KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pope Francis appointed the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville on Tuesday morning.
Father James Mark Beckman, 61, was a priest of the Diocese of Nashville for more than three decades. His appointment was announced in Washington, D.C.
Beckman was born on Oct. 19, 1962, in Lawrenceburg. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Nashville in 1990. He served as associate pastor of Holy Rosary Parish, teacher and associate principal of Father Ryan High School and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, St. Michael Misson, St. Matthew Parish and St. Henry Parish.
“I am blessed and honored to accept this appointment from the Holy Father,” Beckman said. “I am a native Tennessean, and I am grateful that I can continue serving the Church and now the faithful of the Diocese of Knoxville in this region that I know well and love tremendously."
Bishop Emeritus of Knoxville Richard F. Stika resigned in 2023 amid allegations that he mishandled sex abuse allegations. He was the longest-serving bishop in the Knoxville Archdiocese, serving for 14 years. Stika claimed health issues were the reason for his resignation, though he said criticism played a role.
"There are wounds in this place, as there are everywhere," Beckman said. "The most important thing is creating an environment of trust, where people feel it's okay to speak their mind."
Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, who has been leading both the Diocese of Knoxville and the Diocese of Lousiville since Stika's resignation, will continue leading until Beckman's episcopal ordination in late July.
Beckman participated in his first mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville on Tuesday.
“Over the years I have made many friends in the Diocese of Nashville, and I have much gratitude for the support they’ve given me. I look forward to nurturing the same meaningful relationships with the Catholic community in East Tennessee,” Beckman said. “This is a wonderful diocese, and I am thrilled to be part of its future.”
Bishop-elect Beckman, an avid hiker, said he is happy to be in East Tennessee because it's closer to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He added his family, going back decades, is full of fans of the Big Orange.