John Burgess (bishop)

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The Right Reverend

John Melville Burgess

D.D.
MDiv
)

John Melville Burgess (March 11, 1909 – August 24, 2003) was the twelfth

African American to head an Episcopal diocese.[1]

Biography

Burgess was the son of Theodore Thomas (a dining car waiter on the

Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received a B.A. in 1930 and an M.A. in 1931 from the University of Michigan. Burgess then earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1934, of which he was one of the first black graduates.[2]

After beginning his ministry in his home parish of St. Philip's Episcopal; a

Boston's parishes and missions and superintendent of what became named the Episcopal City Mission. He was the first black archdeacon in New England.[3]

In 1962, Burgess was elected on the first ballot[4] as a suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, becoming the first African American to serve the Episcopal Church as spiritual leader in a predominantly white diocese.[5] When Burgess was installed as diocesan bishop in 1970, he became the first African American to head an Episcopal diocese.

Burgess was known for his efforts to revitalize urban ministry, confront racism in public schools, support prison reform, build bridges between black and white communities, and improve the efficiency of the diocese. He was an important ecumenical leader in maintaining peace during the

Boston school desegregation crisis.[2] His wife, Esther Burgess
, was also active as a peaceful demonstrator against segregation.

Following his retirement in 1975, Burgess taught pastoral theology at

St. Augustine's College.[6]

Selected works

References

Endnotes

  1. ^ "History of the Diocese". Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-19-516024-X
    .
  3. ^ Driscoll Jr., Edgar J. (August 27, 2003). "Bishop John Burgess, 94; broke color barrier in Mass". Boston Globe. Boston, MA: Globe Newspaper Company. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  5. ^ "Religion: Boston's Negro Bishop". Time Magazine. December 21, 1962. Archived from the original on March 8, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  6. ^ Brennan, Carol (2005). "John M. Burgess,1909-2003". Contemporary Black Biography. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
Episcopal Church (USA) titles
Preceded by Bishop of Massachusetts
1970–1975 		Succeeded by


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