Craig Bergland

Bishop Craig Bergland was born and raised in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. He attended Marquette University and completed Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Biblical Theology and Psychology at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He did graduate work in Religious Studies at Cardinal Stritch University and earned a Master of Divinity Degree and Doctor of Divinity from the Anglican Divinity School.

Craig was ordained in 1999 at Community of the Living Spirit, an ecumenical faith community in suburban Milwaukee. In 2004 he was elected Presiding Bishop of the Universal Anglican Church. Having a passion for the full inclusion of all people in the life of the Church, Craig has been active in The Bishops and Elders Council, HRC's Clergy Call for Justice, and has been a leader in religious outreach at Milwaukee's Pridefest celebration. Craig has written Rite III, an inclusive language worship book that includes an inclusive language version of the Psalter, and A Journey Toward Awakening, the story of his journey into Interspirituality. His latest book is Dispatches from the Interspiritual Front.

In addition to his ongoing role as Presiding Bishop of the Universal Anglican Church, Bishop Bergland's current project is RHIMES Interspirituality, a system of spirituality that recognizes the many commonalities between the great historic religious and spiritual traditions as a path toward increased understanding, dialogue, and peace on Earth. RHIMES recognizes Jesus as primarily a wisdom and enlightenment teacher and Christ Consciousness as enlightenment - something not unique to the one we know as Jesus, but in fact a quality of all the great Masters from all Traditions and available to everyone who chooses to pursue it. RHIMES seeks to journey with all people from all spiritual backgrounds and perspectives, and affirms all people as being inseparably connected - and understands that very connection to be the essence of what many call God, from whom we can never be separated. RHIMES Gatherings are spiritual gatherings of those seeking spiritual tools to transform themselves, their communities, and the world.

Craig lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife Erin; their adult children Peter, Tori, and Brandie; and their grandchildren Natalia and Greyson.