Fred Pierce Corson - Episcopal Ministry

Episcopal Ministry

The Rev. Dr. Corson was elected Bishop by the 1944 Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The Methodist Church. He was assigned the Philadelphia Episcopal Area, where he served until his retirement in 1968. This election, of course, necessitated his resignation from the Presidency of Dickinson, a move which angered some and reopened old wounds concerning the College's relationship with the Methodist denomination.

By all accounts, Bishop Corson led a sterling career as an Episcopal Leader. He was elected President of the Council of Bishops in 1952. He also served as President of the World Methodist Council in 1961. In 1962 he served as (a non-Catholic) observer at the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, called by Pope John XXIII and wrote a response to the (Catholic document) "Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office in the Church (Christus Dominus). He held private audience several times with Popes.