Bishop of Lincoln
James Douglas Conley was born on March 19, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. After converting to the Catholic faith, he was baptized on December 6, 1975, at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Lawrence. After completing his philosophical studies at Saint Pius X Seminary in Erlanger, Kentucky, he pursued theological studies at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Subsequently, he obtained a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome. Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, on May 18, 1985, he served as parochial vicar at Saint Patrick Parish in Wichita (1985–1987), director of the diocesan pro-life office (1987–1989 and 1991–1996), and chaplain of Saint Paul Parish/Newman Center at Wichita State University (1991–1996). He then served at the Congregation for Bishops (1996–2006), while also acting as chaplain for the University of Dallas program in Rome (1997–2003) and as an adjunct instructor of theology for the Christendom College program in Rome (2004–2006). Upon returning to his diocese, he served as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Wichita (2006–2008). Appointed Titular Bishop of Cissa and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Denver on April 10, 2008, he received episcopal ordination on May 30 of that year. From 2011 to 2012, he served as Apostolic Administrator of Denver. In addition to English, he speaks Italian, Latin, and Spanish.