Michael Jackson (bishop)

Michael Geoffrey St Aubyn Jackson (born 24 May 1956) is a Church of Ireland Anglican bishop. Since 2011, he has served as the Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough in the Church of Ireland. He is also the co-chairman of the Porvoo Communion of Anglican and Lutheran churches.

The Most Reverend Michael Jackson
Archbishop of Dublin, Bishop of Glendalough, and Primate of Ireland
Jackson in 2017
Church	Church of Ireland
Province	Dublin and Cashel
Diocese	Dublin and Glendalough
Elected	2 February 2011
Installed	8 May 2011
Predecessor	John Neill
Orders
Ordination	1986 (deacon) 1987 (priest)
Consecration	6 March 2002 by Robin Eames
Personal details
Birth name	Michael Geoffrey St Aubyn Jackson
Born	24 May 1956 Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Denomination	Anglicanism
Spouse	Inez Cooke
Children	1
Previous post	Bishop of Clogher
Alma mater	Trinity College, Dublin St John's College, Cambridge

Styles of Michael Jackson
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Grace
Religious style	Archbishop

Early life and family

Jackson was born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, the son of a Church of Ireland rector (latterly appointed Archdeacon of Elphin & Ardagh), and educated at Ballinamallard Primary School and Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. He achieved the Louis Claude Purser Entrance Scholarship to Trinity College, Dublin. As only a Junior Freshman, he was elected as a Scholar of the College, the greatest undergraduate achievement in 1979 in classics. As a Senior Freshman was awarded the Bishop Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek. As a Sophister, he achieved a First in the Moderatorship Part I along with a Mullins Classical Exhibition, before finally taking a first class Moderatorship II in Classics and a Gold Medal, and graduating with a B.A. in 1979. He incepted to M.A. in 1982.

He read Theology at Cambridge University where he was elected a foundation scholar of St John's College, Cambridge and took a First Class Tripos Part II in Theology and Religious Studies.

He is married to Inez Cooke, a medical doctor who was born in County Fermanagh, and they have one daughter, Camilla.[1]

Ecclesiastical career

He was ordained to the Anglican ministry as a deacon in 1986 and a priest in 1987. His first pastoral appointment was as a curate at Zion Parish, Dublin, and he also lectured at Trinity College, Dublin and the Church of Ireland Theological Institute (now Institute). His next appointment was as college chaplain at Christ Church, Oxford, from 1989 to 1997 where was also a Student. He returned to Ireland and served as the incumbent of St Fin Barre's Union and Dean of Cork, from 1997 to 2002. Jackson has held many notable positions in the Church of Ireland, including chairmanship of the Church in Society Committee and, currently, chairmanship of the Board for Social Theology.

Jackson also plays an active role in the wider Anglican Communion, especially in the areas of ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue.

Jackson was elected Bishop of Clogher by the Church of Ireland House of Bishops on 21 November 2001 and consecrated at St Patrick's Anglican Cathedral, Armagh on 6 March 2002. On 2 February 2011, he was elected Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough, and enthroned at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin on 8 May 2011, succeeding John Neill.[2][3] Jackson has caused several controversies during his incumbency in Dublin, including a media fracas regarding comments about sectarianism made in a speech during the 2013 diocesan synod[4] There was also controversy over the closure of the 200 year old Church of Ireland College of Education and its amalgamation into Dublin City University, ending the historic link with Trinity College, Dublin[5]

References

1. Profile of the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin Archived 3 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
2. Archbishop Michael Jackson's sermon at his enthronement in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, May 8th, 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
3. New Archbishop of Dublin calls for a fresh expression of God's presence. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
4. Duffy, Rónán. "Sectarianism "is alive" in Dublin's Church of Ireland community - Archbishop". TheJournal.ie.
5. McGarry, Patsy. "Staff and students at former Church of Ireland college protest". The Irish Times.

External links

Church of Ireland press releases

• "New Bishop of Clogher" (21 November 2001) – announcing Jackson's election
• "Armagh Congregation Welcomes New Bishop of Clogher" (6 March 2002) – announcing Jackson's consecration
• "Joint Christmas Message from the Bishops of Clogher" (2002) – joint message by Michael Jackson and Joseph Duffy, his Catholic counterpart
• "The Right Reverend Michael Jackson Elected as New Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough" (2 February 2011)