John Bryson Chane

John Bryson Chane

Episcopal Bishop of Washington

The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane is the eighth Episcopal Bishop of Washington, a diocese that encompasses 93 congregations and about 45,000 church members in the District of Columbia, and the Maryland counties of Prince George's, Montgomery, Charles and Saint Mary's. Before coming to Washington, the “On Faith” panelist was dean of Saint Paul's Cathedral in San Diego from 1996-2002. In Washington, he also serves as president of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which governs Saint Alban’s School for Boys, the National Cathedral School for Girls, Beauvoir Primary School, the Cathedral College and the National Cathedral. Throughout his ministry, Chane has been active in projects addressing low-income housing needs, public education reform, poverty and health care reform issues. He also has worked with Episcopalian and charitable organizations around the world as a community organizer, board member and adviser. In San Diego, he was part of an initiative to strengthen ties with Hispanic church members. As part of that effort, he served on the Diocesan Hispanic Task Force and coordinated the “Church Without Borders” program linking the Diocese of San Diego with the Diocese of Western Mexico and the Anglican Church of Mexico. Chane, who earned his divinity degree at Yale Divinity School, enjoys playing drums in reunions with his old blues band, "The Chane Gang." Close.

John Bryson Chane

Episcopal Bishop of Washington

The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane is the eighth Episcopal Bishop of Washington, a diocese that encompasses 93 congregations and about 45,000 church members in the District of Columbia, and the Maryland counties of Prince George's, Montgomery, Charles and Saint Mary's more »

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Morality Archives



April 17, 2007 9:04 AM

Time for Christians to Follow Non-Violent Jesus

There is absolutely no way to explain the horror of indiscriminate killing other than to say that it raises the broad issues of increasing violence especially among the young.

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August 27, 2007 7:37 AM

Love is the Issue, Not Sex

The concept of "don't ask don't tell," has been a painful failure for the U.S. military and has no place in the Episcopal Church.

One's sexual orientation in the Episcopal Church may not be used as a prohibition against ordination and same-sex relationships may not be used as a qualifier for ordination to either the priesthood or deaconate.

The issue of human sexuality should be based on loving, healthy relationships and not on sexual mechanics or in inappropriate proof-texting of Holy Scripture.

Celibacy is a gift from God and should not be used as a requirement for one's response to God's call to serve in the ordained or lay ministries of the Episcopal Church.

It is a sad state of affairs when the religious community spends so much time on this issue when the deterioration of the human condition continues to plague God's children throughout the world.

We spend too much time confessing the so-called sexual sins of others instead of addressing with vigor and human resources that are needed to address the sins of omission that demean the lives of so many throughout the Global Community as defined by the Millenium Development Goals.


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On Faith is an interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, as is PostGlobal, a conversation on international affairs. Please send your comments, questions and suggestions for On Faith to David Waters, its producer.