During its meeting in Orlando, Florida, the International Presbytery of the Church of God of Prophecy prayerfully discerned and selected Bishop Dr. Carswell A. Leonard to serve as general presbyter of the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands, assuming the office September 1, 2026, following the retirement of Bishop Dr. Clayton Martin. His selection was publicly affirmed during the 103rd International Assembly as part of the Parade of Nations celebration on Wednesday evening, July 15, 2026.
Bishop Leonard currently serves as regional bishop of the Paragon Region, providing oversight for the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, while also serving as senior pastor of Oasis Church of God of Prophecy in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. He has served on the Caribbean Plurality Team since 2024 and has contributed to the revision of the Church of God of Prophecy’s Minister’s Development Program. His previous ministry experience also includes leadership development, theological education, pastoral ministry, and service on the Assembly Committee for Biblical Doctrine and Polity. Bishop Leonard was licensed as a minister with the Church of God of Prophecy on September 14th, 1999, and ordained a bishop in 2009.
A native of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, Bishop Leonard brings decades of ministry, leadership, and professional experience to his new assignment. Before returning to ministry in the Caribbean, he served in pastoral and leadership roles in North Carolina and completed a distinguished 23-year career in the United States Army, retiring as a master sergeant.
Bishop Leonard also possesses a strong academic background, earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies from Regent University, along with graduate degrees in theology and business administration. He is the author of several leadership and theological works, including Discernment to Deployment, Destiny Decisions, and The Trinity and Justice. Fluent in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Papiamento, he is well-equipped to serve the culturally diverse nations of the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands.
Bishop Leonard and his wife, Alfreda, have been married since 1981 and are the parents of one daughter, Breanna. Together they have faithfully served the Church of God of Prophecy in pastoral ministry, leadership development, and regional oversight for many years.
As general presbyter, Bishop Leonard will provide spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and strategic oversight for the Church of God of Prophecy throughout the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Islands, partnering with national bishops and ministry leaders to advance the Church’s mission of reconciling the world to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.