Frank Griswold


Frank Tracy Griswold III is a retired American bishop. He was the 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

Early life and education

Griswold was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was educated at St Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Harvard College. He attended the General Theological Seminary and also earned another Bachelor of Arts degree in theology at Oriel College, Oxford University.

Ordained ministry

Griswold was ordained priest in 1963 and then served at three parishes in Pennsylvania, including St Andrew's Church in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and St Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1976 until his nomination as Bishop of Chicago, a position he held from 1987 until he became the presiding bishop in 1998.
Griswold was co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission from 1998 to 2003. He was a member of the standing committee for the 1998 Lambeth Conference. He has also served on diocesan, national and international committees for liturgy, worship and ecumenism. He is interested in interfaith dialogue and currently sits on the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.
Griswold's term as presiding bishop ended on November 1, 2006. He was succeeded by Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman to become a primate in the Anglican Communion. He continues a ministry of teaching, preaching, writing, lecturing
and leading retreats, nationally and internationally. Since he completed his term as presiding bishop he has served as a visiting professor at seminaries and universities in South Korea, Cuba and Japan, as well as at the Episcopal Divinity School and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Virginia Theological Seminary and Seabury-Western. He also serves as bishop visitor to the Society of St. John the Evangelist. His books include Going Home Praying our Days: A guide and companion Tracking Down the Holy Ghost: reflections on love and longing

Personal life

Griswold and his wife, Phoebe Griswold, live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the father of author Eliza Griswold. He is a cousin of both Sheldon M. Griswold and Alexander Viets Griswold, both Episcopal bishops.

Honors

He has received honorary degrees from the General Theological Seminary, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Nashotah House,, Rikkyo University and Berkeley Divinity School, the Virginia Theological Seminary, Seminary of the Southwest and Episcopal Divinity School. He was also made an Associate Sub Prelate of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Consecrators

Griswold was the 794th bishop consecrated in the Episcopal Church.