texas, Ohl was a moderate. At the Thirteenth Lambeth Conference in 1998, he voted in favor of Resolution I.10 which rejected "homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture". In 2000, however, he voted in favor of adding a blessing for same-gender unions to the Book of Occasional Services and, in a separate resolution (D039), in favor of recognizing the fidelity and faithfulness of both marriage and other life-long committed relationships in the church. In 2003, he voted to consent to the election of Gene Robinson
, a gay partnered priest, as Bishop of New Hampshire
. Shortly thereafter, however, Ohl also affirmed the importance of the Windsor Process—a process laid out a commission appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury with the intent of healing the divisions and tensions that existed in the Anglican Communion following Robinson's consecration. Ohl has even been categorized by some as a "Windsor Bishop."
Also while Bishop of Northwest Texas, in 2005 the rector and a majority of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Midland, Texas
elected to leave the Episcopal Church. This, and the following departure of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in San Angelo
and Holy Trinity also in Midland, made him the center of lawsuits and controversy for a time.
He retired as Bishop of Northwest Texas in 2008, intending to "fade away into relative obscurity". The same year the Bishop of Fort Worth and a majority of the diocese departed the Episcopal Church. Edwin F. Gulick, Jr., the Bishop of Kentucky
, who was planning to retire soon, was appointed as Provisional Bishop. In 2009, Ohl was invited to celebrate an ordination service and began to feel a call to serve the Diocese of Fort Worth. Shortly thereafter, he was invited to be considered for election as their new Provisional Bishop. He accepted and was elected in November 2009.
Diocesan bishop
A diocesan bishop — in general — is a bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, metropolitans, and primates....
of Fort Worth in The Episcopal Church. Jack Iker had been the Bishop of Fort Worth in the Episcopal Church until a super-majority of the diocese voted to dissolve its union with the General Convention at the 2007 and 2008 diocesan conventions. Those members of the diocese who wished to remain in the Episcopal Church met in a special convention on February 7, 2009. Edwin F. Gulick, Jr., the Bishop of Kentucky who was planning to retire soon, was appointed as Provisional Bishop. In November 2009, the Annual Convention of that diocese elected Ohl as their new provisional bishop.
Biography
Charles Wallis Ohl, Jr., was born in Bay City, TexasBay City, Texas
Bay City is a city in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,667 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Matagorda County. The current mayor is Mark Bricker.-Geography:Bay City is located at...
. His parents, a doctor and a nurse, raised him in Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha is a city in and the county seat, business and employment center of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,850 at the 2000 census. Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and hosts an annual Festival of Light celebration located at...
, where he lived until graduating from High School in 1961. He then attended the University of the South, where he received a BA in English literature in 1965. For the next six years he worked as in consumer finance. During that time he also spent two years serving in the US Marine Corps, completing his active duty as a corporal (E-4). In 1971, he moved to Nashotah, Wisconsin
Nashotah, Wisconsin
Nashotah is a village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,266 at the 2000 census.-Education:Nashotah House, a seminary of The Episcopal Church, is in Nashotah.-Geography:...
with his wife, Sheila, to begin seminary at Nashotah House
Nashotah House
Nashotah House is an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church located in Nashotah, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee, in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. The seminary opened its doors in 1842 and received its official charter in 1847...
in preparation for becoming an Episcopal priest. He was ordained deacon in December 1973 and priest in June 1974, both by Bishop Chilton Robert Powell, then Bishop of Oklahoma.
During his time as a priest, Ohl served several parishes, first in Oklahoma and then in Colorado. He began his ordained ministry at St. Paul's Cathedral in Oklahoma City before becoming the vicar of St. Michael's, a new mission the diocese had planted in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
. After four years leading the parish as a mission, it was admitted to the diocese as a full parish. He continued to serve the parish until 1991 when St. Michael the Archangel in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
called him to be their next rector.
In 1997, the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas
Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas
The Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas is one of the Dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is in Province 7....
elected Ohl to be their next bishop. He was consecrated as the fourth Bishop of Northwest Texas
Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas
The Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas is one of the Dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is in Province 7....
at the diocese's annual convention. As bishop, he served for nine years as a member of the Task Force on Title IV (the discipline canons for the Episcopal Church) and as a member of the Title IV Review Committee, the group which adjudicates alleged Title IV violations by clergy.
While Bishop of Northwest Texas, Ohl was a moderate. At the Thirteenth Lambeth Conference in 1998, he voted in favor of Resolution I.10 which rejected "homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture". In 2000, however, he voted in favor of adding a blessing for same-gender unions to the Book of Occasional Services and, in a separate resolution (D039), in favor of recognizing the fidelity and faithfulness of both marriage and other life-long committed relationships in the church. In 2003, he voted to consent to the election of Gene Robinson
Gene Robinson
Vicki Gene Robinson is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Robinson was elected bishop in 2003 and entered office in March 2004...
, a gay partnered priest, as Bishop of New Hampshire
Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America , covers the entire state of New Hampshire. It was originally part of the Diocese of Massachusetts, but became independent in 1841. The see city is Concord...
. Shortly thereafter, however, Ohl also affirmed the importance of the Windsor Process—a process laid out a commission appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury with the intent of healing the divisions and tensions that existed in the Anglican Communion following Robinson's consecration. Ohl has even been categorized by some as a "Windsor Bishop."
Also while Bishop of Northwest Texas, in 2005 the rector and a majority of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
elected to leave the Episcopal Church. This, and the following departure of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in San Angelo
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
and Holy Trinity also in Midland, made him the center of lawsuits and controversy for a time.
He retired as Bishop of Northwest Texas in 2008, intending to "fade away into relative obscurity". The same year the Bishop of Fort Worth and a majority of the diocese departed the Episcopal Church. Edwin F. Gulick, Jr., the Bishop of Kentucky
Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky
The Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the western half of the state of Kentucky. The diocese, which originally comprised all of Kentucky, consecrated its first bishop, the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, in 1832...
, who was planning to retire soon, was appointed as Provisional Bishop. In 2009, Ohl was invited to celebrate an ordination service and began to feel a call to serve the Diocese of Fort Worth. Shortly thereafter, he was invited to be considered for election as their new Provisional Bishop. He accepted and was elected in November 2009.
See also
- List of Succession of Bishops for the Episcopal Church, USASuccession 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:...