VI-Born Bishop Named General Presbyter-Select
Bishop Dr Carswell Adolph Leonard, born on Tortola and raised in St Thomas, has been named General Presbyter-Select for the Church of God of Prophecy’s Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands. His selection at the International Presbytery meeting in Orlando will take effect on September 1, 2026, and is being hailed by family as recognition of decades of faithful service.
Bishop Dr Carswell Adolph Leonard, a native of Tortola raised in St Thomas, has been named General Presbyter-Select for the Church of God of Prophecy’s Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands, his family has confirmed. The appointment was made during the denomination’s International Presbytery meeting in Orlando, Florida, and Bishop Leonard will assume office on September 1, 2026.
In his new role Bishop Leonard will provide spiritual leadership and oversight across the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands, working alongside national bishops and ministry leaders to advance the Church’s mission of reconciling the world to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The family described the selection as “a testament to a lifetime of faithful service to God, his church, and the people he has been called to serve.” Bishop Leonard’s ties to the Virgin Islands run deep. Born on Tortola and raised in the neighbouring USVI, he is the son of Doris Leonard Emmanuel and the late Curtis Callender, has been married to Alfreda Leonard for 45 years, and is father to Breanna N.
The family noted the influence of the late Mr Phillip and Mrs Frances Rhymer in his upbringing and listed siblings who join them in congratulating him. His pastoral and regional duties to date have included serving as Regional Presbyter for the Northeast Caribbean Region, overseeing the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao), the Virgin Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
He is also Senior Pastor of Oasis Church of God of Prophecy on Weymouth Rhymer Highway, St Thomas. The new appointment is being framed by family as recognition of his long-standing commitment to ministry, leadership and the spiritual growth of many across the region. Bishop Leonard’s personal journey includes giving his life to Christ at 15, graduating from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1977, and a 22-year military career in the United States Army, from which he retired as a Master Sergeant.
He holds multiple academic qualifications including degrees in Nuclear Medicine Technology and Business Administration, an MBA, a Master of Divinity, and a PhD in Theological Studies from Regent University. His academic honours include inclusion in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and induction into the Alpha Chi Honour Society.
Family members expressed pride in his achievements and prayed for wisdom, strength and health as he prepares to take on the wider responsibilities of his new office. For residents of the British Virgin Islands, Bishop Leonard’s elevation is a notable moment of recognition for a native son whose ministry and leadership span the Eastern Caribbean.
Primary source: VINO