Bp. Emeritus Keith L. Ackerman, SCC, DD
The Right Rev. Keith Lynn Ackerman, SSC Bishop Emeritus
Eighth Bishop of Quincy
Keith Lynn Ackerman was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania August 3, 1946. On August 19, 1967 he married Joann Bevacqua. They have three children: Keith, Renée and Lynne. They have four grandchildren; Ellie, Dominic, Natalia, and Betty. He earned a B.S. in Psychology from Marymount College in Salina, KS in 1971 while working at the St. Francis Boys Home, and also did graduate studies in Psychology.
He went on to receive a M.Div. from Nashotah House Seminary, Wisconsin, in 1974 and a D.D. from the same institution in 1994.
He was Ordained to the Diaconate in 1974 at Nashotah House Seminary, and to the Priesthood the same year in Long Island by Bishop William Davidson of the Diocese of Western Kansas.
He served as a Curate at the Church of the Transfiguration in Freeport, New York from 1974-1976, and in 1976 was called to be Rector of St. Mary’s Church, Charleroi, Pennsylvania in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. There he established five outreach ministries for the unemployed and a Christian Counseling Service. He served as President of the Charleroi Clergy Association and was awarded the distinguished “Christian Associates Ecumenical Award” of Western Pennsylvania as a result of his involvement in union labor and management negotiations which resulted in saving a steel-related business.
He founded St. Elizabeth Chapel in Bentleyville. He was awarded the Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop’s award. Active in Diocesan life, he served as President of the Standing Committee and as Deputy to General Convention. Much of his ministry in Pennsylvania, involved working with the unemployed. An active leader of retreats, he taught in several institutions including Chichester Theological College in Chichester, England and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In 1989 Father Ackerman was called to be Rector of St. Mark’s Church in Arlington, Texas in the Diocese of Fort Worth. There he served as president of the Ministerial Association in Arlington and was presented the “Minister of the Year'' award. In the Diocese of Fort Worth he served as a member of a number of committees, including President of the Standing Committee.
Keith Lynn Ackerman was elected Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Quincy on January 8, 1994, and was consecrated June, 29, 1994 at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the see city of Peoria. He retired as Diocesan Bishop in 2009 and continues to serve as Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Quincy. He is author of numerous articles and books including “To God be the Glory”—a book written by the Bishop and his wife, Joann—sold online at The Parish Press website. Since 2012 he has assisted the Bishop of Fort Worth ministering at various churches throughout the diocese.