Claude E. Payne

Claude Edward Payne was the seventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas in The Episcopal Church. He was elected bishop co-adjutor in 1993, and was seated as Bishop of Texas in 1995. Prior to his election as bishop co-adjutor, Payne served as the second Rector of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas from 1983 to 1993.[1]

The Right Reverend Claude E. Payne
VII Bishop of Texas
Church	The Episcopal Church
Diocese	Texas
Installed	1995
Term ended	2003
Predecessor	Maurice M. Benitez
Successor	Don A. Wimberly
Personal details
Born	June 19, 1932 Abilene, Texas

Biography

Claude Payne was born on June 19, 1932 in Abilene, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Rice University in Houston and went to work for Union Carbide.[2] He later enrolled at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California and obtained a Master of Divinity degree in 1964.[3]

As rector of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Payne was the parish priest of George H. W. and Barbara Bush.[1] Prior to becoming rector of St. Martin's in 1983, he served as rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Beaumont, Texas for fifteen years.[3]

After his retirement in 2003, Payne moved from Houston to Salado, Texas.[4] In 2013, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.[2]

In 2018, Payne participated in the Houston funeral services for first Barbara[1] and then George H. W. Bush.[5]

Payne is married to Barbara Payne.[1] He is the co-author (with Hamilton S. Beazley) of Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Practical Model for Transforming Denominations and Congregations (2000)[2] and the author of Reclaiming Christianity: A Practical Model for Spiritual Growth and Evangelism (2018).[6]

See also

• List of Episcopal bishops of the United States
• Historical list of the Episcopal bishops of the United States

References

1. Fulton, Loretta (26 April 2018). "Retired bishop from Abilene takes part in Barbara Bush funeral". Abilene Reporter News. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
2. "Claude Edward Payne". Seminary of the Southwest. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
3. Barnwell, Carol (11 July 1993). "Fr. Payne Chosen as Bishop Coadjutor of Texas". The Living Church. Vol. 207 no. 2. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
4. Vara, Richard (28 June 2003). "Retiring Bishop Payne lauded for achievements". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
5. "George Herbert Walker Bush" (PDF). St. Martin's Episcopal Church. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
6. Fulton, Loretta (3 August 2018). "Episcopal bishop retired to Abilene pens book about church challenges". Abilene Reporter News. Retrieved 2018-12-12.