J. Broke Mosley. Jr., Retired Bishop Dies
Episcopal News Service. March 17, 1988 [88050]
PHILADELPHIA (DPS, Mar. 17) -- The Rt. Rev. John Brooke Mosley, Jr., retired bishop of Delaware, died March 4 in New York City, apparently of a heart attack. He was 72 years old. Mosley had a long, active, and challenging career in the Church. He had served as Bishop of Delaware, as deputy for overseas missions for Presiding Bishop John Hines, president of Union Theological Seminary, and assistant bishop in Pennsylvania.
The Rt. Rev. Allan L. Bartlett, Jr., Bishop of Pennsylvania, described Mosley in this way: "He was a vibrant bearer of humor and hope. For me he was companion, counselor, and encourager. He had always been in the vanguard of those ministering to the needs of people on the margins of society."
Although he was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Temple University, Mosley's ministry with the people of Delaware was long and dedicated, stretching over 20 years. He became dean of St. John's Cathedral in Wilmington in 1948. While dean, he also served as chairman of the city's first housing commission and led an effort to secure decent housing for low-income families. He was elected bishop coadjutor in 1953 and, two years later, became bishop. As bishop, he was a leader for integrated schools, fair employment practices, and open public accommodations in the state. He also began what was to be a lifelong involvement in ecumenical relations, on state, national, and international bodies -- including a long and active involvement with the World Council of Churches.
In 1970, Mosley left Delaware to become president of Union Theological Seminary. He developed programs to prepare seminarians to face real-life situations and also sought to bring more minority people and women into the student body.
Bishop Lyman C. Ogilby of Pennsylvania chose Mosley as his assistant in 1974 because, he has said recently, "I admired him as a modern bishop; he was concerned about oppression, racism and violence in the world, and with the ecumenical movement. And he was a good pastor and a lover of people. He was candid, courageous and committed...."
Mosley held degrees from Temple University and Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass. He had been awarded honorary degrees from Kenyon College, Hobart, Colgate, Dickinson, and Jewish Theological Seminary. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, the former Betty Mary Wall, three children, Miriam, Sally Sandor, and Peter, and by five granddaughters.