The death has been announced of Bishop Philip James Thompson, OCR, OA, BTh, who passed away unexpectedly yesterday. The cause of death has been reported as cardiac arrest.

Bishop James served as suffragan bishop for the African Orthodox Church, Diocese of Long Island under Archbishop Peter Paul Brennan, OCR, OA. He was consecrated to the Episcopate on 21 April 2013 by Archbishop Brennan, Archbishop Francis Spataro OCR, OA, Archbishop Paget E.J. Mack of the Apostolic Episcopal Church and Archbishop William Manseau of the Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of America.

Bishop James’ journey towards ordination began with the Elim International Fellowship in Brooklyn, New York, in 1990. He served on the usher board and as a prayer practitioner, and from 1993 began taking classes at the church’s Bible Institute, where he subsequently taught. In 1999 he received a certificate for Outstanding Christian Service. He continued studies via extension from Oral Roberts University and then at Agape Old Catholic Seminary in Kentucky where he graduated Licentiate in Sacred Theology (2009) and Bachelor of Theology (2010).

After commencing seminary studies, Bishop James served for two years at St Lucy’s Old Roman Catholic Cathedral, New York, under Archbishop Louis Elias Milazzo. In 2012 he was ordained deacon and priest for the African Orthodox Church by Archbishop Brennan and received as a member of the Order of Corporate Reunion. He was admitted to the Second Class in the Order of Antioch in July 2013. In August 2015, the Synod of the African Orthodox Church elected him to the position of Treasurer.

Memory Eternal!