List of 21st-century religious leaders

Summary

This is a list of the top-level leaders for religious groups with at least 50,000 adherents, and that led anytime since January 1, 2001. It should likewise only name leaders listed on other articles and lists.

Lists of religious leaders by century:
See also:

Buddhism edit

  • Tep Vong, Great Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia (2006–2024)

Tibetan Buddhism edit

Mongolia
Russia
  • Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia —

Christianity edit

Catholicism edit

  • Old Roman Catholic Church in Europe[1]
  • Jerome Lloyd, Metropolitan Archbishop (2012–present)
  • Tomás Millamena, Supreme Bishop (1999–2005)
  • Godofredo J. David, Supreme Bishop (2005–2011)
  • Ephraim Fajutagana, Supreme Bishop (2011–2017)
  • Rhee Timbang, Supreme Bishop (2017–2023)
  • Joel Porlares, Supreme Bishop (2023-present)

Eastern Orthodoxy edit

Full Communion edit

  • Peter VII, Patriarch of Alexandria (1997–2004)
  • Theodore II, Patriarch of Alexandria (2004–present)
  • Irenaios I, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (2001–2005)
  • Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (2005–present)
  • Chrysostomos I, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (1977–2006)
  • Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (2006–2022)
  • George III, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (2022–present)
  • Alexy II of Russia, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1990–2008)
  • Kirill I, acting (2008–2009), Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (2009–present)
  • John Rinne, Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland (1987–2001)
  • Leo Makkonen Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland (2001–present)
  • Greek Orthodox Church of Epirus - Metropolitan Mar Melchizedek (2021-present)

Partial Communion edit

Oriental Orthodoxy edit

Protestantism edit

Baptist edit

  • General Secretaries
  • Billy Kim (2000–2005)
  • David Coffey (2005–2010)
  • John Upton (2010–present)
Africa
  • Mateus Chaves, President (c. 2010)
  • Alexandre Melo Chilanda, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • President
  • Uche Enyioha, President (c. 2010)
  • General Secretary and CEO
  • S. T. Ola Akande, General Secretary
  • S. Ola Fadeji, General Secretary
  • Solomon Ademola Ishola, General Secretary (c. 2010)
Asia
  • Letta, Executive Secretary
  • Kooler, Executive Secretary
  • Augustus Spurgeon, Executive Secretary
  • Caleb Paw, Executive Secretary
  • Paul Htoo, Executive Secretary (c. 2010)
  • Arleen D. Fidel, Chairman (2004–present)
India
  • O. Alem, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • T. Ch. Immanuel, President (2006–present)
  • M. Ashok Kumar, Secretary (2006–present)
  • Vumthang Sitlhou, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • Rajani Kaipeng, General Secretary (c. 2010)
Eurasia, regional
  • Euro-Asian Federation of Evangelical Christians-Baptists Unions —
  • Alexey Smirnov, President (2012–present)
  • International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists —
  • Gennadi Kryuchkov, Chairman (1962–2007)
  • Nikolay Antonyuk, Chairman (2008–present)
Eurasia, national
  • Peter Konovalchuk, President (1994–2002)
  • Yuri Sipko, President (2002–2010)
  • Alexey Smirnov, President (2010–2018)
  • Peter Mickiewicz, President (2018–present)
  • Frans G. Tissen, President (present)
Europe, regional
  • Tony Peck, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • Jimmy Martin, General Secretary (c. 2010)
Europe, national
  • Paul Negruţ, President (?–2007)
  • Otniel Bunaciu, President (2007–present)
  • Borzási István, President (c. 2010)
United Kingdom
  • Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary (c. 2010)
North America
Canada
  • Jamey McDonald, Executive Director (c. 2010)
  • Gary Vincent Nelson, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • Jan Paasuke, President of the Board (c. 2010)
  • Roger Fellows, General Coordinator (2001–NA)
  • Mark Hudson, General Coordinator (c. 2010)
United States
  • Brooks Wicker, President (c. 2010)
  • A. Roy Medley, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • Gordon Taylor, Coordinator (2008–present)
  • Linzy Slayden, President (c. 2010)
  • Jerry Sheveland, President (c. 2010)
  • J. Brent Walker – Executive Director (1999–2016)
  • Amanda Tyler - Executive Director (2017–present)
  • John David Smith, Executive Director, (2010–present)
  • Cheryl Dudley, President, (2008–2011)
  • Stephen LeBar, Executive Director (2004–2009)
  • Stan Rieb, National Network Facilitator, (2009–present)
  • Daniel Vestal, Coordinator (1996–present)
  • Eugene Dickerson, Moderator (c. 2010)
  • Roger Ball, President (c. 2010)
  • John Vaughn, President (c. 2010)
  • James Murray, interim Executive Director (c. 2010)
  • John Greening, National Representative (c. 2010)
  • Stephen J. Thurston, President (c. 2010)
  • Samuel C. Tolbert, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • William J. Shaw, President (1999–2009)
  • Julius R. Scruggs, President (2009–2014)
  • Jerry Young, President (2014–present)
  • Rob McCleland, Executive Director (c. 2010)
  • Paul Hagen, General Superintendent (c. 2010)
  • Delmar Rogers, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • General Secretary
  • Walter Parrish III, General Secretary (c. 2010)
  • President
  • T. DeWitt Smith, Jr., President (?–2010)
  • Carroll A. Baltimore, President (2010–2014)
  • James C. Perkins, President (2014–present)
  • Henry J. Rodmon, General Bishop (c. 2010)

Holiness edit

  • David Rambo, President (c. 1987–2005)
  • Gary Benedict, President (2005–2013)

Lutheranism edit

International
  • Steven P. Petersen, President (2008–2011)
  • Daniel Koelpin, President (2011–present)
  • Chairman
  • Ralph Mayan, Chairman (2005–2008)
  • Gerald B. Kieschnick, Chairman (2009–2010)
  • Hans-Jörg Voigt, Chairman (2010–2012)
  • Executive Secretary
  • Samuel H. Nafzger, Executive Secretary (2001 or before –present)
  • Christian Krause (Germany), President (1997–2003)
  • Mark Hanson (US), President (2003–2010)
  • Munib Younan (Palestine), President (2010–present)
Europe
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia Church Abroad
  • Udo Petersoo, Archbishop, (1990–2006)
  • Andres Taul, Archbishop, (2007–2010)
  • Thomas Vaga, Acting Bishop (2011–present)
North America
  • William Sullivan, National Service Coordinator (2002–2010)
  • Mark Vander Tuig, National Service Coordinator (2010–present)
  • Telmor Sartison, National Bishop (1993–2001)
  • Raymond Schultz, National Bishop (2001–2007)
  • Susan Johnson, National Bishop (2007–present)

Methodism edit

  • Clement W. Fugh, General Secretary (2000–present)
  • Albert Chiew, Bishop (c. 2008–2010)
  • James Kwang, Bishop (2010–present)
  • Keith A. Elford, Bishop (1997–2017)
  • Cliff Fletcher, Bishop (2017–present)
  • Nathaniel P. Lazaro, General Superintendent (2000–present)
  • Samuel Asante Antwi, President and Presiding Bishop (1997–2003)
  • Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop (2003–2009)[4]
  • Emmanuel Asante, Presiding Bishop (2009–present)
  • Peter Chio, Bishop (?–2004)
  • Hwa Yung, Bishop (2004–present)
  • President
  • H Mvume Dandala, President (1998–2003)
  • Ivan M Abrahams, President (2003–present)
  • General Secretary
  • Vivian Harris, General Secretary (1988–2001)
  • Ross A J Olivier, General Secretary (2001–2005)
  • Vuyani G Nyobole, General Secretary (2005–present)
  • Gregory V. Palmer, President of the Council of Bishops (2008–2010)
  • Larry M. Goodpaster, President of the Council of Bishops (2010–2012)
  • Rosemarie Wenner, President of the Council of Bishops (2012–2014)
  • Warner Brown, President of the Council of Bishops (2014–present)

Pentecostalism edit

  • Thomas E. Trask, General superintendent (1993–2007)
  • George O. Wood, General superintendent (2007–2017)
  • Doug E. Clay, General superintendent (2017–present)

Presbyterianism edit

  • Syngman Rhee, Moderator of the General Assembly (2000–2001)
  • Jack Rogers, Moderator of the General Assembly (2001–2002)
  • Fahed Abu-Akel, Moderator of the General Assembly (2002–2003)
  • Susan R. Andrews, Moderator of the General Assembly (2003–2004)
  • Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of the General Assembly (2004–2006)
  • Joan Gray, Moderator of the General Assembly (2006–2008)
  • Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the General Assembly (2008–2010)
  • Cynthia Bolbach, Moderator of the General Assembly (2010–2012)
  • Neal Presa, Moderator of the General Assembly (2012–2014)

Other protestant edit

  • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
    • General Minister and President[6]
    • Moderator of the General Assembly[8]
      • Paul D. Rivera (1999–2001)
      • Alvin O. Jackson (2001–2003)
      • Charisse Gillett (2003–2005)
      • Bill Lee (2005–2007)
      • Newell Williams (2007–2009)
      • Larry Brown (2009–2011)
      • Regina Morton (2011–2013)
      • Glen Miles (2013–2015)
      • Tony Rodriguez (2015–2017)
      • Sue Morris (2017–2019)
      • Belva Brown Jordan (2019–2023)[9]
  • Seventh-day Adventists (complete list) –
Liz Slade, Chief Officer (2019–present)
  • President
  • General Secretary
  • Gregor Henderson, General Secretary (1989–2001)
  • Terence Corkin, General Secretary (2001–2015)[10]
  • Colleen Geyer, General Secretary (2016–present)

Anglicanism edit

Provinces of the Anglican Communion edit

  • Formal leadership –
  • George L.W. Werner, President of the House of Deputies (2000–2006)

Continuing Anglicanism edit

  • William Millsaps, Presiding Bishop (2000–2005)
  • Council Nedd II, Presiding Bishop (2005–present)
  • Frank J. Retief, Presiding Bishop (2000–2010)
  • Desmond Inglesby, Presiding Bishop (2010–present)
  • Reginald Hammond, Presiding Bishop (2000–2004)
  • George Connor, Presiding Bishop (2006–present)
  • Julius A. Neeser, Bishop Ordinary (1998–2002)
  • David T. Hustwick, Bishop Ordinary (2002–present)
  • Scott Earle McLaughlin, Metropolitan Archbishop (2000–2012)
  • Creighton Jones, Metropolitan Archbishop (2012–2015)
  • Thomas Gordon, Metropolitan Archbishop (2015–present)
  • Scott Earle McLaughlin, Presiding Bishop (2000–2012)
  • Creighton Jones, Presiding Bishop (2012–2015)
  • Thomas Gordon, Presiding Bishop (2015–present)
  • John Hepworth, Archbishop (1998–2012)
  • Michael Pope, Archbishop (2013–present)
  • Robert Mercer, Bishop and Metropolitan (1988–2005)
  • Peter Wilkinson, Bishop and Metropolitan (2005–present)

Other Christian or Christian-derived faiths edit

  • Mar Addai II, Patriarch (1972–2022)
  • Yacob III Daniel, Patriarch (2022-present)
  • Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary (1999–2007)
  • Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary (2007–2011)
  • Peg Birk, General Secretary (2012–2013)
  • Jim Winkler, General Secretary (2014–present)

Hinduism edit

Gaudiya Vaishnavism edit

  • Bhakti Suhrid Paribrajak, president-acharya (1993–2018)
  • Bhakti Sundar Sanyasi Maharaj, president-acharya (2018–present)
  • Bhakti Vedanta Budhayan Goswami, president-acharya (2020–present)
  • Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami, president-acharya (1988–2010)
  • Bhakti Nirmal Acharya, president-acharya (2010–present)
  • Srila Nayananandana Das babaji, President (1999–2002)
  • Srila Bhakti B. Tirtha Maharaj, President (2002–present).

Smarta tradition edit

Swaminarayan Sampradaya edit

  • Guruvarya Shri Devkrushnadasji Swami (1974–present)
  • Acharya Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj (2003–present)
  • Gurudev Bapji, Founder (1987–2019)
  • HDH Swamishri, President (2019–present)
  • Gunatit Samaj —
  • Pappaji Maharaj (1971–2006)
  • Hariprasad Swamiji Maharaj (1971–2021)
  • Aksharvihari Swamiji Maharaj (1971–2019)
  • Jashbhai Sahebji (1971–present)

Hindu new movements edit

  • Upashak Bandhu Bhramachariji (India) (present)
  • Kanti Bandhu Bhramachariji (Bangladesh) (present)

Islam edit

Pan-Islamic edit

Sunni edit

International edit

  • President
  • Secretary General

Afghanistan edit

Australia edit

Bosnia and Herzegovina edit

China edit

  • Xilalunding Chen Guangyuan, President (present)

Indonesia edit

  • Spiritual leader
  • Chairman

Israel and Palestine edit

Kazakhstan edit

  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Kazakhstan —
  • Absattar Derbisali, Grand Mufti (2000–2013)
  • Yerzhan Malgajyuly Mayamerov, Grand Mufti (2013–present)

Malaysia edit

  • Fatwa Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs —
  • Ismail Ibrahim, Chairman (2000–2005)
  • Abdul Shukor Husin, Chairman (2005–2017)
  • Wan Zahidi bin Wan Teh, Chairman (2017–2022)
  • Nooh Gadut, Chairman (2022–present)

North Macedonia edit

  • Zejnulla Fazliu, Islamic religious leader (1990–present)

Russia edit

  • Central Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Russia —
  • Coordinating Center of North Caucasus Muslims —
  • Magomed Albogachiev, Chairman (1998–2003)
  • Ismail Berdiyev, Chairman (2003–present)
  • Muftiate of the Republic of Dagestan —
  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai —
  • Askarbiy Kardanov, Mufti (2012–present)
  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Asian Part of Russia —
  • Nafigulla Ashirov, Mufti (1997–present)
  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Republic of Bashkortostan —
  • Ainur Birgalin, Mufti (2019–present)
  • Akhmad Shamaiev, Mufti (2000–2005)
  • Sultan Mirsayev, Mufti (2005–2014)
  • Salah Mezhiev, Mufti (2014–present)
  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Republic of Ingushetia
  • Muhammed Alboghatchiev, Mufti
  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic —
  • Hazrataliy Dzasejev, Mufti (2010–present)
  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic —
  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania —
  • Khajimurat Gatsalov, Mufti (2011–present)
  • Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Republic of Tatarstan —
  • Ğosman İsxaqi, Mufti (1998–2011)
  • Ildus Faiz, Mufti (2011–2013)
  • Kamil Samigullin, Mufti (2013–present)
  • Spiritual Assembly of the Muslims of Russia —
  • Albir Krganov, Mufti (2016–present)

Saudi Arabia edit

Taiwan edit

  • Ma Jiazhen, President (1996–2002)
  • Ni Anguo, President (2002–2006)
  • Ma Ruhu, President (2006–2008)
  • Dawood Cho Yong-tsing, President (2008–present)

Ukraine edit

  • Kirim Esende, Mufti
  • Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Crimea (Simferopol) —
  • Emirali Ablaev, Mufti (1999–present)
  • Tamim Ahmed Muhamed Mutah, Mufti
  • Said Ismagilov, Mufti

Uzbekistan edit

  • Muslim Board of Uzbekistan
  • Abdurashid Kori Bakhromov, Grand Mufti (1995–2006)
  • Usman Alimov, Grand Mufti (2006–2021)
  • Nuriddin Kholiqnazarov, Grand Mufti (2021–present)

Yemen edit

Shia edit

Twelver edit

  • Marja
  • Ali Akbar Velayati, General Secretary
  • Mohammad Mahdi Asefi, General Secretary
  • Mohammad Hasan Akhtari, General Secretary (present)

Ismaili edit

Zaidiyyah edit

Houthis

Ahmadiyya edit

Nation of Islam edit

Ibadi edit

Judaism edit

Asia
Eurasia
  • Russia —
  • Turkey —
Europe
  • Ireland —
  • Yaakov Pearlman, Chief Rabbi (2001–2008)
  • Zalman Lent, Acting Chief Rabbi (2008–present)
United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations
North America

New religious movements edit

Baháʼí Faith edit

Radha Soami edit

  • Huzur Kanwar Saheb, Guru (present)

Scientology edit

Others edit

  • John-Roger Hinkins, Spiritual Director (1971–2014)
  • John K. Morton, Spiritual Director (2014–present)

Other edit

Jainism edit

Mandaeism edit

Ravidassia edit

  • Niranjan Dass, Sant (2007–present)

Shinto edit

Sectarian Shinto edit

  • Heiki Konko, Spiritual Leader (1991–present)
  • Kurozumi Muneharu, Chief Patriarch (1973–2017)
  • Kurozumi Munemichi, Chief Patriarch (2017–present)

Unitarian Universalism edit

Voodoo / Vodun edit

  • Beninese Vodun
    • Adanyroh Guèdèhounguè, President of National Community of Voodoo Cults of Benin (CNCVB)[16]
    • Daagbo Hounon Houna II, Supreme Leader of Vodun[17]
  • Haitian Vodou
    • Demanbre — Augustin St. Clou, King of Voodoo (2016–present)[18]
    • National Confederation of Haitian Vodouisants (KNVA) — Prospère Louidor, National Ati (Supreme Voodoo Chief) (2021–present)[19]

Spiritual Genuinity edit

  • Mokshadharma —
  • Founded by Amit Goyal (2019-present)
  • Started at a badminton court in Sydney where the idea was playing honestly and how it depicts the peace in this world.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Such groups are not in communion with the Pope.

References edit

  1. ^ "OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH". OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Preacher, racer are two of a kind. Dallenbach brothers follow different roads that intersect with love". Denver Post. April 30, 1990. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2007-07-21. It's quite a spin from Wally's life as a race-car driver to the Rev. Robert Dallenbach's small Pillar of Fire Church, where drinking, dancing and smoking are forbidden. While Wally directs Denver's Grand Prix races this August, his older brother likely will be a few blocks away, preaching at Alma Temple. The Reverend Bob wears a charcoal-gray suit and Roman collar. His 8-year-old, church-owned Ford station wagon bears license tag ... But things aren't always what they seem with the brothers Dallenbach ...
  3. ^ "Somerset Christian College". Somerset Christian College. Archived from the original on 2009-09-06. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  4. ^ The Methodist Church Ghana (1835–2005): 170th Anniversary Souvenir Brochure. Accra, 2005
  5. ^ "Structures & Ministries: New Apostolic Church International (NAC)". www.nak.org. Archived from the original on 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  6. ^ Cummins, D. Duane (2009). The Disciples : a struggle for reformation. St. Louis, Mo.: Chalice Press. pp. 296–300. ISBN 978-0-8272-0637-3. OCLC 268790454.
  7. ^ "The Leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)". Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  8. ^ "Past General Assemblies". Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  9. ^ "The Leaders of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)". Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  10. ^ "Colleen Geyer appointed General Secretary". Uniting Church in Australia. 14 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Death of a Guru". 2003-10-21. Archived from the original on 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  12. ^ "Maha Sabha loses its Spiritual Head". 2018-11-30. Archived from the original on 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  13. ^ "Pundit Uttam Maharaj is new Dharmachaya". 2005-05-03. Archived from the original on 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  14. ^ "New Dharmacharya congratulated". 2019-05-05. Archived from the original on 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  15. ^ "The 500 Most Influential Muslims" (PDF). gwu.edu. Georgetown University. 2011. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  16. ^ "Bénin: reportage à la fête du "vodoun" de Grand-Popo". RFI (in French). 2016-01-11. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  17. ^ "Haiti - FLASH : The Supreme Leader of Voodoo King Daagbo Hounon Houna II, visiting Haiti - HaitiLibre.com : Haiti news 7/7". www.haitilibre.com. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  18. ^ Nieves, Josué Israel Cárdenas. "El vudú haitiano visita México, Augustin St. Clou". lemexico.mx (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  19. ^ "L'installation de Prospère Louidor, comme nouvel Ati national renforce les divisions au sein du secteur vodou". www.enquetaction.com. Retrieved 2023-06-21.