Whayne M. Hougland Jr.
Whayne M. Hougland | |
---|---|
Former Bishop of Western Michigan | |
Church | Episcopal Church |
Diocese | Western Michigan |
Elected | May 18, 2013 |
In office | 2013–2021 |
Predecessor | Robert R. Gepert |
Other post(s) | Provisional Bishop of Eastern Michigan (2019-2021) |
Orders | |
Ordination | December 19, 1998 |
Consecration | September 28, 2013 by Katharine Jefferts Schori |
Personal details | |
Nationality | American |
Denomination | Anglican |
Spouse | Dana Lynne Hougland |
Children | 2 |
Education | University of the South |
Alma mater | University of Kentucky |
Whayne Miller Hougland Jr. is a former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan and the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan[1] who resigned after being suspended for engaging in an extramarital affair.
Biography[]
Hougland graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kentucky in 1986, and a Master of Divinity from the University of the South in 1998. He was ordained to the diaconate on June 13, 1998, and to the priesthood on December 19, 1998. He served as rector of St Luke’s Church in Salisbury, North Carolina. He was consecrated as a bishop on September 28, 2013.[2]
Hougland resigned his roles as bishop effective July 1, 2021 after he admitted to, and was suspended for, an extramarital affair.
Suspension and resignation[]
Sometime in 2020, the husband of a woman with whom Bishop Hougland had an affair called the Presiding Bishop's office to report the same. When contacted by the Presiding Bishop's office, Hougland admitted to misconduct and asked for help. The diocese was notified of Hougland's misconduct in June 2020.[3] Hougland was subsequently suspended for a minimum of one year after admitting to "serious mistakes" and participating in an extramarital affair.[4] In a letter to the clergy and people of both of the dioceses that he leads, Hougland admitted to having not honored his "ordination vows or my wedding vows."[5] He also apologized for a "gross lapse of moral judgement and for "weakening" the moral authority of Episcopal clergy.[6]
Hougland's affair and the church's response to it were openly criticized by clergy and laity from within the diocese after his suspension lead to a lack of pastoral leadership in both of the dioceses he shepherded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Hougland admitted to committing adultery, he was placed on a one year paid leave.[7] He reached a separation agreement with both dioceses that he had previously served and resigned both his posts effective July 1, 2021.[8]
See also[]
- List of Episcopal bishops of the United States
- Historical list of the Episcopal bishops of the United States
References[]
- ^ "Diocesan Staff – The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan". eastmich.org. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
- ^ "Western Michigan diocese elects Whayne Hougland Jr. as 9th bishop". eastmich.org. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ "Bishop History" (PDF).
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Notice: Bishop has been Placed on Suspension". Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
- ^ "Notice: Bishop has been Placed on Suspension". Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
- ^ "Notice: Bishop has been Placed on Suspension". Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
- ^ "Michigan Bishop Suspended After Extramarital Affair". The Living Church. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
- ^ "At the Conclusion of the Bishop's Suspension". Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan. 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
External links[]
- Living people
- Episcopal bishops of Western Michigan
- People from Kentucky
- University of Kentucky alumni
- Sewanee: The University of the South alumni
- Episcopal bishops of Eastern Michigan
- American Anglican bishop stubs