Robert O. Miller


Robert Oran Miller was an American bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama from 1988 to 1998.

Early Life and Education

Miller was born in Wynnville, Alabama, on February 14, 1935, the son of a Methodist minister. He studied at the Birmingham-Southern College and graduated with a degree in Psychology in 1960. He then studied at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University and graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity in 1963. Between 1967 and 1968 he did a year of special studies at the School of Theology of.He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from the same university in 1988.

Ordained Ministry

Miller was ordained a deacon in 1962 and priest in 1963 in the United Methodist Church. He then served as associate minister of First United Methodist Church in Anniston, Alabama from 1963 to 1965, and then as Director of the Wesley Foundation at the Jacksonville State University from 1965 till 1970.
After studies at the University of the South, he joined the Episcopal Church and was ordained deacon and priest in 1968. He then served as rector of St Wilfred's Church in Marion, Alabama and priest-in-charge of Holy Cross Church in Carlowville, Alabama from 1968 to 1970. He moved to Montgomery, Alabama in 1970 to become curate of the Church of Holy Comforter, succeeding as rector in 1971. In 1984 he became rector of the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Pelham, Alabama.

Bishop

Miller was elected Suffragan Bishop of Alabama on May 31, 1986. He was consecrated on September 1, 1986 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, by Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning. He was then elected as the ninth Bishop of Alabama on June 25, 1988 and succeeded as diocesan bishop in October 1988, after the resignation of Bishop Stough. He retianed the post till his retirement on December 31, 1998.