Introducing Bishop Peter F. Hansen
We here at Christ Anglican Church are delighted to introduce Bishop Peter F. Hansen as the Episcopal Visitor now for the Diocese of the Southwestern States (D.S.W.S). We very much look forward to meeting him face to face and in person at a time God allows. We are truly blessed by this appointment by Archbishop John Upham. Please read through Bishop Hansen’s biography and join in praying for him through this season ahead.
In 1967, Peter Hansen thought he’d train to be an architect, so he obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree from U.C. Berkeley in 1972, only to wind up an estimator and project manager for three industrial special coatings contractors for 16 years.
God had other ideas. Called to be an Anglican priest, he completed a seminary degree from St. Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Theological College and was ordained in 1985, serving churches in Sacramento and Chico, California. He’s been rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, Chico, since 1991.
Bishop Hansen is called to be priest to his congregation, and to his city as well. In the last 29 years, Hansen has created and overseen a pro-life ministry (ChicoLife); trained for and served the Chico Police Department as president of the Chico Police Chaplains Association (1999 to 2016 and three-time Chaplain of the Year); led his congregation to purchase and renovate an historic church building at 3rd & Salem Streets downtown; tutored elementary children with Reading Partners, helped launch Street Pastors of Chico, sat on the Enloe Hospital Bio-Ethics Committee, and as group leader and clergy counselor at The Growing Place counseling center. He also chaired a Northern California regional pastors group the last 7+ years. And he is teaching Church History in our St. Joseph of Arimathea seminary.
In the APCK, he has long served as Diocese of the Western States (DWS) and APCK Treasurer, DWS Canon to the Ordinary, and secretary of the American Church Union. He is a director and the Treasurer for St. Joseph of Arimathea Foundation. On September 21, 2017, St. Matthew’s Day, Hansen was consecrated a bishop at All Saints Cathedral in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to serve the DWS as suffragan bishop under The Rt. Rev. Donald Ashman.
At the retirement of the Most Rev. Frederick Morrison, Bishop Hansen was appointed by Archbishop John Upham to serve the Diocese of the Southwestern States as episcopal visitor, treasurer and diocesan coordinator. In these offices, Bishop Hansen represents Archbishop Upham, who is automatically the Bishop Ordinary by virtue of his office and the absence of a bishop ordinary in the DSWS. Representing another, as with a vicar, Bishop Hansen’s duties are to see to the regular needs any parish or mission of the diocese may have, to call and coordinate Synod meetings, to visit churches on a regular basis, perform ordinations, confirmations, and consult with clergy over any need that arises.
He is happily married to Giti Zarnegar Hansen since 1973, and their son and four grandchildren live in Texas. He is also a fair hand at singing, guitar and songwriting. He has published I WAS THERE, Eyewitnesses at the foot of the Cross (Westbow Press, 2014).
