Duvall Elected Bishop at Mobile
Episcopal News Service. November 20, 1980 [80422]
Mobile, Ala. -- The Rev. Charles Farmer Duvall of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina was elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Gulf Coast in a special election at St. Paul's Church here on Nov. 15.
Duvall received a majority of the votes in both the lay and clerical orders on the fourth ballot. Runner-up in the election was the Rev. Samuel R. Hardman of Mobile, assistant to the bishop for program. Three nominees, including Duvall, were submitted by a special committee and three priests were nominated from the floor.
Duvall has been rector of Church of the Advent in Spartanburg, S. C., since 1977. Prior to that he served a small town mission and suburban and urban parishes in South and North Carolina. His present parish numbers more than 1,000 communicants with a staff of 10 and a budget of $287,000.
He is a graduate of The Citadel and Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained priest in 1961. He was born in Bennettsville, S.C., in 1935.
In the dioceses where he has been resident Duvall has served in many areas, including Christian education, stewardship, standing committee, and commission on ministry. He has also been interested in work with adults and youth with physical handicaps and learning disabilities.
In 1957 he married Nancy Warren Rice and they have three children.
The Rt. Rev. George M. Murray, 61, who has served as Bishop of Central Gulf Coast since the formation of the diocese in 1971, plans to retire next April after almost 28 years in the episcopate. He was Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama before Central Gulf Coast was formed from parts of the Dioceses of Alabama and Florida by action of the 1970 General Convention.
Duvall has announced his acceptance of the election subject to the receipt of consents by diocesan bishops and standing committees of the Episcopal Church.