List of religious leaders in 1997
Encyclopedia
1996 religious leaders – Events of 1997 – 1998 religious leaders – Religious leaders by year
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Religious leaders by year
-Twenty-first century:-Twenty-first century:-Twenty-first century:::2011:2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001-Twentieth century:::2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996 - 1995 - 1994 - 1993 - 1992 - 1991...
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Eastern Orthodox churches
- Constantinople – Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch (1991–present)
- Albania – Anastasius of Albania, Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania (1992–present)
- Bulgaria – Maxim, Patriarch of All BulgariaPatriarch of All BulgariaThe Patriarch of All Bulgaria is the Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The Bulgarian patriarchate was re-established in 1953.-History:...
(1971–present) - Cyprus – ChrysostomosChrysostomosChrysostomos can refer to:People*John Chrysostom , bishop of Constantinople , a Christian church father and saint*Dio Chrysostom , a Greco-Roman philosopher...
, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (1977–present) - Georgia – Ilia IIIlia IIIlia II is the current Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia and the spiritual leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church...
, Catholicos-Patriarch of All GeorgiaCatholicos-Patriarch of All GeorgiaCatholicos–Patriarch has been the title of the heads of the Georgian Orthodox Church since 1010. The first Catholicos–Patriarch of All Georgia was Melkisedek I...
(1977–present) - Greece – Seraphim, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1973–1998)
- Jerusalem – Diodorus, Patriarch of JerusalemOrthodox Patriarch of JerusalemThe Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem is the head bishop of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, ranking fourth of nine Patriarchs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since 2005, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem has been Theophilos III...
(1981–2000) - North America – Theodosius (Lazor)Theodosius (Lazor)Metropolitan Theodosius was the primate of the Orthodox Church in America from 1977 until his retirement in 2002. On April 2, 2002, Metropolitan Theodosius submitted a petition to the Holy Synod of the OCA, requesting his retirement...
, Metropolitan of All America and CanadaOrthodox Church in AmericaThe Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
(1977–2002) - Romania – Teoctist ITeoctist ArapasuTeoctist was the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church from 1986 to 2007.Teoctist served his first years as patriarch under the Romanian Communist regime, and was accused by some of collaboration...
, Patriarch of All RomaniaPatriarch of All RomaniaThe Patriarch of All Romania is the title of the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church. As of September 12, 2007, the chair is occupied by Daniel Ciobotea.-Metropolitans of Ungro-Wallachia:* Maxim * Macarie II * Ilarion II...
(1986–2007) - Russia – Alexei IIPatriarch Alexius IIPatriarch Alexy II was the 15th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church....
, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1990–present) - Serbia – Pavle of SerbiaPavlePavle is a Serbian and Macedonian male given name corresponding to English "Paul"; the name is of biblical origin . The Croatian form is Pavao, and in other Slavic languages it is usually Pavel.People with this name include:...
, Patriarch of the Serbs (1990–present)
Oriental Orthodox Churches
- Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic ChurchThe Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
– Karekin IKarekin IKarekin I , served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1995 and 1999...
, Catholicos of ArmeniaCatholicos of ArmeniaThe Catholicos of All Armenians is the chief bishop of Armenia's national church, the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches that do not accept the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon. The first Catholicos of All Armenians was Saint Gregory the Illuminator...
(1995–1999) - Assyrian Church of the EastAssyrian Church of the EastThe Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
-Mar Dinkha IV (1976–present) Rival Patriarch in Baghdad Mar Addai IIMar Addai IIMar Addai II , born Shimun Giwargis, is the incumbent Catholicos Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East and resides in the Apostolic See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon in Baghdad, Iraq.,He was elected to the position of Catholicos-Patriarch in February 1970, several months after the death of...
(1970–present) - Coptic Orthodox Church – Shenouda III of Alexandria, Coptic Pope (1971–present)
- Ethiopian Orthodox Church – Abune PaulosAbune PaulosAbune Paulos is Abuna and Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church . His full title is "His Holiness Abuna Paulos, Fifth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Ichege of the See of St...
(1992–present) - Syriac Orthodox ChurchSyriac Orthodox ChurchThe Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
– Ignatius Zakka I IwasIgnatius Zakka I IwasIgnatius Zakka I Iwas is the 122nd reigning Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and as such, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Also known by his traditional episcopal name, Severios, he was enthroned as patriarch on 14 September 1980 in St. George's...
(1980–present)
Protestantism
- Assemblies of GodAssemblies of GodThe Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
– Thomas E. Trask, General Superintendent (1993–present) - Lutheran Church - Missouri SynodLutheran Church - Missouri SynodThe Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
– Alvin L. BarryAlvin L. BarryAlvin L. Barry was president of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod from 1992 until his death. He is the only president of the LCMS to die in office. He previously served as president of the Synod's Iowa District East from 1982 to 1992.-External links:*...
, President (1992–2001) - Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
– Robert S. FolkenbergRobert S. FolkenbergRobert Stanley Folkenberg, , served as General Conference president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1990 through to his resignation in 1999...
, President of the General Conference (1990–1999) - Worldwide Church of GodWorldwide Church of GodGrace Communion International , formerly the Worldwide Church of God , is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Glendora, California, United States. Since April 3, 2009, it has used the new name Grace Communion International in the US...
– Joseph Tkach, Jr., Pastor-General (1995–present)
Provinces of the Anglican Communion
- Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
– - Titular leadership – Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, Supreme Governor of the Church of EnglandSupreme Governor of the Church of EnglandThe Supreme Governor of the Church of England is a title held by the British monarchs which signifies their titular leadership over the Church of England. Although the monarch's authority over the Church of England is not strong, the position is still very relevant to the church and is mostly...
(1952–present) - Spiritual leadership – George CareyGeorge CareyGeorge Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton PC, FKC is a former Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1991 to 2002. He was the first modern holder of the office not to have attended Oxford or Cambridge University...
, Archbishop of Canterbury (1991–2002) - Anglican Church of CanadaAnglican Church of CanadaThe Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
– Michael PeersMichael PeersMichael Geoffrey Peers was Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada from 1986 to 2004.Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Peers completed an undergraduate degree in languages at the University of British Columbia in 1956 and a diploma in translation at the University of Heidelberg in 1957...
, Primate (1986–2004) - Episcopal Church in the United States of America – Edmond Lee Browning, Presiding Bishop (1986–1997)
Continuing Anglicanism
- American Anglican Church – John A. Herzog, Presiding Bishop (1994–present)
- Anglican Province of AmericaAnglican Province of AmericaThe Anglican Province of America is one of a number of "Continuing" Anglican churches in the United States. This church considers the Episcopal Church in the USA to be heretical, thus it maintains a church separate from that body in order to follow what it considers to be a truly Christian and...
– Walter Grundorf, Presiding Bishop (early 1990s–present) - Episcopal Missionary ChurchEpiscopal Missionary ChurchThe Episcopal Missionary Church is a Continuing Anglican church body in the United States and a member of the Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas...
– A. Donald Davies, Presiding Bishop (1992–2000) - Orthodox Anglican CommunionOrthodox Anglican CommunionThe Orthodox Anglican Communion was established in 1967 as a self-governing worldwide fellowship of national churches in the Anglican tradition. The Orthodox Anglican Communion was one of the first such communions to be formed outside of the See of Canterbury and therefore is not part of the...
– Robert J. GodfreyRobert J. GodfreyRobert J. Godfrey was the third Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Anglican Communion, and the President of Cranmer Seminary. Significantly, during his tenure as bishop Godfrey legally changed the name of the jurisdiction to the"Episcopal...
, Metropolitan Archbishop (1994–2000) - Episcopal Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of AmericaOrthodox Anglican ChurchThe Orthodox Anglican Church is the American branch of the Orthodox Anglican Communion. It is now considered to be part of the Continuing Anglican movement, although the church predates the Continuing Church movement and was actively opposed to Continuing Anglicanism when it developed during the...
– Robert J. GodfreyRobert J. GodfreyRobert J. Godfrey was the third Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Anglican Communion, and the President of Cranmer Seminary. Significantly, during his tenure as bishop Godfrey legally changed the name of the jurisdiction to the"Episcopal...
, Presiding Bishop (1994–2000) - Province of Christ the KingAnglican Province of Christ the KingThe Anglican Province of Christ the King is a Continuing Anglican church with traditional forms both of doctrine and liturgy. It is considered one of the more Anglo-Catholic jurisdictions among Continuing Anglican church bodies.-History:...
– Robert Morse, Bishop Ordinary (1977–2007) - Reformed Episcopal ChurchReformed Episcopal ChurchThe Reformed Episcopal Church is an Anglican church in the United States and Canada and a founding member of the Anglican Church in North America...
– Leonard W. RichesLeonard W. RichesLeonard Wayne Riches is the current Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and bishop of the Diocese of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic of his denomination. He received the Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and the Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Divinity Honoris causa from...
, Presiding Bishop (1996–present) - Traditional Anglican CommunionTraditional Anglican CommunionThe Traditional Anglican Communion is an international communion of churches in the continuing Anglican movement independent of the Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The TAC upholds the theological doctrines of the Affirmation of St. Louis and an Anglo-Catholic interpretation of...
– Louis FalkLouis FalkLouis Wahl Falk III is the President of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America. Until 2002 he was the Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, an international body of continuing Anglican churches....
, Primate (1991–2002) - Anglican Church in America – Louis FalkLouis FalkLouis Wahl Falk III is the President of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America. Until 2002 he was the Primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, an international body of continuing Anglican churches....
, Primate (1991–2005) - Anglican Catholic Church of CanadaAnglican Catholic Church of CanadaThe Anglican Catholic Church of Canada is an Anglican church that was founded in the 1970s by conservative Anglicans.-Affiliation:With 30 congregations in Canada, the ACCC is the third-largest of the Anglican churches in Canada, after the ACC and the Anglican Church in North America.The Anglican...
– Robert Mercer, Bishop and Metropolitan (1988–2005) - Anglican Church of IndiaAnglican Church of IndiaThe Anglican Church of India is a union of independent Anglican churches in India. When India became independent in 1947, the Church of South India was formed as a united church of Anglicans, Baptists, Basel Mission, Lutherans and Presbyterians...
– Stephen Vattappara, Metropolitan Bishop (1990–present) - United Episcopal Church of North AmericaUnited Episcopal Church of North AmericaThe United Episcopal Church of North America is a traditional Anglican Christian church that is part of the Continuing Anglican movement...
– Stephen C. ReberStephen C. ReberStephen C. Reber, Sr. of Statesville, North Carolina is a former Presiding Bishop of the United Episcopal Church of North America . Before being elected as Presiding Bishop of the UECNA, Reber had been a presbyter in the Anglican Orthodox Church and rector of St. Peter's Anglican Orthodox Church in...
, Presiding Bishop (1996–2010)
Other Christian
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) – Gordon B. HinckleyGordon B. HinckleyGordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1995–2008)
Islam
- Ahmadiyya Muslim CommunityAhmadiyya Muslim CommunityThe Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the larger of two communities that arose from the Ahmadiyya movement founded in 1889 in India by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian . The original movement split into two factions soon after the death of the founder...
– Khalifatul MasihKhalifatul MasihKhalifatul Masih sometimes simply referred to as Khalifah is the elected spiritual leader of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and is the successor of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian...
IV, Hazrat Mirza Tahir AhmadMirza Tahir AhmadMirza Tahir Ahmad was Khalifatul Masih IV, Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and fourth successor to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad...
(1982–2003) - Lahore Ahmadiyya MovementLahore Ahmadiyya MovementThe Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement for the Propagation of Islam, Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam Lahore , also known as the Lahoris, formed as a result of ideological differences within the Ahmadiyya movement, after the demise of Maulana Hakim Noor-ud-Din in 1914, the first Khalifa after its founder,...
– Asgar Hameed, Amir (1996–2002) - Dawoodi Bohras – Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (1965–present)
- NizariNizari'The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as the Ismā‘īlī or Nizārī , is a path of Shī‘a Islām, emphasizing social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam and form the majority...
– Aga Khan IVAga Khan IVPrince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
(1957–present)
Eastern
- Tibetan BuddhismTibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
– Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai LamaDalai LamaThe Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
(1935–present) - Supreme Patriarch of ThailandSupreme Patriarch of ThailandThe Supreme Patriarch or Sangharaja is the head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand. The position is formally appointed by the King of Thailand, although the actual selection is made by senior clergymen...
- Nyanasamvara SuvaddhanaNyanasamvara SuvaddhanaSomdet Phra Nyanasamvara is the 19th and incumbent Supreme Patriarch of Thailand...
(1989–present)
Other
- Jehovah's WitnessesJehovah's WitnessesJehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
– Don AdamsDon A. AdamsDon Alden Adams is the current president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, the principal corporation of Jehovah's Witnesses.- Biography :...
, President of the Jehovah's Witnesses (2000–present) - Tibetan BuddhismTibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
– Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai LamaDalai LamaThe Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
(1935–present) - Most Holy Church of God in Christ JesusMost Holy Church of God in Christ JesusThe Most Holy Church of God in Christ Jesus , is a Christian denomination founded in the Philippines by Bishop Teofilo D. Ora in May 1922....
– Bishop Teofilo D. Ora, Bishop Salvador C. Payawal, Bishop Gamaliel Payawal, Bishop Isagani Capistrano (Present) - World Council of ChurchesWorld Council of ChurchesThe World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
– Samuel KobiaSamuel KobiaRev Dr Samuel Kobia , is a Methodist clergyman and the first African to be elected General Secretary of the World Council of Churches , a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and local churches representing a Christian population of over 590 million people...
, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (1993–2003) - New Apostolic ChurchNew Apostolic ChurchThe New Apostolic Church is a chiliastic church, converted to Protestantism as a free church from the Catholic Apostolic Church. The church has existed since 1879 in Germany and since 1897 in the Netherlands...
– Richard FehrRichard FehrRichard Fehr was the seventh Chief Apostle of the New Apostolic Church from 22 May 1988 to 15 May 2005.-Life:...
, Chief apostle of the New Apostolic Church (1988–present) - Jesus Is Lord Church – Bishop Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Founder and International President (1978–present)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) – Gordon B. HinckleyGordon B. HinckleyGordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1995–2008) - ScientologyScientologyScientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
–- David MiscavigeDavid MiscavigeDavid Miscavige is the leader of the Church of Scientology and affiliated organizations. His title is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center , a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology. Miscavige was an assistant to Hubbard while a...
, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center http://davidmiscavige.blogspot.com, "highest ecclesiastical official of the Scientology religion http://www.scientologytoday.org/bio/ (1987–present) - Heber JentzschHeber JentzschHeber Carl Jentzsch has served as president of the Church of Scientology International since 1982.-Biography:Heber Jentzsch grew up in a Mormon family, and identified himself as a "believing Mormon". He is the son of polygamist Carl Jentzsch and Carl's third wife Pauline; Heber has 42 siblings...
, official president of the Church of ScientologyChurch of ScientologyThe Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
(1982–present)
- David Miscavige