He became the Dean and Professor of New Testament at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia, and continues as an adjunct professor today. Later, Bishop Sutton functioned as Dean and Professor of Theology at Cranmer Theological House, where he continues to teach. In 1999 he was consecrated a bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Mid America. He served as a Bishop Suffragan, assisting the Most Rev. Royal U. Grote. Later he was elected bishop co-adjutor until he became the Ordinary of the Diocese 2016, upon Bishop Grote’s passing. In 2017 he was elected the Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal church. He has also authored four books on theology, one of which is, Signed, Sealed and Delivered: A Study of Holy Baptism. Another book he has written on the sacraments is scheduled to be published in 2022.

Bishop Sutton is married to Susan Jean Schaerdel of Dallas, a fellow graduate of Southern Methodist University. The Suttons have seven children and seven grandchildren. The Suttons live in Dallas where Bishop Sutton’s residential offices are at the Cathedral of the Church of the Holy Communion, the Diocesan See of the Diocese of Mid America.