Dean E. Wolfe
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific_prefix = The Right Reverend
| name = Dean E. Wolfe
| honorific_suffix =
| title = Rector of St Bartholomew's Church
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| church = Episcopal Church
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| appointed = 2016
| term = 2017-present
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| predecessor = F. M. Stallings Jr.
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| ordination = 1992
| ordained_by = William E. Swing
| consecration = November 8, 2003
| consecrated_by = D. Bruce MacPherson
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|06|04}}
| birth_place = Dayton, Ohio, United States
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| religion = Anglican
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| parents = Bill and Millie Wolfe
| spouse = Elle Frantz-Wolfe
| children = 1
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| previous_post = Bishop of Kansas (2004-2017)
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Dean Elliott Wolfe, D.D. (born June 4, 1956) is an Episcopal bishop who Retired as the thirteenth rector of the historic St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City since March, 2025. Previously, he served as the ninth Bishop of Kansas between 2004 and 2017. With a career spanning over four decades, Wolfe has held various significant roles within The Episcopal Church, providing spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and engaging in extensive administrative and outreach activities.
Early life and education
Wolfe was born on June 4, 1956, in Dayton, Ohio, to Bill and Millie Wolfe. He was raised in the Church of the Brethren and by the age of 16 was licensed to preach in that church while, at the age of 21, he was given responsibility for a parish.{{cite journal |date=August 3, 2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b2vkAAAAMAAJ&dq=dean+E.Wolfe+1992&pg=RA5-PA2|title=Dallas Priest Elected in Kansas |journal=The Living Church |volume=227|pages=6}} He pursued his undergraduate studies at Miami University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and religion in 1987, and then worked in sales and marketing. He joined the Episcopal Church when he was studying at Bethany Theological Seminary. Later, he enrolled at Virginia Theological Seminary from where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in 1992. The latter also awarded him a Doctor of Divinity in 2004.[https://docecity.com/more-about-dean-wolfe.html "MORE ABOUT DEAN WOLFE"], St Barts. Retrieved on February 8, 2022.
Ordained ministry
Wolfe was ordained deacon and priest in 1992 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. He then served as associate rector of Saint Clement's Episcopal Church, Berkeley, California (1992-1994). In 1994, he became associate rector of Trinity Church in Boston, contributing to the dynamic growth and spiritual renewal of the largest Episcopal parish in New England (1994-1998). He then served as vice rector of the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Dallas, Texas,[https://day1.org/speakers/5d9b820ef71918cdf20034dc/the_right_rev_dean_wolfe "The Right Rev. Dean Wolfe"], day1. Retrieved on February 8, 2022. overseeing ministries in what was then the largest Episcopal parish in the United States (1998-2003).
Bishop of Kansas
On July 12, 2003, Wolfe was elected on the fifth ballot to serve as Coadjutor Bishop of Kansas. He was consecrated at Grace Cathedral on November 8, 2003, by the Bishop of Western Louisiana, D. Bruce MacPherson.{{cite journal |date=November 30, 2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b2vkAAAAMAAJ&dq=Kansas+Bishop+Takes+Risks+Quickly+In+his+sermon+at+the+consecration+Dallas+when+Bishop+Wolfe+served+in+1+and+ordination+of+the+Rt+.+Rev.+Dean+that+diocese+.&pg=RA25-PA9|title=Kansas bishop takes risks quickly |journal=The Living Church |volume=227|pages=7}} He succeeded as diocesan bishop on January 1, 2004. During his episcopacy he revised the campus ministry program to provide an opportunity for an Episcopal presence on a larger number of campuses across the diocese. He also was committed to a robust diocesan youth ministry. He helped strengthen the Kansas School for Ministry and later helped create it successor, the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry. He resigned as bishop on January 31, 2017 as he became the rector of St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City,{{cite web |url=https://episcopal-ks.org/previous-bishops/|title=Previous Bishops of Kansas |publisher=Episcopal Diocese of Kansas |accessdate=February 8, 2022}}
= Vice President, House of Bishops =
From June 2009 to January 2017, Wolfe served three terms as Vice President of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church.
Rector of St. Bartholomew's
In 2016, Wolfe was called as rector of St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City and accepted on November 13, 2016.[https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2016/11/14/kansas-bishop-dean-e-wolfe-announces-call-to-become-rector-of-st-barts-new-york-city/ "Kansas Bishop Dean E. Wolfe announces call to become rector of St. Bart’s, New York City"], Episcopal News Service, November 14, 2016. Retrieved on February 8, 2022. He commenced his ministry on February 5, 2017, and was formally installed as the 13th rector by the Bishop of New York, Andrew M. L. Dietsche, on June 9, 2017.[https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2017/06/26/dean-elliott-wolfe-inducted-rector-of-st-barts-in-manhattan/ "Dean Elliott Wolfe inducted rector of St. Bart’s in Manhattan"], Episcopal News Service, June 26, 2017. Retrieved on February 8, 2022. He provides leadership to one of the largest Episcopal parishes in the city.
See also
References
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Category:Episcopal bishops of Kansas
Category:Miami University alumni
Category:Virginia Theological Seminary alumni
Category:People from Dayton, Ohio
Category:Converts to Anglicanism
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