Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.

Bishop of Knoxville

On October 26, 1999, Pope John Paul II appointed The Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. to serve as the second bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville. He was ordained on December 8, 1999. Born on August 18, 1946 in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, Bishop Kurtz is the son of the (late) George and Stella (Zmijewski) Kurtz and the brother of the (late) Rosemarie Quinn, Patricia Cameli, Theresa Bakos and the (late) George S. Kurtz. Bishop Kurtz served as a priest for 27 years in the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in charge of social services, diocesan administration and parish ministry. Active in advocacy work, Bishop Kurtz, who received the distinguished title of "monsignor" in 1986, served on more than a dozen boards of directors in the Allentown Diocese before coming to East Tennessee. The following is a compilation of his assignments, academic degrees and board memberships:

Education

•	Marywood School of Social Work, Scranton, PA, 1973 to 1976, master's degree in social work.
•	St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, PA, 1968 to 1972, master of divinity degree.
•	St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, PA, 1964 to 1968, bachelor of arts degree in philosophy.

Employment

•	Pastor, Notre Dame of Bethlehem Parish, Bethlehem, PA, Oct. 8, 1996 to Dec. 8, 1999.
•	Diocesan director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown, Feb. 17, 1988 to Dec. 31, 1998.
•	Diocesan coordinator for health affairs, Diocese of Allentown, July 1, 1994 to Dec. 31, 1998.
•	Pastor, St. Mary Parish, Catasauqua, PA, June 15, 1988 to Oct. 8, 1996.
•	Executive director of Catholic Social Agency and Family Life Bureau, Diocese of Allentown, Dec. 1, 1984 to June 30, 1994.
•	Executive director of Social Action Bureau, Diocese of Allentown, June 1, 1977 to June 30, 1991.
•	Assistant director of Catholic Social Agency, June 1, 1976 to Dec. 1, 1984.
•	Instructor in marriage and family therapy, Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, PA, 1978 to1982.
•	Instructor, Allentown College of St. Francis DeSales (now DeSales University), Center Valley, PA, summer 1978.
•	Professor/counselor, St. Pius X Seminary, Diocese of Scranton, PA, September 1973 to June 1976.
•	Assistant director of vocations, Diocese of Allentown, 1973 to 1976.
•	Assistant pastor, Ss. Simon & Jude Parish, Bethlehem, PA, 1972 to 1973.
•	Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Limeport, PA, 1972.
•	Assistant professor, Allentown Central Catholic High School, Allentown, PA, 1972.

 

Service on Boards

•	United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
	USCCB: Chair, Bishops' Committee on Marriage and the Family, 2005 to present USCCB: Bishops' Committee for  Pro-Life Committee,  2002 to present USCCB: Bishops' Committee on Marriage and the Family,  2002 to present USCCB: Bishops' Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, 2003-2005 USCCB: Bishops' Committee on Budget and Finance, 2006 to present USCCB: Bishops' Administrative Committee, 2005-present
•	North American College Board of Governors, Rome, Italy, member, 2004 – present
	Committee on Formation, 2006 to present
•	Catholic Relief Services, board member, 2006 - present
•	Conception Seminary Board of Regents, Conception, MO, member, 2001-present
•	Catholic Social Workers National Association, honorary member and Episcopal Advisor, 2007 - present
•	Leadership Knoxville, member of Class of 2002
•	Association of Christian Denominational Leaders, Knoxville, TN, member, 2000 to present
•	Pennsylvania Catholic Conference
	Personal representative of the bishop, 1992 to 1998 Social Welfare Conference, moderator, 1983 to 1991 Social Welfare Department, member, 1981 to 1991 Community Action Department, member, 1977 to 1981
•	Catholic Social Agency, Diocese of Allentown, president, board of directors, 1988 to 1999
•	Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem, PA, vice president, board of directors, 1985 to 1999
•	Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown, PA, member, board of directors, 1988 to 1999
•	Sacred Heart Health Care System, Allentown, PA, member, board of directors, 1999