By TLC Staff
The rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston — which recently welcomed its 10,000th member, the most of any Episcopal church — has announced plans to retire from full-time ministry in May.
The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson Jr., 62, who has led St. Martin’s since 2007, plans to move to Birmingham, Alabama, to be closer to family. He has been a prominent voice among evangelicals in the church.
He is the author of several books, including Witness to Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H.W. and Barbara Bush, who were longtime members. He expects to continue writing in retirement.
In 2017, TLC published an extended interview describing the church’s recipe for growth. “We have a high expectation of the members who join,” he said, starting with a six-hour membership class. “We don’t expect you to be balcony Christians, or spectator Christians, we expect you to be on the stage, on the field, part of the life of the church.”
Levenson announced his plans in a January 12 letter, a copy of which is below.
2024 Important Announcement FINAL
Kirk Petersen began reporting news for TLC as a freelancer in 2016, and was Associate Editor from 2019 to 2024, focusing especially on matters of governance in the Episcopal Church.
