William E. Swing
Encyclopedia
William Edwin Swing is a retired bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States. He was the Bishop of California
, based in San Francisco, from 1980 to 2006.
Swing was ordained a deacon at Huntington, West Virginia, on June 11, 1961; he was ordained a priest at Wheeling, West Virginia on December 20, 1961 and consecrated as the VII Bishop of California at Grace Cathedral
, San Francisco, on September 29, 1979. He is the Founder and President of the United Religions Initiative
(URI), an international NGO working to promote interfaith cooperation. He is an author and inspirational speaker and has received numerous awards for his commitment to service.
in 1958 and 1981, a M.Div. and D.D. from Virginia Theological Seminary
in 1961 and 1980, L.H.D. from the University of San Francisco
, 2005, D.D. Church Divinity School of the Pacific
in 2007, a D.H.L from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
in 2009. He was appointed curate of St. Matthew’s Church in Wheeling, West Virginia from 1961–63; vicar of St. Thomas’ Weirton, and St. Matthew’s Chester, West Virginia from 1963-69. Elected rector of St. Columba's Episcopal Church from 1969-79. Swing is the recipient of many honorary doctoral degrees including the Jesuit sponsored University of San Francisco
.
and to homelessness
. He served for over two decades on the board of the American Foundation for AIDS Research and was active in his hometown of San Francisco on a daily basis with alcohol and drug rehabilitation, Latino immigrant ministries, care for the elderly and homelessness.
Swing founded the United Religions Initiative as a model to the United Nations. In 1996 he traveled to China, Japan, South Korea, India the Middle East, and Europe seeking guidance and commitment from leaders of many of the world’s religions, including the Dalai Lama
, Mother Teresa
, the Shankaracharya
of Kanchipuram, Islam’s Grand Mufti
of Egypt, and the Archbishop of Canterbury
.
In 2008 the Bishop Swing Community House, a permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless adults, in the South of Market, San Francisco was named after him.
Episcopal Diocese of California
The Episcopal Diocese of California is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in Northern California...
, based in San Francisco, from 1980 to 2006.
Swing was ordained a deacon at Huntington, West Virginia, on June 11, 1961; he was ordained a priest at Wheeling, West Virginia on December 20, 1961 and consecrated as the VII Bishop of California at Grace Cathedral
Grace Cathedral
Grace Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral located on Nob Hill in San Francisco. It is the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of California, once state-wide in area, now comprising parts of the San Francisco Bay Area...
, San Francisco, on September 29, 1979. He is the Founder and President of the United Religions Initiative
United Religions Initiative
The United Religions Initiative is an international, grassroots, interfaith bridge-building organization modeled after the United Nations...
(URI), an international NGO working to promote interfaith cooperation. He is an author and inspirational speaker and has received numerous awards for his commitment to service.
Biography
Born in West Virginia, Swing received a A.B. and D.D. from Kenyon CollegeKenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
in 1958 and 1981, a M.Div. and D.D. from Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
in 1961 and 1980, L.H.D. from the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
, 2005, D.D. Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Church Divinity School of the Pacific is one of the eleven seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is located in Berkeley, California, and is a member of the Graduate Theological Union...
in 2007, a D.H.L from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
Palo Alto University is a not-for-profit free-standing educational institute in Palo Alto, California...
in 2009. He was appointed curate of St. Matthew’s Church in Wheeling, West Virginia from 1961–63; vicar of St. Thomas’ Weirton, and St. Matthew’s Chester, West Virginia from 1963-69. Elected rector of St. Columba's Episcopal Church from 1969-79. Swing is the recipient of many honorary doctoral degrees including the Jesuit sponsored University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
.
Work
During his time as bishop, Swing was a pioneer in responding to the HIVAIDS epidemicAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and to homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
. He served for over two decades on the board of the American Foundation for AIDS Research and was active in his hometown of San Francisco on a daily basis with alcohol and drug rehabilitation, Latino immigrant ministries, care for the elderly and homelessness.
Swing founded the United Religions Initiative as a model to the United Nations. In 1996 he traveled to China, Japan, South Korea, India the Middle East, and Europe seeking guidance and commitment from leaders of many of the world’s religions, including the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
, Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
, the Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
of Kanchipuram, Islam’s Grand Mufti
Grand Mufti
The title of Grand Mufti refers to the highest official of religious law in a Sunni or Ibadi Muslim country. The Grand Mufti issues legal opinions and edicts, fatwā, on interpretations of Islamic law for private clients or to assist judges in deciding cases...
of Egypt, and the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
.
In 2008 the Bishop Swing Community House, a permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless adults, in the South of Market, San Francisco was named after him.