GHW Bush's Pastor in Houston who provided homily @ funeral service 1/3

The Reverend Dr. Russell Jones Levenson, Jr., St. Martin's Episcopal Church - Houston, TX

TIMELINE & KNOWN LOCATIONS/CONTACTS/ACTIVITIES

Born (~ 1960s) and reared in Birmingham, Alabama. He and Laura, wife of over twenty-five years, have three children.

1984: BA @ Birmingham Southern College. Was Assistant to the President (College) & Minister to Youth @ St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Birmingham, AL

?1984 - 1992: While in seminary, he served at historic Christ Church in Olde Town, Alexandria, Virginia

According to history from the church web page U.S. Presidents, including Regan & Bush, attended this church.

Did Levenson first meet Bush during his time there?

(Service at Christ Church Olde Town service mentioned in 1 bio only)

1992: Master of Divinity @ Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, VA

1992-1997? Assistant University Chaplain under The Very Rev. Dr. Samuel T. Lloyd III

Lloyd:

holds a doctorate in English literature from the University of Virginia &

a divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force,

is a regent of University of the South &

is on the Board of Ministry at Harvard University.

1992 - 1997? Associate Rector St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Birmingham under Rev. Dr. John Rowan Claypool IV:

Claypool ordained an Episcopal priest in 1986,

Served as Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Birmingham, AL

He died September 3, 2005 at age 74.

1992 - 1997? Levenson served a three year term on the Secretariat as the Head Spiritual Director for Cursillo in Alabama.

Cursillo = a movement initially in Roman Catholicism designed to deepen the spiritual life and bring about Christian involvement in daily activities…

1997: Doctor of Divinity at the Beeson Divinity School of Samford University; an interdenominational evangelical divinity school in Biringham, AL

1997: Dr. Levenson became Rector of The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Lafayette, LA

2002: Dr. Levenson became Rector of historic Christ Church Parish in Pensacola, FL

2007, Dr. Levenson became Rector of St. Martin's Church in Houston, TX

Lord George Carey preached at Levenson's institution shortly after his arrival, and was complimentary.

Levenson's first book, Provoking Thoughts is a collection of Lenten Meditations with a foreword written by Lord Carey.

Lord George Carey:

Archbishop of Canterbury (Church of England) 1991 - 2002

In 2007 presided at the Service of Dedication of St Matthew's Cathedral, Houston - Cathedral linked to Episcopal Diocese?

http://day1.org/3242-the_rev_dr_russell_j_levenson_jr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LytpyUeLR4

http://speedydeletion.wikia.com/wiki/Russell_J._Levenson,_Jr.

https://www.historicchristchurch.org/about-us/history/

http://day1.org/275-the_rev_samuel_t_lloyd

http://day1.org/193-the_rev_dr_john_claypool

http://episcopalcursilloministry.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursillo

https://web.archive.org/web/20170908042254/http://www.glcarey.co.uk/

https://web.archive.org/web/20161023093313im_/http://www.glcarey.co.uk/Images/Pictures/Houston2ls.gif

>>4217455

GHW Bush's Pastor in Houston & provided homily @ funeral service (continued) 2/3

The Reverend Dr. Russell Jones Levenson, Jr., St. Martin's Episcopal Church - Houston, TX

Lord George Carey; Archbishop of Canterbury (Church of England - Anglican) 1991 - 2002

2007: Lord George Carey preached at Levenson's institution shortly after his arrival,

Levenson's first book, Provoking Thoughts is a collection of Lenten Meditations with a foreword written by Lord Carey.

According to Carey's archived web page; in September 2007 he presided at the Service of Dedication of St. Matthew's Cathedral, Houston, TX.

Other info: Lord George Carey

• He and Eileen (wife) are Vice Presidents of Tearfund, a Relief Agency and Patrons of The Foundation of Relief and Reconcilation in the Middle East, which supports the work of Canon Andrew White.

Lord Carey is Chair and co-Founder with Jim Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank, of the World Faiths Development Dialogue.

July 2018: "Church of England to review George Carey's official role"

" The Church of England is to review its decision to allow George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, to resume an official church role following his evidence at the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) and criticism from survivors."

Not accused of abuse directly but of protecting a Bishop who eventually was found guilty based on 1992 allegations and imprisoned in 2015. Received letters of complaints but had not forwarded to police. One of the abused young men killed himself.

https://web.archive.org/web/20170908042254/http://www.glcarey.co.uk/

https://web.archive.org/web/20161023093313im_/http://www.glcarey.co.uk/Images/Pictures/Houston2ls.gif

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/church-of-england-review-official-role-george-carey

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/26/lord-carey-quits-church-england-role-report-found-colluded-sex/

>>4217472

GHW Bush's Pastor in Houston & provided homily @ funeral service (continued) 3/3

• The Reverend Dr. Russell Jones Levenson, Jr., St. Martin's Episcopal Church - Houston, TX

Association with:

• Lord George Carey Archbishop of Canterbury 1991 - 2002 & possibly

• Cathedral of St. Matthew, Airline Drive, Houston TX. (St. Matthew's Cathedral = Cathedral of St. Matthew)

From Lord Carey's archived web photos:

Lord Carey preaching at the Service of Dedication of St Matthew's Cathedral, Houston, USA. Sept 2007

https://web.archive.org/web/20161023093312im_/http://www.glcarey.co.uk/Images/Pictures/Houston-1ls.gif

Lord Carey presiding at the Service of Dedication of St Matthew's Cathedral, Houston, USA. Sept 2007

https://web.archive.org/web/20161023093313im_/http://www.glcarey.co.uk/Images/Pictures/Houston2ls.gif

Lord Carey presiding at the Service of Dedication of St Matthew's Cathedral, Houston, USA. Sept 2007

https://web.archive.org/web/20161023093313im_/http://www.glcarey.co.uk/Images/Pictures/Houston3ls.gif

Lord Carey blesses a new born after the Service of Dedication of St Matthew's Cathedral, Houston, USA. Sept 2007

https://web.archive.org/web/20161023093313im_/http://www.glcarey.co.uk/Images/Pictures/Houston4ls.gif

This would be around the same time Lord Carey and Rev. Levenson met in Houston. I could find no information on who built or funded St. Matthew's Cathedral however there is a link to the Episcopal Church as well as other limited information:

• Cathedral Of Saint Matthew is a privately held company in Houston, TX and is a Single Location business. Categorized under Episcopal Church. Our records show it was established in 2005 and incorporated in Texas. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of 245816 and employs a staff of approximately 8.

• Michael Owen is the single key person listed as contact according to Dun & Bradstreet.

• Saint Matthew's Mother Church, the Cathedral of Saint Matthew, sits on eleven acres and has 100,000 square feet under roof with a gymnasium and lighted soccer and baseball field for night games.

• The Cathedral Web page does not mention an Episcopal association and apparently St. Matthews Churches are unique interdenominational churches. A newer-appearing web page claims this Cathedral is an Independent Catholic Ecumenical Community of Faith. The focus appears to be towards Spanish-speaking members.

• St. Matthew's Churches appear to have a mixed history however the photos posted on the Houston Cathedral web page photo gallery suggest it is an active church.

https://www.manta.com/c/mm841hn/cathedral-of-saint-matthew

https://www.dandb.com/businessdirectory/cathedralofsaintmatthew-houston-tx-11840394.html

https://www.corporationwiki.com/Texas/Houston/cathedral-of-saint-matthew/59636968.aspx

http://saintmatthewschurches.com/

http://www.cathedralofsaintmatthew.com/CathedralHistory.htm

http://saintmatthewschurches.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Matthew%27s_Churches