David Smith (bishop)

David James Smith ( * July 14, 1935 in Hertfordshire ) is a British Anglican theologian. He was from 1992 to 2002 Bishop of Bradford in the Church of England.

Smith was born the son of Stanley Smith and his wife Gwendolen Smith in the county of Hertfordshire. He grew up in a religious family and went to Sunday school regularly. He attended Hertford Grammar School. He left school at sixteen. He then worked as a messenger boy at Unilever in Leeds. He then went to London to find work. Even then he wanted to be a priest. However, it told him that he was still too young for it; he should audition again after his military service, he will still feel the vocation to the priesthood in itself. After his military service ( national service ) in the Royal Artillery, he studied theology, first at King's College London, University of London, and later at St Boniface College, Warminster. In 1959 he was ordained a deacon; In 1960, his ordination. His priestly career began in 1959 as an auxiliary vicar ( Assistant Curate ) on the All Saints' Church in Gosforth, a city district of Newcastle- upon- Tyne. Subsequently, he was auxiliary vicar at St Francis Church in High Heaton. This was followed by an appointment as pastor ( Priest in charge) at St Mary Magdalene Church in Longbenton. Subsequently he was pastor (Vicar ) in Longhirst with responsibility for the parish in Hebron in the county of Northumberland; after which he was pastor (Vicar ) on the St Marys Church in Monkseaton. After that, he was Dean of the country ( Rural Dean ) of Tynemouth. From 1964 to 1978 he was " Diocesan Ecumenical Officer" and adviser to the Diözesanbishofs in questions of ecumenism ( Bishop's Adviser in Ecumenical Affairs ). In 1973 he was elected " Proctor in Convocation "; In this capacity, he represented in the Provincial Synod ( Convocation ) the clergy of the diocese against the Church of England. From 1973 to 1984 he was a member of the General Synod of the Church of England. From 1981 to 1987 he was Archdeacon ( Archdeacon ) of Lindisfarne ( Archdeacon of Lindisfarne ).

In 1987 he was ordained a bishop. From 1982 to 1985 he was known as " Bishop of Maidstone " suffragan bishop in the diocese of Canterbury in the Church of England. From 1990 to 1992 he was, succeeding Ronald Gordon, " Bishop to the Forces" ( The Archbishop of Canterbury 's Episcopal Representative to the Armed Forces). In this role, he was the representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the British Armed Forces and is responsible for the pastoral work of the Church of England in the British armed forces. In 1992 he was, as a successor to Roy Williamson, Bishop of Bradford in the Church of England. He held until 2002 this office. His successor as Bishop of Bradford, David James. After his retirement he worked since 2002 as a volunteer auxiliary bishop ( Honorary Assistant Bishop) in the Diocese of York and the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe ( Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe, in short: Diocese in Europe).

Since 1999 he is a Fellow of King's College London. In 2001 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford.

In 1961 he married his wife Mary Moult. From the marriage were two children, a son and a daughter. Smith lives in York.

Membership in the House of Lords

Smith was in his capacity as Bishop of Bradford from September 1997 until his retirement in July 2002 as Bishop of Bradford as a clergyman Lord of the House of Lords.

In Hansard word posts by David Smith from the years 1997 to 2002 are documented. His inaugural address was delivered on 1 December 1997 as part of a debate on the political situation in Sudan. On 24 April 2002 he enlisted during his tenure at a debate on the situation of children and adolescents to last word.