Studer Community Institute

New bishop leads Central Gulf Coast Episcopalians

February 24, 2015
/ Shannon Nickinson
/ community-dashboard

Episcopalians in Pensacola and throughout the Central Gulf Coast Diocese have a new bishop. This weekend, the Rev. James Russell Kendrick, rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham, was elected bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. Kendrick, 54, was elected during the diocese’s 44^th annual convention held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Mobile. He was elected on the third ballot out of a field of three nominees. “I am keenly aware and deeply humbled by the trust and hope that this election carries,” Kendrick said. “Robin and I look forward to returning to The Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast and serving our Lord with the people that once formed us and sent us forth into the larger church. “I take this election to be a call for collaboration, cooperation and creativity as we seek to be apostles for Jesus in God’s world.” Kendrick had been at St, Stephen’s since 2007. In 1984, he earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture and marketing from Auburn University. In 1995, he earned a master of divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. Russell is married to Robin. He and his wife have two children, Aaron and Hannah. Pending the required consents, the bishop-elect will be ordained and consecrated on July 25 at Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile. He succeeds The Right Rev. Philip Menzie Duncan II, who is the third bishop of the diocese. The Central Gulf Coast Dioceses includes 62 churches in southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with approximately 20,000 members.

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New bishop leads Central Gulf Coast Episcopalians

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