Integrity mourns the loss of a dear friend, supporter and advocate

Bishop Brian N. Prior, IX Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, is saddened to announce the death of the Rt. Rev. Robert Anderson, the VII Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota on the morning of May 3rd, 2011 in Minneapolis, MN.

Bishop Anderson, age 77, was born in Staten Island, NY on December 18, 1933. He was the 7th Episcopal Bishop of Minnesota from 1978 to 1993. After serving as the Interim for the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, IL he was called as Bishop Assistant to the Diocese of Los Angeles CA where he served from 1995 to 2008. Throughout his life he was a friend, counselor, teacher, and mentor to colleagues, and to parishes and dioceses he served. He graduated from Colgate University, and following military service in the Korean War, he graduated from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. As a Danforth scholar he spent a year on the campus of Northwestern University, Evanston IL. His life as a priest began in MIddle Haddam, CT and later he became the Dean of St Mark’s Cathedral in Salt Lake City, UT.

For many years he served as a CREDO teacher. He received Honorary Doctorates from Seabury Western Seminary and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. In combination with and the support of many in MN he founded the House of Prayer in Collegeville, MN. He was the 2nd recipient of the The Colman J. Barry Award for Distinguished Contributions to Religion and Society in 1996. Bishop Anderson was an honorary member of the Minneapolis Club.

Devoted to and beloved by his family, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Artemis Evans Anderson; daughters Martha Anderson (Paul Lehman), Elizabeth (Magnus) Kempe, Catherine (William) Gregg; son Thomas Robert (Lea) Anderson; Grandchildren: Quinn, Simon, Benjamin Lehman, William, Charlotte Mary, Jonathan Gregg, Olivia Kempe, and Winter Rose Anderson; sister in law Susan C Evans, and brother in law Tom (Lorraine) Evans, two nieces and a nephew.

A Memorial Service will be held next Monday, May 9, at 11 am at St Mark’s Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis 55403. The family has asked that clergy attend but not vest. A reception will follow at the Woman’s Club, 410 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis 55403. Memorials may be given to the Department of Indian Work with the Episcopal Church in MN, 1730 Clifton Pl #201 Mpls MN 55403, The House of Prayer, PO Box 5888 Collegeville, MN 56321, or to St Mark’s Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis.

Bishop Anderson was a long-time peace and justice advocate, a glorious story-teller and a staunch supporter for inlcusion in the Episcopal Church..