Rt. Rev. Thomas Clark Ely

The Rt. Rev. Thomas Clark Ely, 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, died peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 30, 2025, in Rutland, Vermont. He was 73.

The son of Leonard Clark and Shirley (Parker) Ely, he was born December 14, 1951, in Norwalk, Connecticut. Tom devoted his life to family, faith, and justice. Graduating from Norwalk High School in 1969 and Western Connecticut State University in 1973, he obtained his Master of Divinity from the University of the South, School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee in 1980. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut in 1980, where he served faithfully in parish ministries for decades in both the Middlesex Area Cluster Ministry and the Greater Hartford Regional Ministry. From 1985 to 1991, he served as the diocesan Director of Youth Ministries, guiding and inspiring countless young people. As the Executive Director of Camp Washington, he supported a vibrant ministry and nurtured the faith formation of youth and adolescents. In 1991, he oversaw the construction of new buildings and the renovation of existing ones, which led to the development of a modern campus serving not only summer campers but also year-round activities.

In 2001, Tom was consecrated as the 10th Bishop of Vermont, a role he held until his retirement in 2019. Tom’s ministry was rooted in the promises of Baptism and the ministry of all God’s people, a vision that shaped his leadership and his witness throughout the church. During his episcopate, Bishop Ely was recognized nationally as a champion for LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality, helping to lead the Episcopal Church toward greater inclusion. He was also a strong advocate for sensible gun control, serving as a member of Bishops United Against Gun Violence.

His ministry reflected a deep care for God’s creation, perhaps most visibly through the installation of solar panels at Rock Point in Burlington. This project continues to bear witness to the church’s commitment to environmental stewardship. He also served on the board of Cristosal, advancing human rights in Central America. He supported Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA), helping to prepare offenders for reentry into society with compassion and accountability. A leader in Swords to Plowshares Vermont, he promoted peace, reconciliation, and the transformation of violence into hope. As a co-founder of the Vermont chapter of Kids4Peace, Tom worked with youth dedicated to ending the conflict in the Middle East. Even in retirement, Tom continued to serve the wider church, becoming Bishop Provisional of North Dakota from 2021 to 2023. In all these ministries, Bishop Ely addressed the pressing issues of social justice with courage and conviction, grounded in his belief in the dignity of every human being.

Outside of the church, Tom’s passions were many. As a young man, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and played the sousaphone in the Norwalk High School marching band. As an adult, he was an avid golfer who relished time on the links both in the United States and Great Britain. He truly enjoyed musical and theatrical performances, performing both on stage and behind the scenes in Vermont and Connecticut community theater, most recently with the Rock River Players and the Vermont Theater Company. Tom also treasured traveling with family and friends, planning both short and extended vacations to places such as Portugal, the West Bank, Kenya, the Grand Canyon, England, and Germany. Along with his keen skills at the poker table, he was especially proud of achieving a perfect Yahtzee game in 2001, complete with three bonus Yahtzees.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Scott Ely. He is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Martha Ann (Wiggins) Ely; their daughters Katherine and Jennifer; his son-in-law, Bernd; his cherished grandchildren Charlie, Ronia, Clayton, and Madelyn; his brother James (Diane) of Norwalk, CT; and his sister Nancy (Garet) of Ansonia, CT as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Bishop Ely will be remembered for his steadfast faith, compassion, sense of humor, and unwavering commitment to justice. A compassionate pastor and strategic thinker, he was especially known for his deep commitment to communion across difference and his role as a committed ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Again and again, those who knew him recall his abiding hope—hope in God, hope in people, and hope in the power of love to transform the world. He lived in constant hope, and his life was a radiant testament to love in action.

The family gives thanks for the skilled and tender care of Agnes and all of the staff at the oncology unit at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, for the steadfast embrace of the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church community, and for the compassionate assistance of Christ Episcopal Church, Guilford, and Shea Family Funeral Home, all of whom were instruments of God’s love in Tom’s final earthly journey.

A celebratory service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Brattleboro, Vermont, followed by a reception. A second service will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington, Vermont, on Saturday, October 18th at 11 a.m., at which bishops and clergy will be invited to vest and process. In keeping with Tom’s request, please consider coming dressed in colorful attire as we honor his vibrant spirit.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Tom’s name to one of the following organizations, or to another meaningful to you:
• Rock River Players — https://rockriverplayers.org/
• Society of Saint John the Evangelist — https://www.ssje.org/
• St. Michael’s Episcopal Church — https://www.stmichaels-vt.org/
• Rock Point Commons — https://www.rockpointvt.org/
• Swords to Plowshares Vermont — https://www.swordsplowsharesvt.org/