Remembering the Rt. Rev. James L. Duncan

The Rt. Rev. James L. Duncan, DD was the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida.

Born in Greensboro, NC, Sept.11, 1913, Bishop Duncan received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Emory University and his theology degree from the University of the South at Sewanee. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1938 and began his ministry in 1939 as an assistant priest at All Saints' in Atlanta, Ga. In 1961 he became a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of South Florida, serving the southeastern part of the diocese. In 1969, when that diocese was divided into three dioceses, he was elected the first bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Southeast Florida, a position in which he served until his retirement in 1979.

Bishop Duncan's death comes at a time of transition for the diocese; the Rt. Rev. Calvin O. Schofield, Jr., second bishop of the diocese, will retire in September, and Bishop Leo Frade of Honduras will begin his ministry in Southeast Florida.

Bishop Schofield says he feels "a great sense of loss" at Bishop Duncan's death. "...he ordained me to the diaconate and was one of the co-consecrators when I was consecrated as co-adjutor. Bishop Duncan was a great leader and a sensitive, caring person. He was concerned about the life of the diocese as it began, and was open and responsive to the needs of both the clergy and the laity. He was a wonderful father, and cared deeply for families and their nurture. He will be missed greatly by all of us, especially as we go into this time of transition..."

Bishop Frade also remembers Bishop Duncan as "A loving man that sincerely loved the clergy and the church." "I consider it a great privilege", said Bishop Frade, "that I was ordained deacon and priest by him. Every time I needed help or advice as I commenced my ministry he was available for me. The church has lost a great bishop and we in Southeast Florida will greatly miss him."

As suffragan and later as diocesan bishop, Duncan played an active role in the Miami community, working with Cuban refugees during the early 1960s. From the shared work of the church and community agencies during this period the Christian Community Service Agency was established, with the bishop as a co-founder. He was also a founder of the United Protestant Appeal, and of the Dade County Community Relations Board, which he served as vice president from 1963 to 1965 and president in 1966-67.

At the time of his fiftieth anniversary of ordination to the priesthood the bishop said that his was a "diaconal ministry", the ministry of a servant of the people of God. In the early years of the fledgling diocese of Southeast Florida, Duncan's servant ministry took the form of administrative and financial guidance, as well as spiritual leadership. By the time of his retirement, the diocese, which had begun with a heavy burden of debt in many parishes, was on a sound financial footing.

Bishop Duncan was married in 1943 to Evelyn Burgess, and the couple had three children, Mary Anna (Waters), John Robert and James L., Jr.. After his first wife's death, Duncan married Elaine Gaither.