Donald Purple Hart (born April 22, 1937) was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii from 1986 to 1994.

The Right Reverend

Donald Purple Hart

B.D.
Bishop of Hawaii
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseHawaii
ElectedJune 1986
In office1986–1994
PredecessorEdmond L. Browning
SuccessorRichard Sui On Chang
Other post(s)Assistant Bishop of Connecticut (1995-1996)
Assistant Bishop of Maryland (1997-1998)
Assistant Bishop of Southern Virginia (1998)
Orders
Ordination1963
ConsecrationNovember 30, 1986
by Edmond L. Browning
Personal details
Born (1937-04-22) April 22, 1937 (age 87)
DenominationAnglican
ParentsDonald Buell Hart & Ann Wentwonh Ayres Herrick
SpouseElizabeth Ann Howard (m. September 8, 1962)
Children2

Early life and ministry

edit

Hart was educated at South Kent School, Williams College, and The Episcopal Theological School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After his curacy in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, he and his wife, Elizabeth, were appointed missionaries to Alaska. They served in several small Native American villages, as chaplain to native people in Anchorage, and as rector of St. Matthews, Fairbanks. He was also rector of St James' Episcopal Church, Keene, New Hampshire.

Bishop

edit

Hart was elected as the ninth Bishop of Hawaii on the fifth ballot In June 1986. Throughout the balloting, Hart led in both orders. On the fifth and final ballot, he received 37 clergy votes and 97 lay votes, with a majority being 33 for clergy and 85 for lay votes. He was consecrated on November 30, 1986.

Resignation

edit

Bishop Hart resigned as Bishop of Hawaii on June 26, 1994.[1] His resignation came about as a result of a complicated fiscal crisis stemming from the church's guaranty of a $4 million bank loan for a retirement facility which it didn't repay. In 1996 the Diocese of Hawaii's Special Committee on Episcopal Homes of Hawaii, Inc. recommended and the diocesan council agreed to take no further action against the Bishop Hart.[2] After his resignation he served as assistant bishop in Connecticut, Maryland, and Southern Virginia.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Bishop of Hawaii Resigns in the Wake of Fiscal Crisis over Loan for Retirement Center". Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  2. ^ "Diocese of Hawaii Decides Not to Take Action Against Bishop Hart". Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  3. ^ "Rev. Donald P. Hart". Retrieved 2018-09-06.