Name Mark Sisk | ||
Awards Richard A. Cook Gold Medal Award | ||
Mark Sean Sisk (born in Takoma Park, Maryland, August 18, 1942) was the 15th Episcopal Bishop of New York. He retired on February 2, 2013, when he was succeeded by the 16th Bishop, Andrew M.L. Dietsche.
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Early education, career, and marriage
Sisk received his B.S. in Economics from The University of Maryland in 1964. He had a call to ministry, and went to The General Theological Seminary in New York City, where he earned his M.Div. in 1967. He later got honorary doctorates from General Theological Seminary, Honorary Doctor of Divinity, in 1984, and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, in 1998.
He is married to the former Karen Womack Calvert. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Sisk was a curate for three years at Christ Episcopal Church, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and a priest for three more years at Christ Episcopal Church in Bronxville, New York. He was then rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Kingston, New York from 1973-1977. From 1977 through 1984, he was the Archdeacon of three suburban counties, under the 13th Bishop of New York, Paul Moore. As part of his duties, he started a Japanese congregation, now in Scarsdale, and a Latino congregation in Yonkers.
From 1984 to 1998, Sisk was President and Dean of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.
Bishop of New York
Sisk was elected and consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of New York in 1998. He was installed as the Bishop of New York at a ceremony on September 29, 2001, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Sisk is actively involved in preaching to churches in his diocese, as well as the cathedral. He raises millions of dollars for Episcopal charities. Sisk is also involved in ecumenism with the Roman Catholic Church.
Criticism
Sisk has engendered some criticism from the press for some of his actions as bishop, in particular the firing of a radical priest. He also got involved in the controversy over Bishop Moore's bisexuality.
Public comments
As a leader in the church, Sisk is often asked to comment on public issues. He has a regular column in Newsweek and the Washington Post. The New York Times often interviews him on social and religious topics. He takes stances on a variety of issues. He has written many letters that have been collected by the Anglican Communion.