ORL dean elected Episcopalian bishop

Dean of Religious Life Thomas Breidenthal was elected bishop of the Episcopalian Diocese of Southern Ohio Saturday morning, capping a four-year career marked by enhanced cooperation among campus religious groups.

Breidenthal's consecration will occur next April in Columbus, Ohio. He expects to remain in his position at the University until the end of the semester.

"My surprise came in the beginning when I was invited to become part of the process," Breidenthal said of his selection, which came after an 11-month procedure. "As I began proceeding through it, I began to understand that it was for me."

The Rev. Stephen White, chaplain of the Episcopal Church at Princeton and a former student of Breidenthal, said the bishop-elect was well qualified for his upcoming position.

"His experiences are very relevant," White said. "One of the things needed to be a bishop is administrative ability, and [Breidenthal] has made many needed changes here at the office."

White praised Breidenthal for working to connect the campus' religious groups to each other and to other parts of the University, such as the residential colleges and McCosh Health Center.

"Interfaith and ecumenical work is a chance to explore the role of the whole religious community, [and] the Princeton community is a laboratory for engaging in that exploration," Breidenthal said. "I wanted to help the Princeton community talk about religion more openly."

Breidenthal recently oversaw the establishment of a Muslim chaplaincy, which was instituted this year with the appointment of Khalid Latif.

"We have collaborated with many student groups and academic departments, and have brought groups in the community into the discussion," Breidenthal said of the Office of Religious Life. "The congregation has at least doubled."

Breidenthal is also a proponent of same-sex unions, but said he would not perform them unless his church consents.

"I believe that two people committed to a covenanted lifelong relationship must be respected in that," Breidenthal said.

Since the Southern Ohio Diocese has not sanctioned same-sex unions, Breidenthal anticipates playing an active role regarding the issue.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"Part of my leadership will be to encourage dialogue and mutual respect on this issue," Breidenthal said. "The important thing is for people to talk."

Breidenthal joined the University in January 2002 as the sixth dean of religious life and the Chapel. Three of the six have been Episcopalians and all of these were either bishops when they arrived or left campus to become bishops.

Prior to his arrival at Princeton, Breidenthal, who holds a doctorate in theology from Oxford, taught for 10 years at the General Theological Seminary in New York.

"Another aspect of being a bishop is teaching, and his courses at the seminary are some of the most memorable courses I have ever taken," White said.

Breidenthal has also taught at the University, including the course "Early Modern Christian Thought" and the freshman seminar "Cain and Abel."

Since his first visit to southern Ohio in the summer of 2005, Breidenthal said he has taken a special interest in the area.

"I grew to love the Diocese of Southern Ohio that includes both metropolitan areas and regions of Appalachia that are very impoverished," Breidenthal said. "I am very interested in working to help the people there."

He said he will leave the University with mixed emotions.

"I am joyful about [my election], but sad in many ways about leaving aspects of my work here," Breidenthal explained.