Donald James Davis (March 12, 1929 – August 30, 2007) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

prelate who was the sixth Bishop of Erie, and then of Northwestern Pennsylvania after its name was changed.

Early life and education

Davies was born on March 12, 1929, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, the son of LcRoy Francis Davis and Rya Anne Stewart. He grew up in

Frederick, Maryland Frederick is a city in and the county seat of Frederick County, Maryland. It is part of the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan Area. Frederick has long been an important crossroads, located at the intersection of a major north–south Native ...

, and was educated at the public schools there. He studied at Westminster College in

New Wilmington, Pennsylvania New Wilmington is a borough in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, first platted in 1824 and established as a borough on April 9, 1863. The population was 2,097 at the 2020 census. It is home to Westminster College and serves the Old O ...

, from where he graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

in 1949. He then commenced studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and graduated with a

Master of Divinity For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and divi ...

in 1952. On September 6, 1952, he married Mary Gray Schofidd and together had three children. He was awarded a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

from Bowling Green State University in 1971 and a

Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...

in 1975 from Westminster College.

Ordained ministry

Davis was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in 1952 and served churches in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

After joining the Episcopal Church, he was ordained deacon and priest in 1955 by Bishop Angus Dun at Washington National Cathedral. He then became curate of the Church of the Epiphany and Christ Church in

In 1957 he became rector of St Christopher's Church in

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

, where he remained till 1963. Between 1963 and 1971, he served as rector of Trinity Church in

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...

, after which he became rector of Trinity Church in

Bloomington, Indiana Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Indiana, Monroe County in the central region of the U.S. state of Indiana. It is the List of municipalities in Indiana, seventh-largest city in Indiana and the fourth-largest outside ...

, in 1971. He also subsequently served as chaplain at

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...

until 1973.

Episcopacy

Davies was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Erie on May 19, 1973, and was consecrated that same year by Presiding Bishop

John E. Hines John Elbridge Hines (October 3, 1910 – July 19, 1997) was a bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States. When he was elected the 22nd Presiding Bishop in 1965, at the age of 54, he was the youngest person to hold that office, which ...

. He succeeded as diocesan bishop on January 1, 1974. Davis is well remembered for being the bishop to preside over the first canonical ordination of a female priest in the Episcopal Church, when he ordained the Reverend Jacqueline Means on January 1, 1977. he was also instrumental in the Standing Commission on Church Music, which was responsible for the revision of the 1940 church hymnal, which resulted in the Hymnal of 1982. Davis retired on April 1, 1991.

Allegations of abuse

In 2010, Bishop Sean Rowe revealed that as many as 11 women came forward alleging that Bishop Davis had abused them when they were children ages 5-10. At least three of the incidents took place in a swimming pool during summer camp in the 1970's and 1980s. And others victims, in their bedrooms in their home. One of the women abused at the camp was also paid several hundred dollars, according to the Erie Times-News. It was further revealed that allegations were made as far back as 1980, when Bishop Davis was asked to resign from the House of Bishops by then Presiding Bishop

Edmond Browning Edmond Lee Browning (March 11, 1929 – July 11, 2016) was an American bishop. He was the 24th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Education, ordination, early ministry Browning received his se ...

. Bishop Davis was also asked to refrain from performing priestly duties, get pastoral counseling and see a psychiatrist. Reference- sexual assault survivor

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Donald James 1929 births 2007 deaths Converts to Anglicanism from Presbyterianism 20th-century American Episcopalians Episcopal bishops of Northwestern Pennsylvania 20th-century American bishops