Board Members  The Reverend Laurens (Larry) Allen Hall, D. D., Rector
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
2450 River Oaks Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77019-5898
Larry Hall was born in 1942 and raised in San Antonio, Texas, where he was baptized and confirmed at Christ Episcopal Church. After graduating from Alamo Heights High School in 1960, he attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was a member of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta and the Texas Cowboys. He graduated from UT in 1964 with a Bachelors of Business Administration. After a time in the Real Estate industry, Mr. Hall felt a "sense of call" to the ordained ministry. He graduated from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California, in 1968 with a Masters of Divinity and shortly ordained as Deacon and then later as a Priest.
He served as Assistant Rector at Christ Episcopal Church in San Antonio from 1968 until 1971, when he was then invited to serve as Rector of St. Christopher Episcopal Church in League City, Texas. After serving as St. Christopher for four years he was called in 1975 to St. Davis's Episcopal Church in Austin where he served as Rector for five and one-half years.
In 1981, he became the fourth Rector of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Houston. St. John the divine has approximately 4,800 members with an average Sunday attendance at the seven worship services of 1,300 people.
Mr. Hall has served on the Board of Trustees of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Austin. He was named Chairman of the Diocesan Commission on Ministry in 1984 and served until 1999. Additionally, he has served on the boards of The Episcopal High School, Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, the Institute of Religion, Camp For All and The Senior's Place.
In 1995, Mr. Hall was granted an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree form the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. In February 1999, Mr. Hall was recognized for his service to the Houston community as a religious leader by the Foundation for Interfaith Research and Ministry at a community- wide gala dinner. In 1998, Mr. Hall was selected as a fellow for Class XVI in Houston's American Leadership Forum to enhance his abilities as a religious and community leader. In 2003, he received the Samaritan Spirit Award from the Samaritan Center.
Since coming to St. John the Divine, Mr. Hall has presided over a period of extraordinary growth and innovation in ministry. One such example is the Sunday 11:05 a.m. Contemporary Service which has drawn national attention for its unique Rite III liturgy, dramatic vignettes illustrating the Gospel, and outstanding praise and worship music. St. John the Divine is also known for its healing, prayer, and care giving ministries.
Mr. Hall's visionary focus of building community has resulted in an active campus with events for all ages every day of the week--basketball, calligraphy classes, sewing, music lessons, volleyball, travel abroad, book discussions, many different Bible studies, and much more.
Mr. Hall was married in 1968 to Bennie Grant of West Monroe, Louisiana. They have three grown children Grant, Oliver, and Bailey. He and Bennie are grandparents of four! His primary activity outside the church is enjoying his family. Hobbies include reading, golf, the Astros, and guitar playing. He is regular and disciplined in a physical training program. |
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July 2010
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