Diocese of Mid-America (Reformed Episcopal Church)
The Diocese of Mid-America (DMA) is a diocese of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) and a founding jurisdiction of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). With parishes across more than twenty-seven states, the DMA continues the missionary legacy of the early Reformed Episcopal Synods and remains committed to church planting, classical Anglican formation, and theological education through Cranmer Theological House.
History
Origins in the Synod of Chicago
Following the founding of the Reformed Episcopal Church on December 2, 1873, the Rev. Charles Edward Cheney, rector of Christ Church Chicago, Illinois, was elected and consecrated as the second Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and the first Bishop of the Synod of Chicago in 1875. This Synod served the Midwest faithfully for over 120 years until 1995, when it merged with the Missionary Diocese of North America to form what is now the Diocese of Mid-America.
“I may make, now, a most earnest appeal to the clergy and laity to press forward in the great cause which we have espoused in the love and fear of God.” — Bishop Samuel Fallows
The Special Jurisdiction of North America
In 1984, Bishop Royal U. Grote, Jr. was elected as Suffragan Bishop to the Rt. Rev. Leonard W. Riches in the New York and Philadelphia Synod. As President of the Board of National Church Extension, Bishop Grote oversaw the expansion of the REC in the western United States.
The 46th General Council (1990) established the Special Jurisdiction of North America (SJNA) for parishes not yet within a regional synod. Bishop Grote was elected Missionary Bishop, relocating to Houston, Texas, where he founded Church of the Holy Trinity and Good Shepherd Daycare. The SJNA grew rapidly—from six parishes and four missions in 1990 to thirty-three by 1996. When the REC adopted the term Diocese for its jurisdictions, the SJNA became known as the Missionary Diocese of North America (MDNA).
Formation of the Diocese of Mid-America
In 1995, as Bishop Franklin Sellers neared retirement, the Synod of Chicago petitioned to merge with the MDNA. The merger created the Diocese of Mid-America, with Bishop Royal U. Grote, Jr. elected as its Bishop Ordinary. Bishop Grote led the Diocese until his death in November 2016, after which Bishop Ray R. Sutton succeeded him as Bishop Ordinary and continues to serve in that capacity.
Growth and Reorganization
Due to the vast territory of the Diocese, additional bishops were appointed to assist in oversight:
- Bishop Daniel R. Morse was elected Assistant Bishop in 1996 and later became the first Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of the Central States (2008).
- The Diocese of the West was formed from DMA parishes, led by Bishop George Fincke. After his stroke, the Diocese returned to DMA oversight until being reestablished under Bishop Richard Boyce.
- Following later realignments, western parishes that remained in the REC were organized as the Convocation of the West under DMA supervision.
- Upon the retirement of Bishop Charles Dorrington (Western Canada & Alaska), those parishes also joined the Diocese of Mid-America.
In 2017, the Very Rev. Walter Banek was elected Suffragan Bishop. He continues to serve as rector of Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church in Tyler, Texas.
Cranmer Theological House
Cranmer Theological House (CTH) was founded in 1994 by Bishop Grote and the Diocese of Mid-America in Shreveport, Louisiana, as a seminary dedicated to Biblical, liturgical, and pastoral formation in the classical Anglican tradition.
Bishop Ray R. Sutton, then rector of Good Shepherd Church in Tyler, Texas, played a key role in its founding. The late Rev. Louis Tarsitano served as the first dean. Bishop Sutton became Dean in 1995 and continued until 2002, when CTH relocated to Houston, Texas. Under the long tenure of The Very Rev. Curtis Crenshaw, CTH expanded its national reach, offering external courses and training clergy across the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in North America.
For more information, visit www.cranmerhouse.org.
A Diocese of Mission
The Diocese of Mid-America traces its identity to missionary zeal and continues to expand through church planting and evangelism. Inspired by Bishop Grote’s vision, Bishop Sutton launched REC100, a mission initiative to establish and support one hundred new Reformed Episcopal congregations across North America.
Through REC100 and other partnerships, the Diocese seeks to "press forward in the great cause which we have espoused in the love and fear of God."
Bishops Ordinary & Missionary Bishops
| Bishop | Office | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Edward Cheney | Bishop Ordinary, Synod of Chicago | 1875–1916 |
| Samuel Fallows | Bishop Ordinary, Synod of Chicago | 1916–1922 |
| Willard Brewing | Acting Bishop in Charge | 1922–1929 |
| Robert L. Rudolph | Presiding Bishop, REC | 1922–1930 |
| Robert W. Peach | Presiding Bishop, REC | 1930–1931 |
| Frank V. C. Cloak | Bishop Ordinary | 1931–1953 |
| Joseph E. Kearny | Presiding Bishop, REC | 1953–1957 |
| Howard D. Higgins | Presiding Bishop, REC | 1957–1974 |
| Franklin Sellers | Bishop Ordinary, Synod of Chicago | 1974–1996 |
| Royal U. Grote, Jr. | Missionary Bishop, SJNA/MDNA (1990–1996); Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of Mid-America (1996–2016) | 1990–2016 |
| Ray R. Sutton | Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of Mid-America | 2016–Present |
Other Bishops of the Diocese
- Bishop Walter Banek
- Bishop Frank Brulc
- Bishop Charles Camlin
- Bishop William Culbertson
- Bishop Charles Dorrington
- Bishop George Fincke
- Bishop Daniel R. Morse
- Bishop Winn Mott
- Bishop Gerald Schnackenburg
- Bishop Sam Seamans
Contact Information
Diocese of Mid-America 18170 Dallas Pkwy #103 Dallas, Texas 75287 Phone: (972) 427-2410 Website: www.rechurch.org