John Croneberger

The Right Reverend

John Palmer Croneberger
Bishop of Newark
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseNewark
In office2000–2007
PredecessorJohn Shelby Spong
SuccessorMark M. Beckwith
Previous post(s)Coadjutor Bishop of Newark (1998-2000)
Orders
OrdinationMarch 6, 1964
by Frederick J. Warnecke
ConsecrationNovember 21, 1998
by Arthur Benjamin Williams, Jr.
Personal details
Born(1938-08-25)August 25, 1938
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
DiedFebruary 23, 2023(2023-02-23) (aged 84)
Leesport, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican

John Palmer Croneberger (August 25, 1938 – February 23, 2023) was an American clergyman of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He served as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey).

Biography

Croneberger was serving as rector at the Church of the Atonement in Tenafly, New Jersey, in June 1998 when he was elected as Bishop of Newark. He was consecrated as Bishop Coadjutor on November 21 of the same year.[1][2] Croneberger succeeded Bishop John Shelby Spong on February 26, 2000, in an installation ceremony at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral, Newark.

As diocesan bishop, he continued Spong's agenda of radical inclusion. On accepting LGBTQ inclusion in the Episcopal Church, Croneberger said:[3]

"Supporting" inclusion "may be more important than unity within the worldwide Anglican communion."

On April 6, 2005, he announced his intention to retire in January 2007, citing the health of his wife, Marilyn.[4]

The diocese held a special convention to elect his successor on September 23, 2006. Mark Beckwith, the rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Worcester, Massachusetts, was elected on the third ballot.[5]

Croneberger also served as an Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Bethlehem.[6]

John Croneberger died in Leesport, Pennsylvania, on February 23, 2023, at the age of 84.[7]

References

  1. ^ New York Times, June 7, 1998 "Episcopalians Pick Successor For Bishop" (AP) Abstract retrieved from [1] on August 30, 2006
  2. ^ The Bishop of Newark home page Archived 2006-09-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on August 30, 2006
  3. ^ Harmon, Kendall. 2005. The Guardian, February 19, 2005 [2] Anglicanism at the crossroads. Also at Kendall Harmon's blog. Retrieved on August 30, 2006.
  4. ^ Bishop Croneberger's Letter Announcing a Call for the Election of the Tenth Bishop of Newark Archived 2006-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Also at "Episcopal News Service". Archived from the original on 2006-09-04. Retrieved 2006-08-30.. Retrieved on August 30, 2006
  5. ^ Notice Archived 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine of Special Convention to Elect the 10th Bishop. Retrieved on August 30, 2006.
  6. ^ The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem Team Directory Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "John Palmer "Jack" Croneberger". Legacy. Retrieved 15 September 2023.