The Rt. Rev. Brian Prior was elected IX Bishop of Minnesota at Diocesan Convention on Saturday, October 31, 2009. He was Ordained and Consecrated on February 13, 2010.
Before moving to Minnesota, Bishop Prior was the Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Spokane, Washington for 14 years. He served as the Vice President of the House of Deputies. He received his M.Div. from Church Divinity of the Pacific in Berkeley, California in 1987.
Bishop Prior has been married to Staci Hubbard Prior for more than 20 years. They have two teenage sons.
Meet Bishop Brian N. Prior – part I
Meet Bishop Brian N. Prior – part II
What is a bishop?
The Episcopal Church takes its name from the Greek word episcopos, meaning overseer or governor.
Bishops in The Episcopal Church are considered to be successors to the Apostles through the laying-on of hands at their Ordination and Consecration. Bishops have the two-fold responsibility: the apostolic mission of the Church and the oversight of that mission within a given geographic area, the diocese.
All bishops are members of the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church. Bishops confer Holy Orders upon deacons, priests, and other bishops, and administer the rite of Confirmation in addition to the usual priestly services. They also visit faith communities regularly, meet with the clergy, and preach the Word.
In Minnesota, the bishop also serves as board chair of Shattuck-St. Mary’s School and board chair of Breck School.
Gallery of Former Bishops of Minnesota
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Henry Whipple 1859-1901 |
Samuel Edsall 1901-1917 |
Frank McElwain 1917-1944 |
Stephen Keeler 1944-1956 |
Hamilton Kellogg 1956-1970 |
Philip McNairy 1971-1978 |
Robert Anderson 1978-1993 |
James Jelinek 1993-2010 |
