ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS

ARCHBISHOP

DR. RUSSELL MCCLANAHAN

Presiding Bishop and Patriarch  

Our Patriarch and Presiding Bishop, Archbishop Russell McClanahan, was deeply involved in the Charismatic Renewal.  Prior to that time, he began his ministry in the Methodist Church in 1964 where he served for 12 years.  Impacted by the Charismatic Renewal, he caught a vision for the convergence of the three great traditions of the church universal, accomplished as the strengths of each are drawn upon and all are held in balance with one another. Passionate about his vision, Abp McClanahan left the Methodist Church and from 1976-1995, he pioneered many church plants which developed into a network of churches and ministries. Under his oversight, these groups continued to grow in their understanding and experience of converging the three historical streams of worship. 

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Providentially, in 1994, Abp McClanahan met with a group of leaders of another developing organization which shared his vision for convergence.  After seeking the heart and mind of God, they determined that the two groups should link arms.  Abp McClanahan was unanimously elected by the founding leadership of the Evangelical Episcopal Church International to be its first Bishop in historic Apostolic succession.  He was consecrated on October 3, 1995 by the Right Reverend Michael Owen (Chief Consecrator), The Most Reverend Owen Augustine, and The Most Reverend Daniel C. Gincig at Hylton Memorial Chapel in Fredericksburg, VA.  During that same ceremony, one other Bishop was consecrated and 25 priests, as well as 7 deacons, were ordained.

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