Charles Lovett Keyser was consecrated as the fourth Bishop
Suffragan for the Armed Forces on March 24, 1990 at the Cathedral
of Saints Peter and Paul, Washington, D. C. The Most Reverend
Edmund L. Browning Primate and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal
Church was Chief Consecrator, with Bishops Cerveny (Florida), Lee,
(Virginia), Witcher (Long Island), Burhgreen, and Hobgood (retired
Bishops Suffragan for the Armed Forces) as Co-Consecrators.
From 1954 to 1960 Bishop Keyser served in the Diocese of Florida
(Holy Cross and St. Timothy's, Jacksonville) and was ordained
deacon on June 24, 1954 and priest February 15, 1955 by Bishop
Frank Juhan, Bishop of Florida. In 1960 he answered a call to
active Naval service as an Episcopal Chaplain and served until
1986. During the early years of his Naval service, assignments
included Naval surface and sub-surface units, Naval air units,
Fleet Marine Force units, and Training Commands. From June of 1969
to July of 1970 he served with the Fifth and First Marine Regiments
in Vietnam where he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat
Distinguishing Device. Promoted to the rank of Captain in 1973, he
was assigned as Staff Chaplain and Training Officer for the Navy
Chaplain Corps. Additionally he served as Fleet Chaplain to the
Commander, U. S. Naval Forces Europe and Command Chaplain for the
Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia,
where he retired from active Naval Service. During his military
service, Bishop Keyser was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat
"V" and Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award: the Meritorious
Service Medal; Combat Action Ribbon (USMC Device); Navy
Expeditionary Medal and various other medals, citations and
campaign ribbons.
Upon his naval retirement, he entered the Diocese of Virginia
having been called as rector of the Washington and Montross
parishes in the Virginia countryside where he remained until his
consecration.
Bishop Keyser's wide ranging responsibilities as Bishop
Suffragan for the Armed Forces included all Episcopal chaplains and
lay persons in the Uniformed Service both here and abroad as well
as Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and the Federal Bureau of
Prisons. In 1994 the Bishop was appointed by the Presiding Bishop
for The Missionary District of Micronesia and in 1995 began
extensive work with the Russian Orthodox Church as they
re-established their chaplaincy for the military services.
During the Bosnian conflict Bishop SAVA (Bishop for the Armed
Forces for the Russian Orthodox Church) and Bishop Keyser had an
historic meeting between bishops of the West and East as together
they visited the military forces of both nations, a visit which
included common prayer time, reflection, and the fellowship of a
meal in which prayers and toasts were offered to their respective
nations and their common Lord.
Subsequent to the Bishop's retirement on 29 February, 2000, as
Bishop Suffragan for the Armed Forces, the Keysers returned home to
Jacksonville, Florida, where they now reside. Since "the
retirement" the Bishop has done consultant work in parochial
conflict resolution: served for six months as Dean Pro Tem at
Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans; as Bishop, Assisting, The
Diocese of Montana from August 2001 - September 2003; and Assisting
Bishop in the Diocese of Georgia 2003-2006. He has been the
Assisting Bishop for the Diocese of Florida since January 1,
2007.
Bishop Keyser was married August 6, 1956 to Christine D.
Crutchfield of Jacksonville, Florida. They have four grown
children: Charles L. Jr., Christine Keyser-Ball, Catherine H. and
Caroline B. (deceased) and eight grandchildren.