Rayford Jeffrey Ray (born August 30, 1956) is the eleventh and current bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan.

Biography

Ray was born on August 30, 1956, in

Heidelberg Heidelberg (; ; ) is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, fifth-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, and with a population of about 163,000, of which roughly a quarter consists of studen ...

West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...

. He became a US citizen when he turned 18. He graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

in history and language from

Cameron University Cameron University is a public university in Lawton, Oklahoma. It offers more than 50 degrees through both undergraduate and graduate programs. The degree programs emphasize the liberal arts, science and technology, and graduate and professional ...

. He then became a middle school geography, social studies and American history teacher, before attending

Nashotah House Nashotah House is an Anglican seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin. The seminary opened in 1842 and received its official charter in 1847. The institution is independent and generally regarded as one of the more theologically conservative seminaries ...

for theological studies. He graduated in 1986. Ray was ordained deacon on June 21, 1986, and priest on April 1, 1987. He served congregations in Oklahoma until 1990, when he moved to Northern Michigan. He married Suzanne Ray, who is also a priest. On December 4, 2010, he was elected Bishop of Northern Michigan, after over three years of vacancy in the episcopal seat of the diocese. He was consecrated on May 21, 2011.

References

Living people 1956 births Clergy from Heidelberg German emigrants to the United States Episcopal bishops of Northern Michigan {{US-Anglican-bishop-stub

Biography

See also

References