Bishop John (Jack) Shelby Spong suffered a stroke on Saturday morning, shortly before he was due to appear at a speaking engagement in Marquette, MI. The Diocese of Newark offered this update Monday afternoon via its Facebook page:
Many thanks to all of you who have been praying for Bishop Jack Spong and his family since we received the news that he suffered a stroke last Saturday morning. Bishop Beckwith is in contact with the Spong family, and reports that Bishop Spong is stable and talking, and that our prayers offer hope and help.
Bishop Spong retired as the Bishop of Newark in 2000. His has long been an influential and often controversial voice in liberal Christian theology. Bishop Spong is 85 years old.
Photo via the Episcopal Diocese of Newark