Our Bishops:

Archbishop Robert Duncan, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of North America, Robert William Duncan, the Bishop of Pittsburgh and Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, was born 61 years ago at Fort Dix, N.J. The 18th priest (and second bishop) to be ordained from Christ Church in Bordentown, Duncan was valedictorian of the Bordentown Military Institute in 1966. He graduated with honors from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., in 1970 and from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York in 1973. He also undertook advanced research in Scottish history at Edinburgh University in 1972-73. Duncan was ordained a deacon in 1972 and a priest later that year. He served the Chapel of the Intercession in New York City; Christ Church in Edinburgh, Scotland; and Grace Church in Merchantville, N.J., during his first years in holy orders. He was assistant dean of General Seminary from 1974-78, Episcopal chaplain of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1978-82, and rector of Saint Thomas's Parish in Newark, Delaware, from 1982-92. In 1992, he became canon to the ordinary – similar to a chief of staff – for Bishop Alden Hathaway in Pittsburgh. In 1995, Duncan was elected bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He has devoted himself to mission and evangelism throughout his ministry, with a special passion for reaching adolescents and young adults. He has also led short-term missions to Haiti, Rwanda and Trinidad. He is a champion of the poor and dispossessed of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, encouraging creative urban church-planting. Duncan served on the Programme Committee of the Network for Anglicans in Mission and Evangelism, an agency created at the 1998 Lambeth Conference. In 2004, he was a driving force in the creation of the Anglican Relief and Development Fund, a multi-million dollar enterprise for which he continues to serve as president. Best known beyond Pittsburgh for his role as moderator of the Anglican Communion Network and the Common Cause Partnership, “Bishop Bob” has proven to be an extraordinary leader at a critical moment in Church history. At the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, Bishop Duncan attended the 2007 Primates Meeting in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, to speak on behalf of orthodox Anglicans in the United States. In December 2007, he was elected moderator of the Common Cause Partnership. Archbishop Duncan was installed as the first Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America on June 24, 2009. He is married to the former Nara Dewar. They share a love of gardening, travel, hospitality and music. They have one married daughter, Louise Elizabeth. For more information see: www.anglicanchurch.net

 The Rev. Michael J. Bridge, was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA.  He lived in Pittsburgh for 26 years, attending the University of Pittsburgh and Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA.  Upon graduation from Trinity in 2004, Mike was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Duncan and moved to Ulysses, KS to work in the [Episcopal] Diocese of Western Kansas under Bishop James Adams, who ordained him a priest in December 2004.  Mike served as Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church and Vicar of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church before leaving southwest Kansas to come to New Life here in Petoskey.

Mike is very Orthodox in his faith and believes that the proclamation of the gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus is the most important aspect of his calling.  He loves to preach and teach and is very passionate about apologetics and sharing and defending the gospel.

Mike has been married to Bonnie Bridge since July 31, 2004 and so far they have two children, Mickey and Joshua.  In his free time, Mike loves to spend time with his family, especially having lightsaber duels with Mickey and pretending to be a dinosaur with Josh.

Our Administrative Assistant: Tracey Jepsen is a native of the Petoskey area. She and husband of 25 years (David) have three young adult children; Leann, Rachel and Tyler. Tracey was a stay-at-home mom until Dec.'99 when she returned to work force first as a drivers helper/pre-loader for UPS, then as a part-time Pastoral Assistant at Agape Baptist Church and college student. In May of 2006, Tracey graduated from North Central Michigan College with an A.A.S. in Marketing. She is happy to be using her education and experience to further the Lord's work here at New Life.