Scott Benhase

Last updated
The Right Reverend

Scott Anson Benhase

D.Min., D.D.
Bishop of Georgia
Scottabenhase.jpg
Church Episcopal Church
Diocese Georgia
ElectedSeptember 12, 2009
In office2010–2020
Predecessor Henry I. Louttit
Successor Frank S. Logue
Orders
Ordination1984
ConsecrationJanuary 23, 2010
by  Katharine Jefferts Schori
Personal details
Born (1957-06-04) June 4, 1957 (age 66)
Berne Union, Ohio, United States
Nationality American
Denomination Anglican
ParentsCarl Benhase & Annaree Potter
SpouseKelly Jones
ChildrenJohn Benhase

Charley Benhase

Mary Grace Benhase

Scott Anson Benhase (born June 4, 1957) [1] is an American Episcopal bishop. He was the tenth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia in the United States. He was elected September 12, 2009 to succeed Henry I. Louttit. [2]

Contents

Education

Benhase graduated from Loveland High School in Ohio in 1975. [3] He received a BA in Religion from DePauw University in Indiana in 1979. He graduated from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1983. While serving as a parish priest in East Cleveland, Ohio, he earned a Master's in Urban Affairs from the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. In 2009, just prior to his election as bishop, Benhase earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary. [4] In keeping with tradition, he has also been awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Sewanee.

Life

Benhase served at parishes in Indianapolis, Indiana; Durham, North Carolina; East Cleveland, Ohio; and Charlottesville, Virginia before he was called to be rector of St. Alban's, Washington, D.C. (Diocese of Washington) in 2006. St. He is married to Kelly Jones Benhase and they have three children, John, Charley, and Mary Grace. [5] He was a founding member of the Order of the Ascension, a dispersed Christian community with a shared commitment to parish revitalization and the struggle for justice in the church and society. [6] He has twice served as the Presiding Officer of the Order. [7]

Episcopacy

Benhase was elected 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia on a second ballot from the field of six nominees. He received 76 votes of 146 cast in the lay order and 58 of 103 cast in the clergy order. The special election convention, held at the Dubose Porter Center in Dublin, Georgia, was the Diocese of Georgia's 188th convention. His ordination and consecration as bishop of Georgia was held January 23, 2010 at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. [8]

Benhase's major initiative was the Campaign for Congregational Development, a capital campaign raising funds to enhance capacity in congregational growth and development, clergy and lay leader development, and leadership formation of youth and young adults. [9] In his address to the diocesan convention in 2019, Benhase announced he was committing three percent of the diocesan endowment to begin a new center for racial reconciliation and healing. [10] Frank S. Logue succeeded Benhase on his May 30, 2020 consecration. [11]

See also

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References

  1. Episcopal Clerical Directory 2013 (2013). New York: Church Publishing Inc. ISBN   978-0-89869-888-6, p. 83.
  2. "Episcopal Diocese of Georgia". georgia.anglican.org.
  3. "Loveland grad chosen as Georgia bishop". The Loveland Herald. The Community Press. October 20, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2009. The Rev. Scott Benhase, a 1975 graduate of Loveland High School, is the newly elected Episcopal bishop for the state of Georgia.
  4. "'A different way of being Christian' | savannahnow.com". Archived from the original on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
  5. "Georgiabishopsearch.org". Archived from the original on 2010-08-31. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  6. "History". Archived from the original on 2010-07-10. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  7. "News". Archived from the original on 2000-09-18. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  8. "Episcopal News Service - DIOCESAN DIGEST". Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  9. "Lead – Grow – Share – The Campaign for Congregational Development". campaign.georgiaepiscopal.org.
  10. Bishop's Address of 2019, Diocese of Georgia Archives, retrieved November 20, 2019
  11. Episcopal Diocese of Georgia elects Rev Frank Logue 11th Bishop, Savannah Morning News, retrieved November 16, 2019

Sources