In 1958, Bishop Angus Dun knew that he would be retiring in several years and called for the election of a Bishop Coadjutor. John Bowen Coburn was selected during the first election but he turned down the position. On the second election Creighton was selected over William G. Pollard. Creighton would serve as Bishop Coadjutor until 1962.[5]
Creighton was respected for his theological and intellectual acumen. In the 1962 heresy hearing of Bishop James Pike he wrote the minority opinion while his superior, Bishop Dun, wrote the majority opinion.[2] He would become bishop of the diocese later that year.
Throughout the 1960s he worked with other religious leaders to overcome racial tensions. He was criticized by some for being a member of several institutions that excluded blacks. He would eventually resign from them.[7]
Creighton was an early supporter of the ordination of women into the priesthood. In 1975, he attempted to put pressure on the 1976 General Convention to approve women for the priesthood by declaring that he would not ordain anyone until it did so. There were some supporters who would not wait for the convention and ordained five women in 1975. After female priest were twice involved in celebrating the Eucharist against his wishes he put Rev. William A. Wendt on church trial for disobedience. Wendt was found guilty and censured.[7][8] Creighton vowed to ordain women after the 1976 convention no matter what it decided.[9]
