Wright, J. Robert. Papers

John Robert Wright was born in Carbondale, Illinois on October 20, 1936. He spent his youth in that area before matriculating at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 1953. He was graduated with a B.A. in 1958, and began the study of medieval history at Emory University in Atlanta from which he received an M.A. in 1959. Wright entered General Theological Seminary (GTS) shortly thereafter where he earned his M.Div. degree before entering Oxford University on a Fulbright scholarship, where he was awarded a D.Phil. in 1967.

Wright was ordained a deacon in his home Diocese of Indianapolis on June 11, 1963 and made a priest on June 29, 1964. With notable exceptions, his ministry in the church has centered around scholarship and teaching in an academic tradition with specialization in church history. Wright’s historical scholarship informed, in a compelling and influential way, The Episcopal Church's participation in three major Anglican dialogues and consultations with ecumenical partners in the Lutheran (ELCA), Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches. His leadership and theological contributions in these areas are strongly represented. Particular note must be made of his authorship of the covenant proposal, Called to Common Mission, and the crafting of full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Wright authored over a dozen books on medieval church history and ecumenism and nearly a hundred articles on topics ranging from the Book of Common Prayer, the nature and scope of ecclesiastical authority, the Eucharist and priesthood, Anglican tradition, and women in the ordained ministry. He exercised leadership as president of The Anglican Society and as a member of the Standing Commission on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations. He served as Historiographer of The Episcopal Church from 2000 to 2012.

Wright died in his New York City home on January 12, 2022 at the age of 85.