List of 20th-century religious leaders

This is a list of the top-level leaders for religious groups with at least 50,000 adherents, and that led anytime from January 1, 1901, to December 31, 2000. It should likewise only name leaders listed on other articles and lists.

Lists of religious leaders by century:
See also:

Buddhism

edit

Tibetan Buddhism

edit
Mongolia
Russia

Christianity

edit

Catholicism

edit

Roman Catholicism

edit

Old Catholicism

edit

Independent Catholicism

edit

Eastern Orthodoxy

edit

Autocephalous Churches

edit

Autonomous Churches

edit
  • Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate, schismatic –
    Mstyslav, Patriarch of Kiev (1992–1993)
    Volodymyr, Patriarch of Kiev (1993–1995)
    Filaret, Patriarch of Kiev (1995–present
  • Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), canonically recognised –
    • Feognost II, Metropolitan of Kiev (1900–1903)
    • Flavian, Metropolitan of Kiev (1903–1915)
    • Vladimir I, Metropolitan of Kiev (1915–1918)
    • Antoniy II, Metropolitan of Kiev (1918–1936)
    • Nazary of Cherkass, Metropolitan of Kiev (1919–1921)
    • Michael of Grodno and Brest, Metropolitan of Kiev (1921–1924)
    • Michael III, Metropolitan of Kiev (1924–1929)
    • Dmitriy, Metropolitan of Kiev (1930–1932)
    • Sergiy, Metropolitan of Kiev (1932–1934)
    • Konstantin III, Metropolitan of Kiev (1934–1937)
    • Nikolai II, Metropolitan of Kiev (1941–1944)
    • Ioann V, Metropolitan of Kiev (1944–1964)
    • Ioasaf II, Metropolitan of Kiev (1964–1966)
    • Filaret II, Metropolitan of Kiev (1966–1992)
    • Volodymyr Sabodan, Metropolitan of Kiev (1992–present)
  • Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, not canonically recognised –
    • Oleksii Hromadskyi, (1941–1943)
    • Pantelejmon Rudyk, (1943–1944)
    • Mstyslav, Patriarch (?–1993)
  • Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Canonical [sic], not canonically recognised –

Schismatic churches

edit

Oriental Orthodoxy

edit

Protestantism

edit

Anglicanism

edit
Provinces of the Anglican Communion
edit
  • George Werner, President (2000–present)
Continuing Anglicanism
edit
  • A. Donald Davies, Presiding Bishop (1992–2000)
  • William Millsaps, Presiding Bishop (2000–2005)
  • John C. Gramley, Presiding Bishop (1992–1996)
  • Stephen C. Reber, Presiding Bishop (1996–2010)

Baptist

edit
International
  • Baptist World Alliance
    • John Clifford, President (1905–1911)
    • Robert Stuart MacArthur, President (1911–1923)
    • Edgar Young Mullins, President (1923–1928)
    • John MacNeill, President (1928–1934)
    • George Washington Truett, President (1934–1939)
    • James Henry Rushbrooke, President (1939–1947)
    • Charles Oscar Johnson, President (1947–1950)
    • Fred Townley Lord, President (1950–1955)
    • Theodore Floyd Adams, President (1955–1960)
    • Joao Filson Soren, President (1960–1965)
    • William R. Tolbert, Jr., President (1965–1970)
    • Carney Hargroves, President (1970–1975)
    • David Wong, President (1975–1980)
    • Duke Kimbrough McCall, President (1980–1985)
    • Noel Vose, President (1985–1990)
    • Knud Wumpleman, President (1990–1995)
    • Nilson Do Amaral Fanini, President (1995–2000)
Eurasia (Russian Empire/ Soviet Union/ post-Soviet)
  • Union of the Russian Baptists —
  • Dey Mazayev, President (1887–1909, 1917)
  • Vasily Pavlov, President (1909–1910)
  • Ilya Golyayev, President (1910–1917)
  • All-Union Council of Evangelical Christians-Baptists —
  • Yakov Zhidkov, President (1944–1966)
  • Ilya Ivanov, President (1966–1974)
  • Andrey Klimenko, President (1974–1985)
  • Vasily Logvinenko, President (1985–1990)
  • Grigory Komendant, President (1990–1992)
  • International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists —
  • Vasily Logvinenko, President (1992–1993)
  • Peter Konovalchuk, President (1994–2002)
North America
  • J. Brent Walker, Executive Director (1999–present)
  • Daniel Vestal, Coordinator (1996–present)

Holiness

edit

Lutheran

edit

Pentecostal

edit

Methodism

edit
  • African Methodist Episcopal Church
    • Clement W. Fugh, General Secretary (2000–present)
  • Free Methodist Church in Canada
  • Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en las Islas Filipinas
    • Nicolas V. Zamora, General Superintendent (1909–1914)
    • Alejandro H. Reyes, General Superintendent (1914–1922)
    • Victoriano Mariano, General Superintendent (1922–1928)
    • Francisco Gregorio, General Superintendent (1928–1939)
    • Matias B. Valdez, General Superintendent (1939–1948)
    • Eusebio Tech, General Superintendent (1948–1952)
    • Marcelino C. Gutierrez, General Superintendent (1952–1953)
    • Lazaro G. Trinidad, General Superintendent (1953–1972)
    • Geronimo P. Maducdoc, General Superintendent (1972–1980)
    • George F. Castro, General Superintendent (1980–2000)
    • Nathaniel P. Lazaro, General Superintendent (2000–present)
  • Methodist Church Ghana
    • Francis C.F. Grant, President (1961–1966)
    • T. Wallace Koomson, President (1966–1973)
    • Charles K. Yamoah, President (1973–1977)
    • C. Awotwi Pratt, President (1977–1979)
    • Samuel B. Essamuah, President (1979–1984)
    • C. Awotwi Pratt, President (1984–1985)
    • Jacob S.A. Stephens, President (1985–1990)
    • Kwesi A. Dickson, President (1990–1997)
    • Samuel Asante Antwi, President and Presiding Bishop (1997–2003)[5]
  • Methodist Church in Singapore
    • Methodist work in Southern and Southeast Asia
    • James M. Thoburn, Bishop and Superintendent (1888–1904)
    • William F. Oldham, Bishop and Superintendent (1904–1912)
    • John E. Robinson, Bishop and Superintendent (1912–1914)
    • William P. Eveland, Bishop and Superintendent (1914–1916)
    • John E. Robinson and J. W. Robinson, Bishops and Superintendents (1916–1920)
    • George H. Bickley, Bishop and Superintendent (1920–1924)
    • Titus Lowe, Bishop and Superintendent (1924–1928)
    • Edwin F. Lee, Bishop and Superintendent (1928–1948)
    • Southeastern Asia Central Conference
    • Raymond L. Archer, Bishop (1950–1956)
    • Hobart B. Amstutz, Bishop (1956–1964)
    • Robert F. Lundy, Bishop (1964–1968)
    • Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore
    • Yap Kim Hao, Bishop (1968–1973)
    • Theodore R. Doraisamy, Bishop (1973–1976)
    • Methodist Church in Singapore
    • Kao Jih Chung, Bishop (1976–1984)
    • Ho Chee Sin, Bishop (1984–1996)
    • Wong Kiam Thau, Bishop (1996–2000)
    • Robert M. Solomon, Bishop (2000–present)
  • Methodist Church of South Africa
    • President
    • William B Rayner, President (1900–1901)
    • Alfred T Rhodes, President (1901–1902)
    • Robert Lamplough, President (1902–1903)
    • Nendrick Abrahams, President (1903–1904)
    • Ezra Nuttal, President (1904–1905)
    • Arthur P Chaplin, President (1905–1906)
    • Richard F Hornabrook, President (1906–1907)
    • William J Hacker, President (1907–1908)
    • George Weaver, President (1908–1909)
    • Wesley Hurt, President (1909–1911)
    • Joseph Metcalf, President (1911–1912)
    • Albert H Hodges, President (1912–1913)
    • William Pescod, President (1913–1914)
    • T Edward Marsh, President (1914–1915)
    • Robert Matterson, President (1915–1916)
    • Griffith W Rogers, President (1916–1917)
    • Henry Cotton, President (1917–1918)
    • Samuel Clark, President (1918–1919)
    • James PendlReebury, President (1919–1920)
    • George Robson, President (1920–1921)
    • Arthur J Lennard, President (1921–1922)
    • Charles S Lucas, President (1922–1923)
    • John W Househam, President (1923–1924)
    • John W Watkinson, President (1924–1925)
    • Frederick Holmes, President (1925–1926)
    • Andrew Graham, President (1926–1927)
    • Theo R Curnick BD, President (1927–1928)
    • William Flint DD, President (1928–1929)
    • Geo H P Jacques, President (1929–1930)
    • Allen Lea, President (1930–1931)
    • Ernest Titcomb, President (1931–1932)
    • John A Allcock, President (1932–1933)
    • William Meara, President (1933–1934)
    • Henry W Goodwin, President (1934–1935)
    • Thomas Stanton, President (1935–1936)
    • A Arthur Wellington, President (1936–1937)
    • William Meara, President (1937–1938)
    • Edwin Bottrill, President (1938–1939)
    • Lorenzo S H Wilkinson, President (1939–1940)
    • William Eveleigh, President (1940–1941)
    • William B Allcock, President (1941–1942)
    • Arnold Nichols, President (1942–1943)
    • William W Shilling, President (1943–1944)
    • William Whalley, President (1944–1945)
    • William Meara, President (1945–1946)
    • Cecil C Harris, President (1946–1947)
    • E Lyn Cragg, President (1947–1948)
    • Edward W Grant, President (1948–1949)
    • Joseph B Webb, President (1949–1950)
    • Stanley Le Grove-Smith, President (1950–1951)
    • Alison E F Garrett, President (1951–1952)
    • J Wesley Hunt, President (1952–1953)
    • Herbert W Rist, President (1953–1954)
    • Joseph B Webb, President (1954–1955)
    • Stanley B Sudbury, President (1955–1956)
    • William Illsley, President (1956–1957)
    • Clifford K Storey, President (1957–1958)
    • C Edgar Wilkinson, President (1958–1959)
    • Leslie A Hewson, President (1959–1960)
    • Frank H Edmonds, President (1960–1961)
    • Joseph B Webb, President (1961–1962)
    • Deryck P Dugmore, President (1962–1963)
    • Stanley G Pitts, President (1963–1964)
    • Seth M Mokitimi, President (1964–1965)
    • Wilfred W Hartley, President (1965–1966)
    • Robert C Bellis, President (1966–1967)
    • L G S Griffiths, President (1967–1968)
    • Cyril Wilkins, President (1968–1969)
    • Derrick W Timm, President (1969–1970)
    • C Edgar Wilkinson, President (1970–1971)
    • Alex L Boraine, President (1971–1972)
    • Stanley G Pitts, President (1972–1973)
    • Jotham C Mvusi, President (1973–1974)
    • Vivian W Harris, President (1974–1975)
    • Abel E Hendricks, President (1975–1976)
    • Charles R Stephenson, President (1976–1977)
    • Abel E Hendricks, President (1977–1978)
    • Donald C Veysie, President (1978–1979)
    • Andrew M Losaba, President (1979–1980)
    • Howard F Kirby, President (1980–1981)
    • T Simon N Gqubule, President (1981–1982)
    • Khoza E M Mgojo, President (1982–1983)
    • Fremont C Louw, President (1983–1984)
    • Peter J Storey, President (1984–1985)
    • Ernest N Baartman, President (1985–1986)
    • John P Scholtz, President (1986–1987)
    • Khoza E M Mgojo, President (1987–1988)
    • Stanley Mogoba, President (1988–1998)
    • H Mvume Dandala, President (1998–2002)
    • Ivan M Abrahams, President (2003-2011)
    • Ziphozihle D Siwa, President(2012-2018)
    • Purity N Malinga, President (2019-2023)
    • Pumla Nzimande, President (2024-date)
    • General Secretary
      • Alfred T Rhodes, General Secretary (1899–1901)
      • Ezra Nuttal, General Secretary (1901–1904)
      • Arthur P Chaplin, General Secretary (1904–1905)
      • Charles Pettman, General Secretary (1905–1911)
      • Henry Cotton, General Secretary (1911–1917)
      • James Robb, General Secretary (1917–1920)
      • John W Househam, General Secretary (1920–1923)
      • William H P Clulow, General Secretary (1923–1926)
      • Alfred A Stile, General Secretary (1926–1927)
      • William H P Clulow, General Secretary (1927–1928)
      • Thomas Stanton, General Secretary (1928–1934)
      • Arthur C File, General Secretary (1934–1938)
      • William H Irving, General Secretary (1938–1939)
      • Arthur C File, General Secretary (1939–1940)
      • William H Irving, General Secretary (1940–1942)
      • Edward W Grant, General Secretary (1942–1943)
      • F J Rhead Marsh, General Secretary (1943–1945)
      • Alison E F Garrett, General Secretary (1945–1951)
      • Stanley B Sudbury, General Secretary (1951–1953)
      • Frank H Edmonds, General Secretary (1953–1960)
      • Lloyd G Griffiths, General Secretary (1960–1961)
      • Alison E F Grant, General Secretary (1961–1962)
      • Stanley B Sudbury, General Secretary (1962–1973)
      • Cyril Wilkins, General Secretary (1973–1982)
      • M Stanley Mogoba, General Secretary (1982–1988)
      • Vivian Harris, General Secretary (1988–2001)

Other Protestant

edit
  • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
    • Secretary of the International Convention of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ)[6]
      • General Secretary
        • Robert Graham Frank (1917–1946)
      • Executive Secretary
        • Gaines M. Cook (1946–1963)
        • A. Dale Fiers (1963–1968)
    • President of the United Christian Missionary Society[7]
      • Frederick W. Burnham (1919–1930)
      • Robert M. Hopkins (1939–1945)
      • Harry B. McCormick (1946–1950)
      • A. Dale Fiers (1951–1964)
      • Virgil A. Sly (1965–1968)
    • General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)[8]
      • A. Dale Fiers (1968–1973)
      • Kenneth L. Teegarden (1973–1985)
      • John O. Humbert (1985–1991)
      • William Nichols, interim (1991–1993)
      • Richard L. Hamm (1993–2003)
    • Moderator of the International Convention of the Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ)[9]
      • J. N. Haymaker (1917)
      • Edgar DdWitt Jones (1919)
      • R. H. Miller (1920)
      • George A. Miller (1921)
      • Stephen E. Fisher (1922)
      • T. W. Grafton (1923)
      • A. E. Cory (1924)
      • Jacob H. Goldner (1925)
      • A. D. Harmon (1926)
      • Edward S. Jouett (1928)
      • H. H. Rogers (1929)
      • R. A. Long (1930)
      • L. D. Anderson (1931)
      • Homer W. Carpenter (1932)
      • George A. Campbell (1933)
      • William F. Rothenburger (1934)
      • D. W. Morehouse (1935)
      • L. N. D. Wells (1936)
      • A. W. Fortune (1937)
      • Frederick D. Kershner (1938)
      • Roger T. Nooe (1939)
      • H. B. McCormick (1941)
      • W. A. Shullenberger (1942)
      • C. E. Lemmon (1944)
      • M. E. Sadler (1946)
      • Hampton Adams (1947)
      • Roy C. Snodgrass (1948)
      • Frank E. Davison (1949)
      • John A. Tate (1950)
      • Marvin O. Sansbury (1952)
      • Howard Thomas Wood (1953)
      • Cleveland Kleihauer (1954)
      • Riley B. Montgomery (1956)
      • John Rogers (1957)
      • Granville T. Walker (1958)
      • Loren E. Lair (1960)
      • Perry Epler Gresham (1961)
      • Leslie R. Smith (1962)
      • Robert W. Burnes (1962)
      • W. A. Welsh (1964)
      • Stephen J. England (1966)
      • Forest L. Richeson (1967)
      • Ronald E. Osborn (1968)
    • Moderator of the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)[10]
      • Ronald E. Osborn (1968)
      • Myron C. Cole (1968–1969)
      • James M. Moud (1969–1971)
      • Walter D. Bingham (1971–1973)
      • Jean Woolfolk (1973–1975)
      • James A. Moak (1975–1977)
      • James A. Noe (1977–1979)
      • Thomas J. Youngblood (1979–1981)
      • Joy L. Greer (1981–1983)
      • William E. Tucker (1983–1985)
      • T. J. Liggett (1985–1987)
      • Daniel L. Woods (1987–1989)
      • K. David Cole (1989–1991)
      • Marilyn Moffett (1991–1993)
      • D. Duane Cummins (1993–1995)
      • Janet A. Long (1995–1997
      • Michael W. Mooty (1997–1999)
      • Paul D. Rivera (1999–2001)
  • Seventh-day Adventists (complete list) –
  • Uniting Church in Australia
  • United Church of Canada

Other Christian or Christian-derived faiths

edit

Hinduism

edit
  • Bhakti Pramod Puri Goswami, President (1994–1999)
  • Srila Nayananandana Das babaji, President (1999–2002)

Islam

edit

Sunni

edit

Shia

edit

Twelver

edit
  • Marja

Ismaili

edit

Dawat-e-Islami

edit

Ahmadiyya

edit

Nation of Islam

edit
edit
Asia
Eurasia
Europe
North America

Other

edit

Shinto

edit

Sectarian Shinto

edit
  • Senge Takaaki, Kancho (1887–1918)
  • Senge Takamochi, Kancho (1918–1954)
  • Senge Takanobu, Kancho (1954–1963)
  • Senge Michihiko, Kancho (1963–2014)
  • Setsutane Konko, Spiritual Leader (1893–1963)
  • Kagamitaro Konko, Spiritual Leader (1963–1991)
  • Heiki Konko, Spiritual Leader (1991–2021)
  • Kurozumi Muneyasu, Chief Patriarch (1889–1936)
  • Kurozumi Munekazu, Chief Patriarch (1936–1973)
  • Kurozumi Muneharu, Chief Patriarch (1973–2017)
  • Nao Deguchi, Spiritual Leader (1892–1918)
  • Sumi Deguchi, Spiritual Leader (1918–1952)
  • Naohi Deguchi, Spiritual Leader (1952–1990)
  • Kiyoko Deguchi, Spiritual Leader (1990–2001)

West Asian origin

edit
  • W.A.P.I. Zoroastrians (Iranian Zoroastrians) –
    • Areez P. Khambatta, President

Baháʼí Faith

edit

Jainism

edit

Sikhism

edit
  • Sri Akal Takht Sahib
    • Arur Singh Naushshera, Jathedar (1907–1920)
    • Teja Singh Ji Bhuchar, Jathedar (1920–1921)
    • Teja Singh Ji Akerpuri, Jathedar (1921–1923, 1926–1930)
    • Udham Singh Ji Nagoki, Jathedar (1923–1924)
    • Bhai Acchar Singh Ji, Jathedar (1924–1925)
    • Didar Singh Ji, Jathedar (about a month in 1926)
    • Jawaher Singh Ji, Jathedar (very short period in 1926)
    • Giani Gurmukh Singh Ji Musaffer, Jathedar (1930–1931)
    • Mohan singh Ji Nagoki, Jathedar (1931–1938)
    • Giani Partap Singh Ji, Jathedar (1938–1948)
    • Bhai Sadhu Singh Ji Bhaura, Jathedar (1948–1963)
    • Gurdial Singh Ji Ajnoha, Jathedar (1980–1983)
    • Bhai Kirpal Singh Ji, Jathedar (1963–1965, 1983–1986)
    • Darshan Singh Ji, Jathedar (1986)
    • Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Rodae, Jathedar (1986)
    • Bhai Gurdev Singh Ji Kaunke, Jathedar (1986–1990s)
    • Manjit Singh Ji, Jathedar
    • Bhai Ranjit Singh Ji, Jathedar
    • Giani Puran singh Ji, Jathedar
    • Joginder Singh Ji Vadanti, Jathedar
    • Gurbachan Singh Ji, Jathedar

Note: Some religions reject the idea of having a leader or leading council in such a way that they can not be listed. When possible/plausible a leading figure will be named, but in some cases this will not be possible or desirable.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Bishop Alma White: Founder of Pillar of Fire Dies at 84". Associated Press. June 27, 1946. Bound Brook, New Jersey, June 26, 1946 (Associated Press) Bishop Alma White, founder of the Pillar of Fire Church and author of thirty-five religious tracts and some 200 hymns, died here today at the headquarters of the religious group at near-by Zarephath. Her age was 84.
  2. ^ "Bishop Arthur White, 92, Dies. Headed Pillar of Fire Church". New York Times. September 18, 1981. Retrieved July 21, 2007. Bishop Arthur K. White, president and general superintendent of the Pillar of Fire Church in Zarephath, New Jersey, died Monday at his home in Zarephath. He was 92 years old.
  3. ^ "Donald Wolfram moved souls during street services". Denver Post. Retrieved July 21, 2007. Donald Wolfram, who was an early participant in religious street meetings in Lower Downtown Denver, died Monday of pancreatic cancer. Wolfram, 83, was a lifelong member of the Pillar of Fire Church, and as a young man, he joined other members for religious meetings in downtown Denver. The meetings resembled those of the Salvation Army, with a band and speaker. Wolfram usually played the trumpet or trombone, said his daughter, Suzanne Wolfram. Eventually, he learned to play about a ...
  4. ^ "Preacher, racer are two of a kind. Dallenbach brothers follow different roads that intersect with love". Denver Post. April 30, 1990. Retrieved July 21, 2007. 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 ...
  5. ^ The Methodist Church Ghana (1835–2005): 170th Anniversary Souvenir Brochure. Accra, 2005
  6. ^ Cummins, D. Duane (2009). The Disciples : a struggle for reformation. St. Louis, Mo.: Chalice Press. pp. 224–228. ISBN 978-0-8272-0637-3. OCLC 268790454.
  7. ^ Smith, Joseph M. (1987). A Guide to Materials Related to the United Christian Missionary Society. Nashville, Tennessee: Disciples of Christ Historical Society. pp. 8–9.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "International Convention prior to 1968". Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  10. ^ "Past General Assemblies". Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Retrieved 2023-01-27.

Further reading

edit
edit