Background
Curry says in his autobiography that both sides of his family were descended from slaves and sharecroppers in North Carolina and Alabama. He was born in Chicago and attended public schools in Buffalo, New New York
Curry says in his autobiography that both sides of his family were descended from slaves and sharecroppers in North Carolina and Alabama. He was born in Chicago and attended public schools in Buffalo, New New York
He graduated with high honors from Hobart College in Geneva, New York, in 1975. He received the Master of Divinity degree in 1978 from the Yale Divinity School. He has also studied at The College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University, the Ecumenical Institute at Saint Mary"s Seminary, and the Institute of Christian Jewish Studies.
Elected in 2015, he is the first African American to serve in that capacity. He was previously bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. He has received honorary degrees from the School of Theology-Sewanee, Virginia Theological Seminary, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and the Episcopal Divinity School.
Curry was ordained deacon in June 1978 and priest in December 1978.
In his three parish ministries, Curry participated in crisis response pastoral care, the founding of ecumenical summer day camps for children, preaching missions, creation of networks of family day care providers, and the brokering of investment in inner city neighborhoods. He inspired a $2.5 million restoration of the Saint James" church building after a fire.
Curry was elected eleventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina on February 11, 2000, and consecrated bishop on June 17, 2000, at Duke Chapel on the campus of Duke University in Durham. The consecrators were Robert Hodges Johnson, J. Gary Gloster, and Barbara C. Harris.
As a diocesan bishop, he served on the board of directors of the Alliance for Christian Media and chaired the board of Episcopal Relief and Development.
He also had a national preaching and teaching ministry and was a frequent speaker at services of worship and conferences around the country. The election took place on June 27, 2015, at the church"s 78th General Convention in Salt Lake City. He was elected on the first ballot with 121 of 174 votes cast.
Curry formally took office on November 1, 2015, All Saints Day, with an investiture ceremony in the Washington National Cathedral.
The ceremony included readings in Spanish and Native American languages.
Curry was appointed a member of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Street John of Jerusalem by Elizabeth II on July 25, 2015.