Leadership

The Most Revd Joshua A Arena-Gilliam

Presiding Bishop

Bishop Gilliam was born and raised in the Concord/ Kannapolis area and lives in Enochville with his wife, Nelva and their five children Paola, Addison, Emmanuel, Elijah (Blue), and Zoe; along with his niece Valeria.

Bishop Gilliam graduated from Concord High School. He is a graduate of Queens University in Charlotte, NC where he completed his Bachelors of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Music, Masters of Divinity through Liberty Theology Seminary in Virginia, and the Doctor of Ministry from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, NC.

Bishop Gilliam says, “The Bible, The Creeds, and the worship of the church as found the Book of Common Prayer (1928) are the tools available to Orthodox Anglicans to help them stand firmly upon the Scriptures and understand that culture does not dictate our beliefs.” He explains that he loves the way that Orthodox Anglicans stand firmly on Christ as revealed in the Bible and that it does not need to be interpreted in light of modern social inventions.

On July 27, 2024, he was elected and enthroned as the seventh Presiding Bishop of the Orthodox Anglican Church and the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Anglican Communion. He currently also serves as the Chancellor of St. Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary.

The Rt Revd Thomas Gordon

Quondam

He is the son of a Presbyterian minister and a Christian school teacher, and was born and raised in Williamsport, PA.. He is married and has three grown sons, a large tabby cat, and a dachshund.. Since 2021 he has lived in South Carolina near the cathedral. He studied Bible at Cedarville University, is a graduate of St. Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary, and holds other earned and honorary degrees. He is a U.S. Army war veteran. Prior to his current position he served in many different roles for the Orthodox Anglican Church and it’s affiliated seminary. His previous appointments in the Orthodox Anglican Church include Canon to the Ordinary, church planter, Rector, Suffragan Bishop, and Bishop Coadjutor.

On April 18, 2015, he was elected and enthroned as the sixth Presiding Bishop of the Orthodox Anglican Church and the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Anglican Communion. He currently also serves as the Chancellor of St. Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary, where he provides Practical Liturgical Instruction, and teaches the Apocrypha. He is the author of a book on Christian burial practice. As Primate, Archbishop Gordon has been privileged to preach the gospel and celebrate the sacraments on five continents. He announced his retirement as Presiding Bishop on April 23,.AD 2024.

The Rt Revd Thomas Shank

Bishop – Mission to Mexico

Thomas Shank was born in 1949, and raised Lutheran. He earned a B.A. in Religion & Philosophy. For graduate work he attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, PA. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1994, and consecrated as a Bishop in 1998. In 2000 he was received into the Orthodox Anglican Church. As a Missionary Bishop to Mexico his main focus is among the Tarahumara Indians of Chihuahua. He engages in a variety of project such as evangelizing, church planting, development projects, and school building, just to name a few.

The Venerable Denny Trousdale

Archdeacon

Denny Trousdale currently serves as the Rector of St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, as well as the Vice-Chairman of the National Council of the Orthodox Anglican Church. In addition to those roles he also serves as both the interim Treasurer and President of Saint Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary. He has held the position as the senior most priest of the jurisdiction since October 7, AD 2018. He is a local business owner in Bryson City with over 20 years’ experience in mortgage and finance. Denny resides on a small farm in The Nantahala National Forest with his wife Katherine, 3 horses, 4 dogs and 3 cats. He has a passion for his service to God, the Church, the community and fishing.

The Most Revd T. Creighton Jones

Archbishop Emeritus

T. Creighton Jones attended Furman University and later graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS degree in Management Science. In 2001, he entered St. Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary where he earned his Master of Theology degree. He was ordained to the diaconate in 2002, and to the priesthood in 2003. During his last year at St. Andrews, he was involved in the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, NC, where he served as the weekend chaplain. In 2003 he planted Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. In 2012 he was consecrated Bishop, and enthroned as Presiding Bishop. From 2012 through 2015 he served as the fifth Presiding Bishop of the Orthodox Anglican Church, and the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Anglican Communion. Since his retirement in 2015 he has become a Certified Beekeeper.

The Rt Revd Luis Morales, OSB

Missionary Bishop

Luis Morales was ordained into Holy Orders in 1999 through the Episcopal Diocese of Puerto Rico. Having served in various settings as Rector, and Chaplain he was eventually received into the Orthodox Anglican Church in 2013. Since his reception he has served as a Missionary Bishop until his retirement. Currently he spends his time immersed in the internalization and practice of the Rule of St. Benedict.

The Venerable Rusty Marts

Archdeacon Emeritus

Rusty holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Christian Service from Manhattan Christian College/Kansas State University, a Master’s degree in Psychology/Personnel Services from Eastern New Mexico University and a Doctorate in Counseling from Bethany Theological Seminary. Hes is married, with two grown children. He worked in the field of management/employee consultation until retirement in his secular employment. Additionally he has a fourteen year history as Choirmaster and has composed and conducted numerous sacred choral anthems. Having served St. Augustine’s Anglican Church in Bryson City, NC, as Rector, he retired from parish ministry and now serves as Curate of St. Augustine’s Anglican Church.

The Most Revd George C. Schneller

2nd Presiding Bishop

George C. Schneller was born on February 22nd, 1921, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 8, 1973 and served as the Rector of Holy Cross Anglican Church in St. Louis, Missouri for over two decades. He was consecrated to the episcopate on October 27th, 1991, by Hesbon O. Njera, Presiding Bishop of Kenya, and Laione Q. Vuki, a Bishop in Polynesia, both were Bishops of the Orthodox Anglican Communion. Schneller served his alma mater (1973) as the second President of St. Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary during the same period. Following the death of his wife and having health difficulties of his own, on January 9th, 1993, he resigned his position as the second Presiding Bishop. His Excellency passed away on June 8th, 2000.

The Rt Revd Andre Cross

Suffragan Bishop

Andre Cross was a native of Memphis, TN, born on March 7th, 1966. He was ordained to the priesthood on April 18th, 2010, and helped establish and strengthen various missions and parishes. Then on September 24th, 2011, he was consecrated a Bishop. In early 2017, Bishop Cross, being of a traditionalist Anglican inclination, petitioned to join the Orthodox Anglican Church and was received into the Jurisdiction by Archbishop Thomas Gordon on June 10th, 2017, and appointed as a Suffragan Bishop. On October 11th, 2017, he was called home.