Brian Kendall Burgess (born November 6, 1960)[1] is the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield. He was the Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Woodbury, New Jersey,[2] Dean of the Woodbury Convocation.[3]


Brian K. Burgess

Bishop-elect of Springfield
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseSpringfield
ElectedDecember 11, 2020
PredecessorThe Right Rev. Dan Martins
Previous post(s)Rector - Christ Episcopal Church, Woodbury, NJ
Associate Rector & Day School Chaplain - St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, LA
Rector - St. John’s Episcopal Church, Brooksville, FL
Orders
OrdinationThe Sacred Order of Deacons - June 12, 1999
The Sacred Order of Priests - December 18, 1999
ConsecrationMay 22, 2022
Personal details
BornNovember 6, 1960
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican-Episcopal
Alma materBall State University
Sewanee

Biography

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Burgess was born in Tampa, Florida, and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. After graduating from Ball State University with a BS in Music Education, he became the Director of Bands at North Fort Myers High School and then the Emergency Management Operations Coordinator and Training Coordinator for the Lee County Emergency Management Office.[1] Burgess was also a sworn law enforcement officer.[4]

Burgess left the Emergency Management Office to attend Sewanee, entering the seminary there and graduating in 1999 with his MDiv degree and was called as Deacon-in-Charge and then (following his ordination as a priest) Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Brooksville, Florida.[5][6] After a four-year period as the Chaplain of Saint Luke’s Church Parish Day School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana he was called as Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Woodbury, New Jersey in 2005.[7][8]

On October 16, 2019, Burgess was invited to open the United States House of Representatives in prayer by the House Chaplain and the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, after being sponsored by Representative Trey Hollingsworth.[9][10]

Fr. Burgess was nominated for Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield in the late Spring of 2021,[11] and after a nominating synod was officially announced as one of the three finalists on October 16, 2021, passing through on the third ballot.[12] On December 11, 2021, he was elected as Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield on the second ballot.[13]

Personal life

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Bishop Burgess has been married to his wife, Denise, since 1985; they have two children, Robert and Catherine.[7] His nephew is a Catholic priest who serves as a pastor in Orlando, Florida.[14] He is also an FCC licensed-ham radio operator under the callsign KD4UTL.[1][15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "THE RIGHT REV BRIAN KENDALL BURGESS". The Episcopal Diocese of Springfield. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  2. ^ "Episcopal Clerical Directory". Church Pension Group. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  3. ^ "Springfield Episcopal diocese elects New Jersey rector as new bishop". State Journal-Register. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  4. ^ Petersen, Kirk (December 13, 2021). "Springfield Elects New Jersey Priest as Next Bishop". The Living Church. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14.
  5. ^ "New priest brings energy, diverse skills to St. John's". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 2021-12-28. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  6. ^ Johnson, Jean (September 27, 2005). "Renovations, New Rector Breathe Life Into Church". The Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25.
  7. ^ a b "Christ Episcopal Church - Parish Leadership". Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  8. ^ Bishop-elect Profile, Diocese of Springfield (December 13, 2021). "The Very Rev. Brian Kendall Burgess". Diocese of Springfield. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01.
  9. ^ "User Clip: Rev Brian Burgess Give Prayer To Congress | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  10. ^ "Guest Chaplain Information, Office of the Chaplain". chaplain.house.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  11. ^ "The Election Process Timeline for the 12th Bishop of Springfield (IL)". The Episcopal Diocese of Springfield. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  12. ^ "Results of Third Nominating Ballot". Diocese of Springfield, Official Facebook Page. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  13. ^ "Results of Second Election Ballot". Diocese of Springfield, Official Facebook Page. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  14. ^ Karas, David; Correspondent (13 January 2022). "Rector of local Anglican church elected next bishop of Episcopal Diocese in Illinois | Catholic Star Herald". Retrieved 2022-03-03. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ Universal Licensing System, Federal Communications Commission (January 25, 2021). "Amateur License - KD4UTL - Burgess, Brian K." FCC ULS. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25.