For the English footballer, see Jack Spong (footballer).
The Right Reverend
John Shelby Spong
Bishop Emeritus of Newark
Spong in 2006
Church
Episcopal Church
Province
Province 2
Diocese
Newark
In office
1979–2000
Predecessor
George Rath
Successor
John P. Croneberger
Orders
Ordination
December 1955 by Edwin A. Penick
Consecration
June 12, 1976 by John Allin
Personal details
Born
(1931-06-16)June 16, 1931
Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Died
September 12, 2021(2021-09-12) (aged 90) Richmond, Virginia, US
Nationality
American
Denomination
Anglican
Parents
John Shelby Spong, Doolie Boyce Griffith
Spouse
Joan Lydia Ketner (m. 1952, d. 1988) Christine Mary Bridger (m. 1990)
Children
5
Previous post(s)
Coadjutor Bishop of Newark (1976–1979)
Alma mater
University of North Carolina Virginia Theological Seminary
Website
johnshelbyspong.com
John Shelby "Jack" Spong (June 16, 1931 – September 12, 2021) was an American bishop of the Episcopal Church, born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served as the Bishop of Newark, New Jersey from 1979 to 2000. Spong was a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator, and author who called for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines.[1] He was known for his progressive and controversial views on Christianity, including his rejection of traditional Christian doctrines, his advocacy for LGBTQ rights, and his support for interfaith dialogue.[2] Spong was a contributor to the Living the Questions DVD program and was a guest on numerous national television broadcasts. Spong died on September 12, 2021, at his home in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 90.[3]
^Interview with John Shelby Spong. ABC Radio Australia, June 17, 2001
^Paulsen, David (2021-09-13). "RIP: John Shelby Spong, former Newark bishop who pushed for LGBTQ+ inclusion, dies at 90". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
^Risen, Clay (2021-09-19). "John Shelby Spong, 90, Dies; Sought to Open Up the Episcopal Church". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
JohnShelby "Jack" Spong (June 16, 1931 – September 12, 2021) was an American bishop of the Episcopal Church, born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served...
manufacturers Spong Family children of James Osborn Spong Dora Beedham, née Spong (1879–1969), British nurse and suffragette who was force-fed JohnShelbySpong (1931-2021)...
admiration from commentators. Author Joyce Carol Oates and theologian JohnShelbySpong, among others, highlighted it as a major work. Jung considers the...
place of a traditional doctrine of inspiration". Episcopal bishop JohnShelbySpong declared that the literal interpretation of the Bible is heresy. The...
Robinson, John; Hall, Douglas J. (2002). Honest to God. Louisville, Ky: Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 0-664-22422-9. Spong, JohnShelby (1991). Rescuing...
churches stopped prescribing any particular creed. In 2005, Bishop JohnShelbySpong, retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, has written that dogmas and creeds...
of Progressive Christianity, as represented by Gretta Vosper and JohnShelbySpong, "often over-reaches its arguments". In particular, he concludes that...
Blank, Virgin: The Untouched History (2007), ISBN 978-1-59691-010-2. JohnShelbySpong, The Living Commandments. arsenokoitēs (masc. noun of fem. 1st declension)...
Faith Is Being Born is a theological book by Episcopalian bishop JohnShelbySpong, published in 2001, in which he outlines his ideas for doctrinal changes...
Bible Literally: An Interview with JohnShelbySpong". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved 19 June 2021. Spong, JohnShelby (16 February 2016). "Stating the...
Self-Declared Atheist Who Believes In God". Huffington Post. ShelbySpong, John (May 17, 1998). "Bishop Spong Calls for a 'Renewal of Christianity'". Archives of...
responsible for executing Jesus. In his book The Sins of Scripture (2009), JohnShelbySpong concurs with this argument, insisting, "The whole story of Judas has...
bishop, JohnShelbySpong, was and remains a lightning-rod for controversy. In addition to his positions on war and the ordination of women, Spong advocated...
(2007), is called "A consciousness-raising, must-read book" by Bishop JohnShelbySpong. It was reissued later in revised form with the title Holy Terror:...
(1931–2019) Thomas C. Oden (1931–2016) Adrian Rogers (1931–2005) JohnShelbySpong (1931–2021) John Zizioulas (1931–2023) Millard Erickson (born 1932) Norman...
and did not believe that the story of Jonah and the whale was true. JohnShelbySpong, retired Episcopal bishop of Newark, author of Born of a Woman: A...
group was established in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark by bishop JohnShelbySpong on June 21, 1989 at All Saints Church, Hoboken. Its first leader,...
Monk, Stephanie D. (2011). "An Examination of the Theology of Bishop JohnShelbySpong" (PDF). Global Journal of Classic Theology. 9 (1). ISSN 1521-6055...
D. Nave, The role and function of repentance in Luke-Acts,p. 194 JohnShelbySpong, "The Continuing Christian Need for Judaism", Christian Century September...
Post-theism Secular movement A New Christianity for a New World by JohnShelbySpong "Our Post-Christian Society". National Review. December 14, 2013....
to theistic naturalism. Examples are: Mordecai Kaplan, JohnShelbySpong, Paul Tillich, John A. T. Robinson, William Murry and Gordon Kaufman. Some of...
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