John Forsythe Ashby (March 26, 1929 – May 10, 2001) was an American bishop in the Episcopal Church.[1]

The Right Reverend

John Forsythe Ashby
Bishop of Western Texas
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseWestern Texas
ElectedFebruary 14, 1981
In office1981-1995
PredecessorWilliam Davidson
SuccessorVernon E. Strickland
Orders
OrdinationDecember 1955
by W. R. Chilton Powell
ConsecrationMay 21, 1981
by John Allin
Personal details
Born(1929-03-26)March 26, 1929
DiedMay 10, 2001(2001-05-10) (aged 72)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
DenominationAnglican
ParentsThomas Albert Ashby & Margaret Mote
Spouse
Mary Carver
(m. 1954)
Children2

Early life and education

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Ashby was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 26, 1929, son of Thomas Albert Ashby and Margaret Mote.[2] He received a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology from Oklahoma State University in 1952 and a master's degree in divinity from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in 1955.[3] Between 1966 and 1967, he studied New Testament ethics as a member of Pembroke College, Cambridge in England and was awarded a Master of Arts in 1967. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in 1981. He married Mary Carver on August 12, 1954, and together had two children.

Ordained ministry

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Ashby was ordained priest in December 1955 and became vicar of St John's Church in Durant, Oklahoma, and St Peter's Church in Coalgate, Oklahoma. In 1959 he became rector of St Luke's Church, in Ada, Oklahoma, where he remained until 1981. He was also a chaplain in the Oklahoma National Guard and held the rank of lieutenant colonel.[4]

Bishop

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On February 14, 1981, Ashby was elected on the sixth ballot as the second Bishop of Western Kansas during a special diocesan convention. He was then consecrated on May 21, 1981, at St. John's Military School in Salina, Kansas. He led the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas until his retirement in 1995.[5][6] In 1986, he travelled to Guam to serve as interim bishop of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia.[7] In 1992, as an ecumenical gesture, he named a Roman Catholic priest an honorary canon.[8] He retired in January 1995. He died in 2001.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Past Bishops". diowks.org. The Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  2. ^ "Consecration set Thursday for new Episcopal bishop". The Salina Journal. 1981-05-18. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  3. ^ "Former bishop dies at 72; educated, served in state". The Oklahoman. 2001-05-11. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  4. ^ "John F. Ashby, retired bishop of western Kansas, dies". Tulsa World. 2001-05-13. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  5. ^ "New bishop arrives". The Salina Journal. 1981-05-08. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  6. ^ "Bishop Ashby of Western Kansas Dies". The Living Church. Vol. 222, no. 22. 2001-06-03. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-11-13 – via episcopalarchives.org.
  7. ^ Clouston, David (1986-06-11). "Salina bishop to be Guam troubleshooter". The Salina Journal. p. 2.
  8. ^ "Salina Catholic Editor Honored By Local Episcopal Cathedral". The Catholic News & Herald. Diocese of Charlotte. Catholic News Service. 1992-03-13. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Obituary for John F. Ashby". The Salina Journal. 2001-06-20. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
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