Bishop vonRosenberg  was installed during the special meeting January 26 at Grace Episcopal Church, and will immediately take up his duties as bishop of a diocese that covers 24 counties in eastern South Carolina.  Currently, at least 19 parishes and missions and six worship communities in the diocese have indicated they are remaining with The Episcopal Church, and a number of others are still deciding.

 A provisional bishop has all the authority and responsibility of other bishops, but serves for a limited period of time until a diocese is ready to call a permanent bishop.

Bishop vonRosenberg and his wife, Annie, already reside in the Daniel Island community of Charleston, where he retired in 2011 after serving for 12 years as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. Since October he has served on a voluntary basis as advisor to the Steering Committee that formed in October to help reorganize the Diocese.

For many years, Bishop vonRosenberg served in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, as rector of the Church of the Resurrection in Greenwood and later as Canon to the Ordinary (assistant to the Bishop) of that diocese from 1989-1994.

 Born in Fayetteville, N.C., on July 11, 1947, he graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a bachelor of arts in 1969. He earned his master of divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1974. Early in his episcopate, the University of the South's School of Theology awarded him an honorary doctor of divinity.

 Ordained as a priest in 1975, he served as rector/vicar of four small churches in and around Bellhaven, N.C. He was vicar and rector of churches in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina from 1976 until 1989. After serving as canon to the ordinary of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, he accepted a call to be rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington, N.C.  

As Third Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee, he oversaw an area of 34 counties in Tennessee and three in North Georgia, with 45 congregations and five worshiping communities and nearly 16,000 active members.

 Bishop vonRosenberg served in the House of Bishops, and ex officio on the board of trustees of the University of the South. He was also was elected to the university's board of regents. In 2008 he attended the Lambeth Conference, the once-a-decade gathering of the world's Anglican bishops, and participated with other bishops in a "Walk of Witness" through central London to draw attention to the Millennium Development Goals, which target poverty reduction around the world.

 His tenure in East Tennessee was marked by a measured approach and a focus on reconciliation and relationship. Bishop vonRosenberg worked to acknowledge diversity and build a spirit of openness in the diocese, initiating a Bishop's Committee on Inclusivity in 2009 to encourage “reasonable and holy conversations” on same-gender relationships. He also was noted for putting a priority on pastoral sensitivity and responsiveness, especially to clergy, their families and churches.

 He and Annie, a native of Alexandria, Va., married in 1973 and they have two sons and families, including six grandchildren. For recreation, Bishop vonRosenberg enjoys playing golf, sailing, reading, walking and spending time with his family.

Archdeacon appointed

The Venerable Calhoun Walpole
The Right Reverend Charles vonRosenberg, Bishop of the diocese, is pleased to appoint the Reverend Calhoun Walpole, to serve as the Archdeacon of the diocese, on a half-time basis, effective March 1, 2013. Callie will continue as Vicar of Grace Church in Charleston and will complete her ministry as Priest in Charge of St. Mark’s, Charleston, at the end of February. There will be a special celebration of her ministry at St. Mark’s on Sunday, February 24. 

Callie's responsibilities as Archdeacon will include service as Convention Secretary and as clergy transition officer and resource person for other programs in The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Callie will continue to have her office at Grace Church. She can be reached at the following address:

The Venerable Calhoun Walpole
Grace Episcopal Church
98 Wentworth Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-4575
Email: cwalpole@episcopalchurchsc.org


A native of John’s Island, Callie was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church from her baptism until she entered seminary, and served there on the vestry and in other capacities. She also served the Diocese as Missioner for Hispanic Ministry and as lay vicar for the congregation of San Juan on John’s Island. She has coordinated the diocesan companion relationship between South Carolina and the Dominican Republic.

Callie graduated from The University of the South with a Master of Divinity degree in 2005. She has taught Spanish at Burke High School and at Bishop England. She served as assistant rector of Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church on Pawley’s Island from 2005-2008. In 2009 she was named Vicar of Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston, where she continues to serve on a half-time basis.

From February 2012 through February 2013, Callie also served as Priest in Charge at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston on a half-time basis, bringing leadership to that historic congregation while it was without a rector.

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Lauren Kinard, Executive Assistant to the Bishop