George Councell

George Edward Councell (born October 4, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan) is the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey and the 990th in succession in the Episcopal Church. He was elected bishop on May 3, 2003, and consecrated on October 18, 2003, at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton. Officially, Councell followed Joe Morris Doss as Bishop of New Jersey after Doss was forced to resign amidst controversy. David B. Joslin (retired Bishop of Central New York) served as assisting bishop while the diocese organized to elect its 11th bishop (i.e. Councell).

Before his election, Councell spent eight years serving as the rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, Illinois. From 1986-1995 Councell served as canon to the ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts following eight years as vicar at St. George's Church in Riverside, California.

Councell has also been active in the church serving on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago (2002-2003), as a trustee to Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, President of the board of Episcopal Charities and Community Services in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago (1996-2002), Deputy and Chair of deputation to General Convention in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts (1991, 1994), Secretary of Convention, Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts (1988-1993), a member of Executive Committee of the Alumni/Alumnae Association, Episcopal Divinity School (1988-1992), chair of the Committee for the Future, chaplain and member of the Board of Directors Riverside Hospice, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles (1982-1984).