Claude E. Payne

Summary

Claude Edward Payne (born June 19, 1932) was the seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas in The Episcopal Church between 1995 and 2003.

The Right Reverend

Claude E. Payne
Bishop of Texas
Payne at the funeral of George H. W. Bush in Houston, December 2018
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseTexas
ElectedJune 18, 1993
In office1995-2003
PredecessorMaurice M. Benitez
SuccessorDon A. Wimberly
Orders
Ordination1964
ConsecrationOctober 9, 1993
by Edmond L. Browning
Personal details
Born (1932-06-19) June 19, 1932 (age 91)
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
SpouseBarbara Payne

Early life and education edit

Claude Payne was born on June 19, 1932, in Abilene, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Rice University in Houston and went to work for Union Carbide.[1] He later enrolled at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California and obtained a Master of Divinity degree in 1964.[2]

Ordained ministry edit

He initially served as assistant at Epiphany Church in Kingsville, Texas and chaplain at the Texas A&M University–Kingsville. Later he became assistant priest at St Mark's Church in Hudson, Texas, before becoming rector of St Mark's Church in Beaumont, Texas. [2] Between 1964 and 1975, Payne was also assistant to Bishop Scott Bailey. Payne served as the second Rector of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas from 1983 to 1993.[3] As rector of St. Martin's, Payne was the parish priest of George H. W. and Barbara Bush.[3]

Bishop and retirement edit

On June 18, 1993, Payne was elected Coadjutor bishop of Texas on the sixth ballot, during a special convention held in Christ Church Cathedral. He was then consecrated bishop on October 9, 1993, at the George R. Brown Convention Center by Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning. He succeeded as diocesan bishop of Texas in 1995. Soon after he became diocesan bishop, Payne rededicated Christ Church Cathedral on September 17, 1995, after a major renovation. After his retirement in 2003, Payne moved from Houston to Salado, Texas.[4] In 2013, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.[1] He is married to Barbara Payne.[3]

In 2018, Payne participated in the Houston funeral services for first Barbara[3] and then George H. W. Bush.[5]

Bibliography edit

He is the co-author (with Hamilton S. Beazley) of Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Practical Model for Transforming Denominations and Congregations (2000)[1] and the author of Reclaiming Christianity: A Practical Model for Spiritual Growth and Evangelism (2018).[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Claude Edward Payne". Seminary of the Southwest. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  2. ^ a b Barnwell, Carol (11 July 1993). "Fr. Payne Chosen as Bishop Coadjutor of Texas". The Living Church. Vol. 207, no. 2. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  3. ^ a b c d Fulton, Loretta (26 April 2018). "Retired bishop from Abilene takes part in Barbara Bush funeral". Abilene Reporter News. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  4. ^ Vara, Richard (28 June 2003). "Retiring Bishop Payne lauded for achievements". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  5. ^ "George Herbert Walker Bush" (PDF). St. Martin's Episcopal Church. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-07. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  6. ^ Fulton, Loretta (3 August 2018). "Episcopal bishop retired to Abilene pens book about church challenges". Abilene Reporter News. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
Episcopal Church (USA) titles
Preceded by 7th Bishop of Texas
1995 – 2003
Succeeded by