Bishop Bayne, Episcopal Leader, Dies
Diocesan Press Service. January 14, 1974 [74010]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Rt. Rev. Stephen F. Bayne, long a leader in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, died early this morning in a hospital in Santurce, Puerto Rico, at the age of 65. Bishop and Mrs. Bayne were vacationing in the Caribbean area when he became ill. Cause of death has not been determined pending an autopsy.
At the time of his death, Bishop Bayne was adjunct professor of Ascetical Theology and dean emeritus at General Theological Seminary, New York City. He was also assistant to the rector of Trinity Parish in New York City.
The Rt. Rev. John E. Hines, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, issued a statement in which he said:
"Bishop Bayne left to this Church, and to society, a legacy of Christian ministry difficult to match. His Creator was profligate in conferring upon him talents and gifts of particular brilliance and magnitude. He himself infused these with such depth of devotion to Christ and His Church as to adorn whatever position and responsibility to which he was called. He combined immense learning with a straightforward simplicity that endeared him to people of varying ages. He was at home in the elementary school as in a university or theological seminary. And the whole field of ecumenical relations listened when he spoke. For his brother bishops, Stephen Bayne occupied a position of particular affection and respect. And he reciprocated by enhancing their concept of the episcopate. His life and death remind us of the richness of God's grace in His dealing with the children of men. For which we who knew and loved him remain grateful. "
Born in New York City on May 21, 1908, Bishop Bayne was educated at Trinity School and Amherst College. Following his graduation from General Seminary in 1932, he remained there as fellow and tutor until 1934.
He served as parish priest in St. Louis, Mo., and Northampton, Mass., until his appointment in 1941 as chaplain of Columbia University and chairman of the department of religion, where he remained until 1947 except for two years on leave as a naval chaplain during World War II.
In 1946 he was elected bishop of the Diocese of Olympia, which includes the western part of the state of Washington, and was consecrated to that office on June 11, 1947. He served as diocesan bishop until December 31, 1959, when he resigned in order to accept appointment by the Archbishop of Canterbury as the Anglican Communion's first executive officer.
The new post, established by the churches of the Anglican Communion in 1958, was intended to become the central liaison office among the then 19 national and regional churches of the Anglican family and their more than 40 million members. The Anglican Communion, one of the main Christian traditions, includes the Church of England and all of the other churches, including the Episcopal Church in the United States, which are descended from the Church of England and are in full communion with it and with one another.
While serving as executive officer of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Bayne was also Bishop-in-Charge of the Episcopal Church's Convocation of American Churches in Europe.
He became First Vice-President of the Executive Council and director of the Overseas Department in 1964. In a reorganization of the Council in 1968, he was made First Vice-President and Deputy for Program, responsible for the Council's central planning and the design and execution of the Church's national programs.
Bishop Bayne resigned from this post in the summer of 1970 to return to General Seminary as professor of Christian Mission and Ascetical Theology. Later he was acting dean and then dean of the seminary until his retirement at the end of the academic year in 1973.
Bishop Bayne was the author of "Gifts of the Spirit, " "The Optional God, " "In the Sight of the Lord," and "Christian Living," one of the Episcopal Church's official Teaching Series.
He has received a number of honorary degrees from colleges, universities and seminaries in Africa, Australia, Canada and Japan as well as the United States.
Bishop Bayne was married to Lucie Culver Gould in 1934 and she and five children survive him.
The funeral will be Monday, January 21, at Trinity Church, New York City.