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 The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston is President and Dean of Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the historic theological seminaries training both lay and ordained leadership for the church. A citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Bishop Charleston was born and raised in that state in a family that has had a long history of service in the Christian Native American community. Both his grandfather and great-grandfather were ordained ministers of the Presbyterian Church, serving among the Choctaw People in rural Oklahoma. Steven received his Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1971. His Masters of Divinity was from EDS in 1976. He holds two honorary doctorates, one from Alaska Pacific University and the other from his alma mater, Trinity College.
 Click to watch Bp. Charleston's Sermon at Washington National Cathedral on February 24, 2008
Bishop Steven's vocation in the church has been extensive and varied. He was the national staff officer for Native American ministries in the Episcopal Church; he became the Director of the Dakota Leadership Program and developed alternative training models for indigenous laity and clergy on the many reservation communities of the Dakotas. Following this ministry, he became tenured professor at Luther-Northwestern Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and directed the creation of that school’s cross-cultural studies program. Steven became diocesan bishop of Alaska and served in this capacity for many years before returning to New England to become chaplain of his college in Hartford. He also served as the Assistant Bishop of Connecticut.
Bishop Charleston is widely recognized as a leading proponent for justice issues and for spiritual renewal in the church in both the United States and Canada. He has been called "one of the best preachers in the Episcopal Church," leading worship services ranging from a revival style service in Texas to Lenten Services at Harvard. He is featured in Trinity Church Wall Street’s video, Good News: A Congregational Resource for Reconciliation and in Every Voice Network’s new Via Media tool for evangelism. Bishop Charleston has appeared on ABC World News Tonight, BBC World News, BBC Today Programme, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, The O’Reilly Factor, and other television and radio programs.
Publications include: Good News: A Congregational Resource for Reconciliation (Episcopal Divinity School); article on Matthew Shepard, Southern Voices; as well as a variety of articles on spirituality and ministry for Lutheran and Episcopal publications.
He is married to Suzanne Charleston, a graduate of the Museum School in Boston and Tufts University. She holds her M.F.A degree from the University of Minnesota. She is a working artist and a member of the Cambridge Artists Association. Their son, Nick, is a student at the Art Institute of Boston.
“Keeping Faith With Creation: A Call To Action”
I believe that whatever our faith may be, we all share a reverence for life. That is the place to begin.
Beneath the many layers of our differences as religious communities, we have a rock on which to build. That foundation is our shared understanding that life is precious and, therefore, creation is precious because it embodies the fullness of life in all of its variety and beauty. As the human family of faith, we are called to build on that foundation by taking up our responsibility to be caretakers of what we have received in trust from God.
Right now, life, all life, is under imminent threat from climate change brought on by our own folly and neglect as stewards. It is up to us, the international community of faith, to fulfill our vocation by making an immediate and active response. Never has there been a time in history when our witness was needed more. We can not do this alone. We can do it together.
To succeed, we will need to rise above old hurts and let ongoing debates continue without deterring us from unified action. We may disagree about everything else, but on this we must stand united: the Earth is our home and we will not let it be destroyed either by our own actions or those of others. Our Covenant is to work together in peace and with a purpose.
That purpose is to generate an international movement of faith to do all that we can to stop destructive climate change. The Genesis Covenant is our unified commitment to focus the global faith community on shared action. It is our chance to make a witness to justice for creation and reconciliation for humanity.
I believe this is our moment. I believe we have all been called to make our stand in hope and joy. I invite others to join me in sharing this call to action around the whole world as we pray with one voice for the sake of life itself.
-- The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston
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