Bishop Spong Bishop John Shelby Spong, a best-selling author and Episcopal bishop known for his liberal theology has died. He was 90.
He made headlines as the bishop of the Diocese of Newark, where he served for more than two decades when in 1989 he ordained the first openly gay minister.
He was part of a movement of writers who felt the Christian faith needed to adapt to a changing world in order to have a viable future and who often rejected miracles or other spiritual parts of the Bible. While always calling himself a Christian, he also rejected doctrines like the virgin birth and the resurrection of Jesus.
He is survived by his wife Christine and three daughters.