Burgreen Elected Bishop For Armed Forces
Episcopal News Service. October 6, 1977 [77332]
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Rev. Charles L. Burgreen, who has served as a Chaplain in the U. S. Army during most of his years as an Episcopal priest, was elected Oct. 6 as the Episcopal Church's Suffragan Bishop for the Armed Forces by the House of Bishops meeting here.
Chaplain Burgreen is currently Executive Assistant to Bishop Clarence Hobgood who is presently Suffragan Bishop for the Armed Forces.
In his new position, Father Burgreen will be in charge of an extensive ministry to Episcopalians serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and their families, as well as clergy who are serving as chaplains.
The bishop-elect was born in David, W. Va., on March 6, 1924. He is a graduate of Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn., and holds a degree in theology from the School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.
He was ordained priest in 1948 and has served congregations in West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, Haines City and Auburndale, all in Florida. He became a chaplain in 1951 and was called involuntarily to active duty in the Army Reserve. In 1955 he accepted a commission into the Regular Army, and continued active service in New Jersey, Japan, Texas, New York City, Alaska, Vietnam, Illinois and California.
Father Burgreen serves as a member of several ecumenical boards, especially those dealing with the chaplaincy and related activities. He has participated in the meetings of the Interchurch Working Group on the Vietnam Generation Ministry, as well as in meetings of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship.
Father Burgreen is married to the former Helen Florence Lord, and they are parents of two daughters.
The bishop-elect's hobbies include music, needlepoint and rug making, and Little Theatre. He serves as Sunday assistant in the Church of the Ascension, Rockville Center, Long Island. He and Mrs. Burgreen now live in New York City.