David John Bird (born 16 December 1946) is dean emeritus of the historic Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, the oldest church structure in continuous use in San Jose. He is a parish priest who reads and writes poetry and is particularly fond of Alfred Lord Tennyson. As a theologian, he emphasizes a liberal, compassionate, and inclusive approach and is devoted to ecumenism. Bird promotes Christian unity and is published in this field; since 2002, he has served on the national Committee of The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Church Dialogue. Early life Bird was born in the village of Dorridge in the borough of Solihull in Warwickshire. His father, John Dawson Bird, was a bank manager and sergeant major in the Royal Artillery; his mother, Winifred, was a music teacher, who worked in the Ministry of Labor during the war and was a nurse. He attended Royal Grammar School Worcester from 1957 to 1965. The Rt. Rev. Mervyn Charles-Edwards, Bishop of Worcester, ordained him deacon on 29 March 1970 at St. George's Church, Kidderminster, and the Rt. Rev. Sir Robert Wilmer Woods as priest the following year. Dr. Bird is married to Diane, a mechanical engineer, and they have two children, Michael and Alexandra. Academic life Bird earned his B.A. in English literature, biblical studies, and theology at St. David's College, Lampeter, Wales (today University of Wales, Lampeter) from 1965 to 1970. During this time, he was a student at Bishop Burgess Hall, the theological college for ordination training. He earned a Master of Sacred Theology at General Theological Seminary, New York (1972–74). His Ph.D. is in systematic theology and ethics, with an emphasis on ecumenism from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa. (1982–87). He served as chaplain and chair of the Department of Religion, Trinity School (New York City), from 1973 to 1978. Dr. Bird joined the faculty in theology at Duquesne University (1988–89) before assisting at the College of Preachers, Washington, D.C., 2000-2003, as an adjunct. He functioned in the capacity of seminarian supervisor at Virginia Theological Seminary (1989-2003), and at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, Ca. (2003 to present). Clerical life Bird was curate at St. George's Church, Kidderminster, England, (1970–72) and associate at Christ and St. Stephen's Church, New York (1977–78). He was appointed vicar of Christ Episcopal Church, Rochdale, Ma., (1978–79), and then as rector at St. Andrew's Church, New Kensington, Pa., (1979–89), now closed. He was on the