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Raymond Ronny Sutton, an American Anglican bishop, has been a leading figure in the Catholic Revival in the Reformed Episcopal Church. He is the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) and the Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid-America. He has also been a co-pastor with James B. Jordan of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tyler, Texas, which was a prominent church in the Christian Reconstructionist movement. Bishop Sutton has been influential in the development of North American Anglicanism, particularly in the Reformed Episcopal Church's departure from its evangelical principles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Raymond Ronny Sutton |
| Occupation | Bishop |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Anglicanism Definition | "I use the word 'reformed' in the sense of 're-form.' The distinction is important. I argue that the English Reformers were attempting to 're-form' the English Church based on the Scriptures, and the early church fathers, creeds, and councils of the Undivided Church of the first millennium." |
| Anglicanism Definition, Alternate View | "They refer to the middle way between Latitudinarian (denial of the creeds) and credal in the 18th century, Evangelical and Anglo Catholic in the 19th century, and even liberal and conservative in the 20th and 21st centuries." |
| Education | Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Theology (honorary), Doctor of Divinity (honorary) |
| Personal Life | Married to Susan Jean Schaerdel of Dallas. They have seven children and eight grandchildren. |
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What You'll Learn
Ray Sutton's role in the Reformed Episcopal Church
Raymond Ronny Sutton, born in 1950 in Louisville, Kentucky, is an American Anglican bishop. He is the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) and the Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid-America. He took over the leadership of the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Mid-America on November 24, 2016, upon the death of Royal U. Grote Jr., with his installation taking place on June 15, 2017.
Sutton was ordained a bishop coadjutor of the Reformed Episcopal Church in 1999 and arrived at the Church of the Holy Communion in Dallas, Texas, in 2001. He is the former Rector of the Church of the Holy Communion, president and Professor of Scripture and Theology at Cranmer Theological House in Houston, Texas, and headmaster of Holy Communion Christian Academy. He is also the Dean of Ecumenical Affairs of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), of which the Reformed Episcopal Church is a founding member and special jurisdiction.
Sutton has been a parish minister, Dean, and Professor of New Testament at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia. He has also authored several books on theology, including "Signed, Sealed and Delivered: A Study of Holy Baptism". Sutton is married to Susan Jean Schaerdel of Dallas, and they have seven children and eight grandchildren.
In his role as a bishop in the Reformed Episcopal Church, Sutton has made some controversial decisions. For example, he granted a one-year license to the Rev. Calvin Robinson, a provocative social media figure who had been removed from public ministry by the Anglican Catholic Church due to a controversial gesture. Sutton's decision was questioned by Archbishop Steve Wood of the Anglican Church in North America, who expressed concerns about Robinson's ability to uphold the values of the Anglican tradition.
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Ray Sutton's views on Anglicanism
Ray Sutton is an American Anglican bishop and an influential figure in North American Anglicanism. He is the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) and the Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid-America. Additionally, he serves as the Dean of Ecumenical Affairs of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), of which the REC is a founding member.
Sutton's views on Anglicanism are informed by his background in the Christian Reconstructionist movement and his subsequent transition to Anglicanism. He has written extensively on the subject of Anglican theology and church history, including a book titled "What is Anglicanism?". In his writings, Sutton emphasizes the idea of "re-form" rather than "reform," arguing that the English Reformers sought to reshape the English Church based on Scripture and the early Church Fathers, creeds, and councils of the Undivided Church of the first millennium. He suggests that their intention was not to create a new church or theology but to return to the ancient one, retaining the "catholic" aspect of their faith.
Sutton's understanding of Anglicanism appears to be rooted in a historical perspective. He critiques the use of the "via media" or "middle way" to define Anglicanism as arbitrary and vague, arguing that it has been applied differently at various points in English history. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of Scripture and early Church traditions in shaping Anglican theology and practice.
Sutton has been a prominent figure in the Catholic Revival within the Reformed Episcopal Church, marking a departure from its evangelical origins. This suggests that he leans towards a more Catholic expression of Anglicanism. However, he also granted a license to the controversial Rev. Calvin Robinson, who had been removed from the Anglican Catholic Church for his provocative behaviour, indicating a willingness to accommodate diverse perspectives within the church.
Sutton's influence in North American Anglicanism is evident through his leadership roles and his contributions to theological discourse. His writings and teachings have shaped the understanding and development of Anglicanism in the region, particularly within the Reformed Episcopal Church.
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Ray Sutton's career as an author
Raymond Ronny Sutton, born in 1950 in Louisville, Kentucky, is an American Anglican bishop. He moved to Dallas, Texas, at age thirteen. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University (1972), a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary (1976), and a Doctor of Philosophy from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, in association with Coventry University (1998). He also holds honorary doctorates from the Central School of Religion and Cummins Theological Seminary.
Sutton served in parish ministry from 1976 until 1991, during which he co-pastored the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tyler, Texas, with James B. Jordan. This church was a prominent part of the Christian Reconstructionist movement.
Sutton's writing career began in 1982 with his essay "The Baptist Failure", published in Christianity & Civilization. He went on to publish several more essays in the early to mid-1980s, including "The Church as a Shadow Government" (1983) and "Clothing and Calling" (1985). In 1986, he published his first book, Who Owns the Family?: God or the State?, through Dominion Press. This was followed by That You May Prosper: Dominion by Covenant (1987) and Second Chance: Biblical Principals of Divorce and Remarriage (1988).
In 1998, Sutton completed his doctoral thesis at Coventry University, titled "The Sacramental Theology of Daniel Waterland". He was ordained a bishop coadjutor of the Reformed Episcopal Church in 1999 and arrived at the Church of the Holy Communion in 2001. He has since published Signed, Sealed and Delivered: A Study of Holy Baptism (2001) and Captains and Courts: A Biblical Defense of Episcopal Government (2014).
Sutton has also co-authored and co-edited works, including Power for Living with David Chilton, Gary DeMar, Victoria T. deVries, and Michael Gilstrap, and What is Anglicanism? with Peter C. Price.
In addition to his writing, Sutton has held various academic and ecclesiastical positions. He is the former Rector of the Church of the Holy Communion in Dallas, Texas, and president and Professor of Scripture and Theology at Cranmer Theological House in Houston, Texas. He also served as headmaster of Holy Communion Christian Academy. Sutton is currently the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid-America. He also lectures at Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and Reformed Episcopal Seminaries and is a popular retreat speaker.
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Ray Sutton's personal life
Raymond Ronny Sutton, born in 1950 in Louisville, Kentucky, is an American Anglican bishop. He moved to Dallas, Texas, at age thirteen. He attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1972. He then went on to obtain a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1976 and a Doctor of Philosophy from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, in association with Coventry University, in 1998. He has also received honorary doctorates from the Central School of Religion and Cummins Theological Seminary.
Ray Sutton served in parish ministry from 1976 until 1991. During this time, he was a co-pastor with James B. Jordan at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tyler, Texas. This church was a prominent part of the Christian Reconstructionist movement. In 1989, Sutton brought this church into the Reformed Episcopal Church. He was ordained a bishop coadjutor of the Reformed Episcopal Church in 1999 and arrived at the Church of the Holy Communion in Dallas in 2001. He has also served as the Rector of the Church of the Holy Communion, president and Professor of Scripture and Theology at Cranmer Theological House in Houston, Texas, and headmaster of Holy Communion Christian Academy.
On November 24, 2016, upon the death of Royal U. Grote Jr., Sutton took over the leadership of the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Mid-America on a provisional level, with his official installation taking place on June 15, 2017. He currently serves as the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid-America. Additionally, he is the Dean of the Province and Ecumenical Affairs of the Anglican Church in North America, of which the Reformed Episcopal Church is a founding member.
In his personal life, Ray Sutton is married to Susan Jean Schaerdel of Dallas, and they have seven children and eight grandchildren. He has authored several books, including "Signed, Sealed and Delivered: A Study of Holy Baptism" and "Captains and Courts: A Biblical Defense of Episcopal Government". He has also contributed chapters to various books, such as "Power for Living".
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Ray Sutton's views on Catholicism
Raymond Ronny Sutton, born in 1950, is an American Anglican bishop. He is a bishop coadjutor in the Diocese of Mid-America of the Reformed Episcopal Church and a founding member of the Anglican Church in North America. He is also the former Rector of the Church of the Holy Communion in Dallas, Texas, and the current head of the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the Anglican Church of North America.
Sutton's writings, such as "The Saturday Night Church and the Liturgical Nature of Man," suggest an interest in liturgical practices and their role in shaping the Church. He has also contributed to publications like "Christianity and Civilization," where he explores topics such as "The Church as a Shadow Government" and "The Baptist Failure."
Sutton's views on Catholicism are also evident in his decision to grant a license to the controversial Rev. Calvin Robinson. Robinson was removed from public ministry by the Anglican Catholic Church due to a controversial gesture, but Sutton provided him with a one-year license to serve as a minister. This decision was questioned by Archbishop Steve Wood of the Anglican Church in North America, who expressed concerns about Robinson's ability to uphold Anglican traditions and values.
Overall, Ray Sutton's views on Catholicism seem to be shaped by his interpretation of Anglicanism's relationship with Catholic traditions and his desire to re-form the Church based on early Christian teachings. His influence in the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in North America has contributed to a Catholic Revival within these denominations.
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Frequently asked questions
Ray Sutton is an American Anglican bishop. He is the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) and the Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid-America. He is also the Dean of Ecumenical Affairs of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
The Reformed Episcopal Church is a founding member and special jurisdiction of the Anglican Church in North America.
Ray Sutton was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1950 and moved to Dallas at age thirteen. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University (1972), a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary (1976), and a Doctor of Philosophy from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, in association with Coventry University (1998). He served in parish ministry from 1976 until 1991 and was ordained a bishop coadjutor of the Reformed Episcopal Church in 1999.
