[Diocese of Bethlehem] The Rt. Rev. Paul V. Marshall, the eight bishop of the Diocese of Bethlehem. died Oct. 21 at age 77. His death was announced to the diocese by its current bishop, the Rt. Rev. Kevin Nichols.
Marshall was born July 25, 1947, in New York City. He grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he was active in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He received his bachelor’s degree from Concordia College (Indiana) and his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary (Missouri). Ordained as a Lutheran pastor, he served for several years as a chaplain in the U.S. Army before becoming an Episcopalian.
He was ordained to the ministry of The Episcopal Church in 1978 in the Diocese of Fond du Lac and earned a doctorate from General Theological Seminary. While at General, he also taught homiletics, Latin and liturgy. In 1982, he became rector of Christ Church in Babylon, New York, and began teaching liturgy and homiletics at the Diocese of Long Island’s George Mercer School of Theology. He became an associate professor of liturgy at Yale Divinity School in 1989, a position he held until his consecration to the episcopate.
Marshall was elected bishop of Bethlehem on Dec. 2, 1995, and was consecrated on June 29, 1996, at St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
During his episcopal ministry, he helped develop a companion relationship with the Diocese of Kajo-Keji, South Sudan. In 2007, The New Hope capital campaign raised over $4 million for the construction of elementary and secondary schools, a college and various diocesan structures in Kajo-Keji. Marshall made several pilgrimages to Kajo Keji.
The Rt. Rev. Lule James Kenyi, bishop of Kajo-Keji, also shared his condolences: “He was indeed a great friend to us here in Kajo-Keji, and all the people here in the Episcopal Diocese of Kajo-Keji and at Kajo-Keji Christian College wish to send their condolence and sympathy to both the diocese and the family of Bishop Paul.”
Marshall retired from his leadership of the Diocese of Bethlehem on Dec 31, 2013.
“I mourn Bishop Paul’s passing and recall his ministry among us as bishop, theologian, teacher and advocate for the most vulnerable,” Nichols said. “Our prayers go out to his wife, Diana, his family and all those who loved him.”
Marshall’s full obituary can be found here. A private family service to celebrate his life and ministry will be held at a future date.