Christensen attended Palos Verdes High School. He moved to Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1975 and there studied at the University of Saint Thomas, where he obtained a bachelor"s degree in art history. During his seminary education, he studied in Israel for a semester.
On November 4, 2014, Pope Francis named Christensen the eighth bishop in the Diocese of Boise, Idaho. He was installed as bishop in Boise on December 17, 2014, at Saint John"s Cathedral. Early life and education
Born in Altadena, California, he was the fourth of eight children born to Robert and Ann (née Forsyth) Christensen.
The family later moved to Palos Verdes, and in 1964, Robert and Ann obtained a divorce.
Christensen then worked as a graphic designer before entering Saint Paul Seminary in 1981. Ordination and ministry
Christensen was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John Roach on May 25, 1985, and then served as assistant pastor of Saint Olaf parish in Minneapolis before becoming spiritual director (1989) and rector (1992) of the archdiocesan minor seminary until 1995.
In June 1999, he was made pastor of Nativity of Our Lord parish in Saint Paul, where he continued traditional practices, such as perpetual Eucharistic adoration. He also reconstructed the church and rectory.
Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin
On June 28, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named Christensen Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin.
After receiving a telephone call from Archbishop Pietro Sambi bringing news of his appointment, he "sobbed for about 15 minutes" as he had not sought the episcopal office. During a press conference, Christensen promised to be a "good listener" in his new role as bishop. Christensen received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on September 14, 2007, and was installed as Bishop of Superior on September 23, 2007.
Christensen joined with other Wisconsin bishops in issuing a warning against the use of POLST, Physician (or Provider) Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, in a statement published Wednesday, July 25, 2012.
In “Upholding the Dignity of Human Life,” the bishops wrote that the use of POLST has grave implications for the dignity of human life and they “encourage all Catholics to avoid using all such documents, programs and materials.” In January 2014, Christensen announced that Common Core would not be allowed in the Catholic schools of his diocese. Bishop of Boise, Idaho
On November 4, 2014, Christensen was named the new bishop of the Diocese of Boise, Idaho.
He was installed as the eighth bishop of Boise on December 17, 2014, in Saint John"s Cathedral.
