ABOUT THE AUTHOR
THE REV. DR. RUSSELL J. LEVENSON, JR
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
The Reverend Dr. Russell Jones Levenson, Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College in 1984, where he studied business and English and received the College’s highest service award, 'The President’s Student Service Award' . During his college years, he met his future wife, Laura, in Chapel at Birmingham-Southern College .
DECISION TO BECOME
A PRIEST
Russ entered seminary in 1989 and received his Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) in Alexandria, Virginia in 1992 .
His decision to become a priest was influenced by his deep faith and commitment to serving others.
ADVANCED STUDIES AND MENTORS
Dr. Levenson completed his Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation at Beeson Divinity School in 1997 . He served as Assistant University Chaplain at the University of the South, under the Reverend Dr. Samuel Lloyd, and later as Associate Rector at St. Luke's in Birmingham, under his long-term mentor and friend, the late Rev. Dr. John Claypool."
John Claypool seated next to Martin Luther King Jr.
EARLY CAREER
Dr. Levenson began his career serving in various roles at churches in Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Florida . He was called to be the rector of The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1997, and later served as the fifteenth rector of historic Christ Church Parish in Pensacola, Florida .
Sewanee, Tennessee
Birmingham, Alabama
Lafayette, Louisiana
Pensacola,
Florida
Houston,
Texas
LATE CAREER
In 2007, Dr. Levenson became the fourth rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, the largest Episcopal Church in North America with nearly 10,000 members . Under his leadership, the church completed two major expansion projects: Building for Life in 2012 and Building for the Ages in 2021 . During his tenure, the baptized membership of the parish grew by 20%, and the annual budget doubled, enabling the parish to expand its ministries .
Name, Title
HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS
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Beeson Divinity School’s “Distinguished Alumnus” honor in 2011
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“Dean’s Cross” from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2012
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Birmingham-Southern College’s “Distinguished Alumnus of the Year” in 2019
In 2015, he was admitted to the Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem by invitation of Queen Elizabeth II and was elevated to the Office of Sub-Prelate for the Order in the United States Priory in 2021
SPIRITUAL MENTOR
Dr. Levenson has served as a spiritual mentor to many, including the Bush family, officiating at the memorial service for First Lady Barbara Bush and co-officiating at the State Funeral for President George H.W. Bush .
