Parsons, Edward Lambe, 1868-

Edward L. Parsons, 1868-1960, served as pastor at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Berkeley, California, 1904-1919. He was Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Francisco, 1919-1924, and Bishop of California, 1924-1941. Parsons was a strong activist for social welfare concerns, and in the promotion of Christian union. Edward Lambe Parsons was born in New York on May 18, 1868. Intending to become a lawyer, he attended Yale University in 1885, where he and his roommate, Gifford Pinchot, served as deacons of their class. After graduation Parsons decided instead to attend Union Seminary in New York. Although his family on both sides were Presbyterians, his petition to the Presbyterian ministry was rejected. He consulted with Bishop William Lawrence, Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts, and attended Episcopal Theological Seminary at Cambridge, graduating in 1894. Parsons spent a year with Rector William R. Huntington at Grace Church in New York City, and in September 1896 became rector of a small church in Menlo Park, California. To supplement his salary he taught philosophy at Stanford University. In 1904 Parsons was called to serve as rector at St. Mark's in Berkeley, where he remained for the next fifteen years.

From the description of Edward Lambe Parsons papers, circa 1830-1968 (bulk 1890-1960). (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 79461519

Edward L. Parsons, 1868-1960, served as pastor at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Berkeley, California, 1904-1919. He was Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Francisco, 1919-1924, and Bishop of California, 1924-1941. Parsons was a strong activist for social welfare concerns, and in the promotion of Christian union.

From the description of Bishop Edward L. Parsons: Pamphlets, articles, and sermons on church unity, ca. 191? - 1950. (Graduate Theological Union). WorldCat record id: 53026271

Biographical Sketch

Edward Lambe Parsons was born in New York on May 18, 1868. Intending to become a lawyer, he attended Yale University in 1885, where he and his roommate, Gifford Pinchot, served as deacons of their class. After graduation Parsons decided instead to attend Union Seminary in New York. Although his family on both sides were Presbyterians, his petition to the Presbyterian ministry was rejected. He consulted with Bishop William Lawrence, Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts, and attended Episcopal Theological Seminary at Cambridge, graduating in 1894. Parsons spent a year with Rector William R. Huntington at Grace Church in New York City, and in September 1896 became rector of a small church in Menlo Park, California. To supplement his salary he taught philosophy at Stanford University. In 1904 Parsons was called to serve as rector at St. Mark's in Berkeley, where he remained for the next fifteen years.

Parsons stated that his decision to enter the Episcopal Church was based on his belief in the church's "strategic position in relation to the matter of unity." From the beginning of his career, he worked unceasingly to help achieve mutual understanding among Protestant churches. As part of the Faith and Order Commission from its inception, Parsons spent four months of 1919 in Europe and the Near East, as one of a deputation of five, inviting churches to attend the first Faith and Order Conference at Lausanne in 1927. During 1919 he was also elected Bishop Coadjutor of the San Francisco Diocese, and in 1924 became Bishop of California, serving his church in this capacity until his retirement in 1941.

As the third Episcopal Bishop of California, Edward Lambe Parsons was one of the leading figures of the Protestant Episcopal church in America as well as a tireless advocate and committed activist for social concerns worldwide. In addition to his promotion of unification between the Protestant churches, Parsons played a major role in the revision of the Episcopal Prayer Book and advocated training for Deaconesses, among other contested issues within the Episcopal Church. He served as a member of the Social Service Commission (1907-1913) and the General Board of Religious Education (1913-1919).

In addition, Parsons took an active role in many major campaigns for social welfare from his early days as Rector at St. Mark's, Berkeley, until his death in his nineties. He was a trustee of Mills College, Church Divinity School, and the Deaconess Training School; president of the War Work Council, 1917-1918; and a member or director of many religious and social agencies, including the ACLU, Rosenberg Foundation, Pacifica Foundation, Church League for Industrial Democracy, Alameda County Board of Public Welfare, and Berkeley Commission of Public Charities.

From the guide to the Edward Lambe Parsons Papers, 1865-1968, (bulk 1890-1960), (The Bancroft Library)