Tony Palmer, born Anthony Joseph Palmer, (4 February 1966 – 20 July 2014) was a British-born South African theologian, missiologist, missionary and author.[1] He served as a bishop within the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches, and held informal ecumenical dialogue with the Catholic Church through Pope Francis until his death.[2]
The Right Reverend Tony Palmer | |
|---|---|
| Bishop | |
| Church | Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anthony Joseph Palmer 4 February 1966 |
| Died | 20 July 2014 (aged 48) |
| Occupation | Pastor |
Biography
editPalmer was born in the United Kingdom and moved to South Africa when he was 10 years old. He and his wife maintained a website, called the Ark Community, which is described as "an internet-based, Inter-denominational Christian Convergent Community, drawing our spirituality from the 'Early Church' (33–600 AD), in particular, Celtic Christian spirituality."[3] On the Ark Community website he was known as "Father Tony Palmer" instead of using the style The Right Reverend or the title "bishop".[4] Through this religious community, Palmer served as a bishop of the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches.
In January 2014, he was sent by Pope Francis to a charismatic conference hosted by televangelist Kenneth Copeland.[5] Bishops Palmer and Emilio Alvarez participated in "The Miracle of Unity".[6][7] On 20 July 2014, after injuries sustained in a motorbike accident,[8] Palmer died.[2][9][10]
References
edit- ^ "Tony Palmer: The New Face of Anglicanism". Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ a b Gledhill, Ruth (22 July 2014). "Christians mourn death of bishop Tony Palmer, friend of Pope Francis". Christian Today. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Who We Are". Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ "Ark Community". Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ Gledhill, Ruth (22 July 2014). "Christians mourn death of bishop Tony Palmer, friend of Pope Francis". Christian Today. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "The Miracle of Unity Has Begun". The Word Among Us. 28 September 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ McPhail, Carol (31 October 2014). "Pope Francis 'called us his brother bishops,' says Protestant pastor from Mobile, who lunched, swapped caps with the pontiff". al. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Pope's Protestant friend dies, but push for unity lives". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Pope and Late Evangelical Bishop were Like 'Father and Son'". America Magazine. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Pope Francis's Friend, Who Brought Video to Evangelicals, Dies After Motorcycle Accident". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2023.