Douglas Sparks

Douglas Everett Sparks (born January 8, 1956) is an American Episcopal bishop. He is the eighth and current bishop of Northern Indiana in The Episcopal Church.

The Right Reverend Douglas Sparks
Bishop of Northern Indiana
Doug Sparks celebrating Holy Eucharist on Ash Wednesday in 2016
Church	Episcopal Church
See	Northern Indiana
Predecessor	Edward S. Little II
Orders
Ordination	9 April 1983 (deacon) 2 June 1984 (priest) by Jesus Dosado, Archbishop of Ozamiz City, Philippines
Consecration	June 25, 2016 by Michael Bruce Curry
Personal details
Born	(1956-01-08) January 8, 1956
Nationality	American
Denomination	Anglicanism
Residence	South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Spouse	Dana Wirth
Previous post	St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Rochester, Minnesota
Alma mater	St. Mary's Seminary College

Ordained ministry

Roman Catholic Church

Sparks studied Philosophy at St. Mary's Seminary College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in May 1980.[1] He attended the De Andreis Institute of Theology, from which he graduated with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree in June 1984.[1]

Sparks was ordained in the Roman Catholic Church as a deacon in April 1983 and to the priesthood in June 1984.[1] He then served as a priest in Missouri, Colorado, and Illinois.[1]

Sparks (left) receiving the crozier from his predecessor

Episcopal Church

On June 4, 1989, Sparks was received as a priest into the Episcopal Church.[2] Sparks served as Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Whitewater, Wisconsin from 1990–95.[1]

After a further incumbency at St Matthias in Waukesha, Wisconsin, he spent eighteen months serving as Dean of Saint Paul's Cathedral, [Wellington, New Zealand.[1] Upon his return he became Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Rochester, Minnesota.[3]

On February 6, 2016, Sparks was elected as the next bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana.[4] On June 25, 2016, the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, he was consecrated a bishop by Michael Curry.[2]

Personal life

Sparks is married to Dana Wirth Sparks; the couple has three children Christina, Graham, and Gavin.[5]

See also

• List of Episcopal bishops of the United States
• Historical list of the Episcopal bishops of the United States

References

1. "Resume: Douglas Everett Sparks" (PDF). Episcopal Elections (pdf). 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
2. "Doug Sparks". Episcopal Clerical Directory. Church Pension Group. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
3. St Luke's, Whitewater, Wisconsin parish website, stlukesepiscopal.org; accessed September 1, 2017.
4. "Northern Indiana diocese elects Douglas E. Sparks as eighth bishop". Episcopal News Service. The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. February 8, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
5. "The Rev. Dr. Douglas Everett Sparks". Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 1, 2017.

Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Michael Henry Brown	Dean of Wellington 2003–2004	Succeeded by Frank Nelson