Press Releases

CBC Recognizes the Installation of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry as the First African American Leader of the U.S. Episcopal Church

Washington, DC, November 2, 2015

Today, CBC Chairman G. K. Butterfield released the following statement recognizing the installation of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry as the first African American to lead the U.S. Episcopal Church.

“The Congressional Black Caucus commends Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on becoming the twenty-seventh Presiding Bishop, Primate, and Chief Executive Officer of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society and chair of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, which is the nation’s 14th largest denomination.  Presiding Bishop Curry becomes the first African American to hold the position, in what has been marked as a historic and momentous occasion for the nearly two million parishioners around the country.

“Previously the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of my home state of North Carolina and Bishop of Duke Chapel at Duke University, Presiding Bishop Curry was elected and overwhelmingly confirmed during the church’s 78th General Convention, formally taking office on November 1, 2015, to serve a term of nine years.

“Presiding Bishop Curry has remained steadfast in his faith throughout the course of his priesthood and has long served as a pillar within the Episcopal community.  Members of the CBC congratulate Presiding Bishop Curry and his family, and we pray that God continues to bless him in his faith and service to the ministry.”

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Since its establishment in 1971, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) have joined together to empower America’s neglected citizens and address their legislative concerns. For more than 40 years, the CBC has consistently been the voice for people of color and vulnerable communities in Congress and has been committed to utilizing the full Constitutional power and statutory authority of the United States government to ensure that all U.S. citizens have an opportunity to achieve the American Dream. To learn more about the Congressional Black Caucus, visit http://cbc-butterfield.house.gov.

Media inquiries: Candace Randle Person at (202) 593-1331 or Candace.Randle@mail.house.gov