Rev. Kingsley & Mrs. Ifey Jon-Ubabuco with their children
The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker, the Bishop of Fort Worth appointed Fr. Kingsley Obi Jon-Ubabuco the Vicar of St. Philip’s in June 2007.
Fr. Kingsley was born in Colonial (pre-independence) Nigeria. His parents were very active in the political, social, and religious spheres of pre-independence Nigeria. Growing up in the 1950′s and 60′s, Fr. Kingsley was highly influenced by these familial and other backgrounds. His maternal grand-father was an Anglican clergyman, and some other men from that family are either currently serving or have served in the ordained ministry in the Anglican Church. Fr. Kingsley, himself, had a sense a call to the ordained ministry by his Confirmation in 1965. However, it would eventually take many years and twists and turns before the full realization of this call to serve in the ordained ministry. Prior to the ordained ministry, he had been a business owner and Publisher of a newspaper (Free Press Newspaper) and magazine (First Magazine for Children) in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom. He founded and financed the International Friendship Program for Children (IFPC) for the benefit of children in some English-speaking countries of the British Commonwealth. Before coming to the United States, he had lived in Nigeria and in England and had traveled extensively in Europe.
While living in England, that Rev. Jon-Ubabuco started the exploration process to the ordained ministry. But it was in the United States that he had his formal process and formation in his home diocese of North Carolina. It is a great credit to the Bishop of North Carolina, the Diocesan Standing Committee and Commission on Ministry that in spite of Fr. Kingsley's clear and unambiguous orthodox and traditional theological and sociological views and positions, which contrasted with that of the Diocese, he still received fair consideration and support all the way, leading to his seminary years, and ordinations to the Diaconate and to the Priesthood. (Bishop Iker ordained him to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood, on behalf of Bishop of North Carolina, the Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry).
Fr. Kingsley has knowledge and education that span extensively across a very wide range of fields – theology, sociology, anthropology, criminology, law, morality, ethics, politics, the arts, and current affairs.
Fr. Kingsley attended various colleges and graduate schools. He earned his:
Bachelor of Arts degree from Wingate University, Wingate NC;
Master of Arts degree (Liberal Studies – Concentration in Ethics, Politics and Law) from the University of North Carolina (UNCC) at Charlotte, NC;
Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice (Criminology) from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville (UWPlatt); and
Master of Divinity degree (with Honors) from the School of Theology (Seminary) of the University of the South, Sewanee TN.
Fr. Kingsley attended Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte NC for one year for the Master of Theological Studies degree program.
He also attended the Law School of the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Durham NC. Before the completion of the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree program, he became a Postulant to Holy Orders, and had to go to the Seminary for the three years for his M.Div.
While living in England, that Rev. Jon-Ubabuco started the exploration process to the ordained ministry. But it was in the United States that he had his formal process and formation in his home diocese of North Carolina. It is a great credit to the Bishop of North Carolina, the Diocesan Standing Committee and Commission on Ministry that in spite of Fr. Kingsley's clear and unambiguous orthodox and traditional theological and sociological views and positions, which contrasted with that of the Diocese, he still received fair consideration and support all the way, leading to his seminary years, and ordinations to the Diaconate and to the Priesthood. (Bishop Iker ordained him to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood, on behalf of Bishop of North Carolina, the Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry).
Fr. Kingsley has knowledge and education that span extensively across a very wide range of fields – theology, sociology, anthropology, criminology, law, morality, ethics, politics, the arts, and current affairs.
Fr. Kingsley attended various colleges and graduate schools. He earned his:
Bachelor of Arts degree from Wingate University, Wingate NC;
Master of Arts degree (Liberal Studies – Concentration in Ethics, Politics and Law) from the University of North Carolina (UNCC) at Charlotte, NC;
Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice (Criminology) from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville (UWPlatt); and
Master of Divinity degree (with Honors) from the School of Theology (Seminary) of the University of the South, Sewanee TN.
Fr. Kingsley attended Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte NC for one year for the Master of Theological Studies degree program.
He also attended the Law School of the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Durham NC. Before the completion of the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree program, he became a Postulant to Holy Orders, and had to go to the Seminary for the three years for his M.Div.
Fr. Kingsley did his one year internship at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Charlotte, NC. After graduation from the seminary, he was ordained a Transitional Deacon by the Bishop of North Carolina, The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry in June 2006. Rev. Jon-Ubabuco served as a Curate at St. Paul’s-by-the-Lake Episcopal Church in Chicago until his appointment as the Vicar of St. Philip’s Arlington in 2007, following his ordination to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood in Arlington, Texas, by the Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker, the Bishop of Fort Worth.
The Rev. Kingsley Jon-Ubabuco is not wishy-washy in his theological convictions. He is un-apologetically theologically conservative and is not shy in expressing his views, in his writings, blog postings, preaching, and teaching. He refuses to accept the contemporary secular view of Christianity that casts it as an ancient religion that has little or nothing to offer a modern world.
Fr. Kingsley sees and defends the teachings and the premises of Christianity as relevant, and indeed, needed for all ages and at all times. He says: “This ancient religion is of eternal relevance because it is essentially the Divine revelation and the relationship with the Most High, through Our Savior Jesus Christ. Nothing else in life comes even close in relevance.” Fr. Kingsley has a very high view of the ordained ministry and the Sacraments of the Christian Church. He values the contributions of the saints, such as Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Cranmer, Richard Hooker, etc. who for centuries proclaimed and defended the faith without fear, but with conviction.
Fr. Kingsley sees and defends the teachings and the premises of Christianity as relevant, and indeed, needed for all ages and at all times. He says: “This ancient religion is of eternal relevance because it is essentially the Divine revelation and the relationship with the Most High, through Our Savior Jesus Christ. Nothing else in life comes even close in relevance.” Fr. Kingsley has a very high view of the ordained ministry and the Sacraments of the Christian Church. He values the contributions of the saints, such as Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Cranmer, Richard Hooker, etc. who for centuries proclaimed and defended the faith without fear, but with conviction.
Fr. Kingsley and his wife, Mabel Ify Jon-Ubabuco, have been married since 1982. They are blessed with six children (five sons and a daughter).
