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The Most Reverend Michael Curry is the former Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church. Curry was elected at the Church's 78th General Convention in June 2015 and served a nine-year term. He is a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, and is married to Sharon (Clement) Curry, with whom he has two adult daughters. Curry is known for his vision and message of Jesus of Nazareth and his model of radical, sacrificial love. He has been extensively involved in charitable initiatives and social programs, including the Crisis Control Ministry and the Absalom Jones Initiative. Curry represented the Anglican Communion during a delegation of Anglican primates to the Vatican in 2016. Despite his role in the Church, Curry is not Catholic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Bruce Curry |
| Birthplace | Maywood, Chicago, Illinois |
| Date of Birth | March 13, 1953 |
| Education | Hobart College, Yale Divinity School |
| Degree | Master of Divinity |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
| Profession | Presiding Bishop |
| Organization | The Episcopal Church |
| Position | 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate |
| Election Year | 2015 |
| Term | Nine years |
| Spouse | Sharon (Clement) Curry |
| Children | Two daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth |
| Ministries | Three parish ministries in North Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland |
| Books | Five |
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What You'll Learn
- Michael Curry is the 27th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church
- He was elected in 2015 for a nine-year term
- Curry represented the Anglican Communion at the Vatican in 2016
- He is committed to the Jesus Movement and Crisis Control Ministry
- Curry's parents were initially Baptist but became Episcopalians
Michael Curry is the 27th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church
Michael Curry is the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. He was elected on June 27, 2015, at the 78th General Convention meeting in Salt Lake City, and his installation took place on November 1, 2015, which was All Saints' Day. Curry's election was historic as he was the first African American to be elected to the position of presiding bishop. He succeeded Sean Rowe, who took office after Curry's retirement in 2024.
Curry was born in Maywood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and his family has a religious background. His grandfather and great-grandfather were Baptist ministers, and his parents, Dorothy and Reverend Kenneth Curry, became Episcopalians in racially segregated Ohio. Curry's educational background includes attending public schools in Buffalo, New York, and graduating with honours from Hobart College in 1975. He further obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1978.
Before becoming the presiding bishop, Curry had an extensive career in the church. He served as a priest in parishes across North Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland. In 2000, he was elected as the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. During his time in these roles, he participated in various initiatives, including crisis response pastoral care, the founding of ecumenical summer day camps, preaching missions, and investment in inner-city neighbourhoods.
As the presiding bishop, Curry has been a prophetic leader, particularly advocating for racial reconciliation, climate change, evangelism, immigration policy, and marriage equality. He has faced some controversies, including allegations of mishandling abuse claims made by the family of Bishop Prince Singh in 2023. However, he has also been recognised for his impact, being named the 2018 religion newsmaker of the year by the Religion News Association.
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He was elected in 2015 for a nine-year term
The Right Reverend Michael Bruce Curry is the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. He was elected in June 2015 at the 78th General Convention, becoming the first African American to hold the role. He was installed as presiding bishop on 1 November 2015, All Saints' Day, during a Eucharist at Washington National Cathedral.
Michael Curry's election to the nine-year term was significant for several reasons. Firstly, he was the first African American to be elected as the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, marking a historic moment in the church's history and a step towards greater diversity and inclusion. This was especially notable given his family history, as both sides of his family were descended from slaves and sharecroppers in North Carolina and Alabama.
Secondly, Michael Curry's election reflected his strong leadership qualities and prophetic ministry, particularly in the areas of racial reconciliation, evangelism, and social justice. He has been a powerful voice for racial equality and reconciliation, working to address societal hatred and promote Christian love and unity. This was especially important during times of political division and social unrest. Curry has also advocated for climate change, immigration policy, and marriage equality, making him a progressive and influential religious leader.
Michael Curry's nine-year term as presiding bishop has been eventful and impactful. He has led the Episcopal Church through various challenges, including natural disasters in many dioceses and the global COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Curry guided the church in embracing new technologies to stay connected and continue its ministry. He has also represented the Anglican Communion internationally, emphasising the importance of Christian cooperation and unity. Additionally, Curry has authored several books, including "The Power of Love: Sermons, Reflections, and Wisdom to Uplift and Inspire" and "Love Is the Way: Holding On to Hope in Troubling Times", sharing his spiritual insights and messages of love and hope.
In October 2024, as his nine-year term neared its end, Bishop Curry reflected on his time as presiding bishop. He emphasised the importance of his work in racial reconciliation and evangelism, as well as the impact of global events such as the pandemic. Curry also expressed his confidence in the incoming leadership of Bishop Sean Rowe and Julia Ayala Harris, believing that they were called "for such a time as this". On 1 November 2024, Michael Curry's tenure as presiding bishop officially ended, and he retired after more than 40 years of ordained ministry, during which he left a lasting legacy on the Episcopal Church and beyond.
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Curry represented the Anglican Communion at the Vatican in 2016
Michael Bruce Curry is an American retired bishop who was the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. He was the first African American to be elected to the role, serving from 2015 until 2024.
In October 2016, Curry represented the Anglican Communion as part of a delegation of Anglican primates to the Vatican, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The delegation joined an ecumenical Vespers service, jointly led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Roman Pontiff. This was followed by a private meeting between Pope Francis and the Anglican primates. The events celebrated two significant milestones: the fiftieth anniversary of the first meeting between the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Roman Pontiff since the English Reformation in the 16th century, and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Anglican Centre in Rome.
Curry's presence in Rome was criticised by Nicholas Okoh, Archbishop of Nigeria and chairman of the traditionalist group Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). Okoh stated that Curry's invitation violated sanctions established by Anglican primates during their January 2016 gathering in Canterbury. However, Curry emphasised the need for Christian cooperation, stating that the church's mission is to help humanity as a diverse family to unite under God.
Curry's role as presiding bishop was marked by several notable acts, including the dismissal of several senior staff members at Episcopal Church headquarters for violating workplace policies. He also launched a series of revivals aimed at renewing faith and evangelism within the Episcopal Church.
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He is committed to the Jesus Movement and Crisis Control Ministry
The Most Reverend Michael Curry is the 27th presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church. He was elected in 2015 and retired in 2024 after more than 40 years of ordained ministry. Bishop Curry is the son of a priest and the grandson and great-grandson of Baptist ministers. He is a prophetic leader, particularly in the areas of racial reconciliation, climate change, evangelism, immigration policy, and marriage equality.
The animating vision and message of Bishop Curry's ministry is Jesus of Nazareth and his way of radical, sacrificial love. He regularly reminds his followers that they are "the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement". Bishop Curry is committed to the idea that God is the source of all truth and that truth is found in the Bible as a whole and in its details. He emphasizes the importance of Bible study and prayer, which he believes lead to action and the transformation of institutions into servants of the Jesus Movement.
Bishop Curry has been extensively involved in Crisis Control Ministry, a trusted resource since 1973 that assists people in crisis to meet essential life needs and become self-sufficient. They believe that food, shelter, and medicine are basic human needs and work to meet the needs of people in Forsyth County, North Carolina, who are in crisis and dealing with unfortunate circumstances. Crisis Control Ministry has been providing over $3 million worth of services annually and has been honored by community partners and volunteers for its 50 years of "Neighbors Helping Neighbors".
Bishop Curry has contributed to the Crisis Control Ministry in various ways, including founding ecumenical summer day camps for children, preaching missions, creating networks of family day care providers and educational centers, and brokering millions of dollars of investment in urban neighborhoods.
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Curry's parents were initially Baptist but became Episcopalians
Michael Curry, the Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry to give him his full title, is the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. He was born in 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Buffalo, New York, where he attended public school. Curry's parents were Dorothy and Reverend Kenneth Curry. His grandfather and great-grandfather were Baptist ministers, and his parents were initially Baptists too. However, they became Episcopalians when they were allowed to drink from the same chalice as white people in racially segregated Ohio.
Curry attended Hobart College in Geneva, New York, graduating with high honors in 1975. He then earned a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1978. He was ordained to the diaconate in June of that same year and to the priesthood in December. Curry has served in three parish ministries in North Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland, and has been extensively involved in community initiatives, such as Crisis Control Ministry and the founding of ecumenical summer day camps for children. He has also served on numerous boards and committees, including the Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC) and the Commission on Ministry in each of the three dioceses where he has served.
In 2015, Curry was elected as the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, succeeding the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe. He served a nine-year term, retiring in 2024. Curry is known for his message of Jesus of Nazareth and his model of radical, sacrificial love. He represented the Anglican Communion in a delegation to the Vatican in 2016, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the first such meeting since the English Reformation.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Michael Curry is not Catholic, he is the first African American to be elected as the 27th presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal Church is a part of the Anglican Communion, which is a group of churches that are in full communion with the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Anglican Communion is a global community of churches that are in full communion with the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Anglican Communion includes the Episcopal Church, the Church of England, and other churches around the world.
The Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church have different histories, structures, and beliefs. The Catholic Church is led by the Pope, while the Episcopal Church is governed by a hierarchy of bishops, with the presiding bishop and primate of the church serving as the chief pastor. The Episcopal Church is also more progressive than the Catholic Church on issues such as same-sex marriage and women's ordination.
The presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church is the chief pastor and serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society and chair of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. The presiding bishop is also responsible for leading the church's ministry and representing the church in the Anglican Communion and the wider world.
