List of religious leaders in 2009

2008 religious leaders - Events of 2009 - 2010 religious leaders - Religious leaders by year

See also:

• List of 21st-century religious leaders
• List of state leaders in 2009
• List of international organization leaders in 2009

Note: Some religions reject the idea of having a leader or leading council in such a way that they can not be listed. When possible/plausible a leading figure will be named, but in some cases this will not be possible or desirable.

Bahá'í

• Bahá'í Faith - International: Universal House of Justice. National: National Spiritual Assembly

Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

• Jogye Order (Korea) - Rev. Bub Jang (?-present)
• Nichiren Shoshu (Japan) - High Priest Nichinyo Shonin (2005–present)
• Konkokyo (Japan) - Konko Heiki, Spiritual Leader (1991–present)
• Koyasan Shingon-shu (Japan) - Archbishop Yukei Matsunaga (?-present)
• Tendai (Japan) - Most Venerable Eshin Watanabe, Patriarch of Tendai Buddhism (?-present)
• Shinnyo-en (Japan) - Most Venerable Shinso Ito (1989–present)

Theravada Buddhism

• Thailand - Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana, Supreme Patriarch of Thailand (1989–present)
  • Acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand - Somdet Kiaw (2004–present)

Vajrayana Buddhism

• Tibetan Gelug school
  • Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama (14th one) (1939–present)
  • Khensur Lungri Namgyel, the 101st Ganden Tripa, formal head of the Gelug sect (2003–present)
  • Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, as recognised by the Dalaï Lama (1995–present)
  • Gyancain Norbu, the 11th Panchen Lama as recognised by the Chinese government (1995–present)
• Mongolian Gelug school - Jampal Namdol Chokye Gyaltsen, the 9th Javzandamba Hutagt(1936–present)
• Karma Kagyu school
  • Trinley Thaye Dorje, the 17th Karmapa as recognised by one Kagyu faction (1994–present)
  • Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa as recognised by one Kagyu faction (1992–present)
• Sakya school - Dolma Phodrang Ngawang Kunga Thegchen Palbar Thinley Samphel Wanggi Gyalpo, the 41st Sakya Trizin (1951–present)
• Bön - Lungtok Tenpai Nyima (?-present)

Christianity

See also: List of current Christian leaders

See also: List of current patriarchs

Catholicism

See also: Catholicism

Roman Catholic Church

• Roman Catholic Church as a whole, and Latin Rite -Benedict XVI, Pope (2005–present)
  • Coptic Catholic Church - Antonios Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria (2006–present)
  • Ethiopic Catholic Church - Berhaneyesus Demerew, Archbishop of Addis Ababa (1999–present)
  • Maronite Catholic Church - Nasrallah Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch (1986–present)
  • Syriac Catholic Church - Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch (2009–present)
  • Syro-Malankara Catholic Church - Isaac Mar Cleemis, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (2007–present)
  • Armenian Catholic Church - Nerses Bedros XIX, Patriarch of the Catholic Armenians (1999–present)
  • Chaldean Catholic Church – Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church (2003–present)
  • Syro-Malabar Catholic Church - Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly (1999–present)
  • Albanian Catholic Church - Hil Kabashi, Apostolic Administrator (1996–present)
  • Belarusian Catholic Church - Sergiusz Gajek, Archimandrite, Visitator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" (1993–present)
  • Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church - Christo Proykov, Exarch in Sofia (Bulgaria) (1995–present)
  • Eparchy of Križevci - Slavomir Miklovš, Eparch of Križevci (1983–present)
  • Greek Catholic Church - Dimitri Salachas, Exarch in Athens (Greece) (2008–present)
  • Hungarian Catholic Church - Péter Fülöp Kocsis, Archbishop of Hajdúdorog (2008–present)
  • Italo-Albanian Church - Ercole Lupinacci, Bishop of Lungro degli Italo-Albanesi (1987–present); Sotìr Ferrara, Bishop of Piana degli Albanesi(1989–present)
  • Macedonian Catholic Church -Kiro Stojanov, Apostolic Exarchate of Macedonia (2005–present)
  • Melkite Greek-Catholic Church - Grégoire III Laham, Patriarch of the Melkite Catholic Church (2000–present)
  • Romanian Greek-Catholic Church - Lucian Mureșan, Major Archbishop of Fagaras e Alba Iulia (Romania) (1994–present)
  • Russian Catholic Church – Joseph Werth, Apostolic Exarchate of Moscow (2004–present)
  • Ruthenian Greek-Catholic Church - Milan Sasik, Apostolic Administrator of Mukachevo (2002–present); Basil Myron Schott, Metropolitan of Pittsburgh (2002–present)
  • Slovak Greek Catholic Church - Ján Babjak, Bishop of Prešov (2002–present)
  • Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church - Lubomyr Husar, Major Archbishop of Kiev and Halych (of Lviv until 2005) (2000–present)

Traditionalist Catholicism

• Society of St. Pius X - Bernard Fellay, Superior General (1994–present)

Mariavite groups

• Catholic Mariavite Church - Beatrycze Szulgowicz (2005–present)
• Old Catholic Church of the Mariavites - Ludwik Jablonski, Bishop-Primate (2007–present)

Independent Catholic Churches

• American Catholic Church in the United States - Lawrence J. Harms, Presiding Bishop (1999–present)
• Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church - Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez, Patriarch (1961–present)
• Old Catholic Church of America -
  • James Edward Bostwick, Bishop (1997–2009)
  • Sherman Randall Mosley, Bishop (2009–present)
• Palmarian Catholic Church - Manuel Corral considered as Pope Peter II (2005–present)
• Polish Catholic Church - Wiktor Wysoczański, Bishop Superior (1995–present)
• Polish National Catholic Church - Robert M. Nemkovich, Prime Bishop (2002–present)
• Ancient Apostolic Communion - Bishop Gregory Godsey, Presiding Bishop (2002–2009)
• Diocese of Saints Albert and Aelred - Bishop Gregory Godsey, Presiding Bishop (2009–Present)
• [Traditional Catholic Orthodox Church] - Phillip R. Kemp, Primus (2004–Present)
• Servants of the Good Shepherd - Bishop Protector Charles Klughart (?-present)

Liberal Independent Catholic Churches

• Liberal Catholic Church ('liberal' General Episcopal Synod) - Maurice Warnon, Presiding Archbishop (?-present)
• Liberal Catholic Church ('traditionalist' General Episcopal Synod) - Graham Wale, Presiding Archbishop (?-present)
• Liberal Catholic Church International - Charles W. Finn, Presiding Bishop (?-present)

Eastern Orthodox

Eastern orthodox churches in communion

Autocephalous Orthodox Churches in communion

• Constantinople - Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome (1991–present)
• Alexandria - Theodore II, Greek Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia, All Egypt and All Africa (2004–present)
• Antioch - Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East (1979–present)
• Jerusalem - Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine, Syria, beyond the Jordan River, Cana of Galilee, and Holy Zion (2005–present)
• Russia - Kirill I, Patriarch of Moscow (2009–present)
• Serbia - Irinej, Archbishop of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of the Serbs (2010–present)
• Romania - Daniel, Patriarch of All Romania, Metropolitan of Wallachia and Dobrogea (2007–present)
• Bulgaria - Maxim, Patriarch of All Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia (1971–present)
• Georgia - Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi (1977–present)
• Cyprus - Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus(2006–present)
• Greece - Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (2008–present)
• Poland - Sawa, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland (1998–present)
• Albania - Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania (1992–present)
• Czechia and Slovakia - Christopher, Metropolitan of All Czechia and Slovakia (2006–present)
• North America (The Orthodox Church of America) - Jonah, Metropolitan of All America and Canada (2008–present, The OCA's autocephaly is not currently recognized by all other autocephalous Orthodox Churches.)

Autonomous Orthodox Churches in communion

• Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai (autonomy under Patriarchate of Jerusalem) - Damianos, Archbishop of Sinai (1973–present)
• Orthodox Church of Finland (autonomy under Ecumenical Patriarchate) - Leo, Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland (2001–present)
• Orthodox Church of Estonia (autonomy under Ecumenical Patriarchate) - Stephanos, Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia (1999–present)
• Orthodox Church of Japan (autonomy under Moscow Patriarchate) - Daniel, Metropolitan of All Japan (2000–present)
• Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric (autonomy under Patriarchate of Peć) - Jovan Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje (2005–present)
• Orthodox Church of Ukraine (autonomy under Moscow Patriarchate) - Vladimir II, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine (1992–present)
• Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (autonomy under Moscow Patriarchate) - Metropolitan Hilario, Metropolitan (2007–present)
• Orthodox Church of Bessarabia (autonomy under Romanian Orthodox Church) - Petru, Metropolitan (1992–present)

Orthodox Churches not currently in Communion

• Montenegrin Orthodox Church - Mihailo, Archbishop (1997–present)
• Russian Orthodox Church Abroad -
  • Metropolitan Vitaly, Metropolitan in opposition (2001–present)
• Russian True Orthodox Church
  • Vyacheslav, Metropolitan (2000–present)
• Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
  • Mefodiy, Metropolitan (2000–present)
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kiev Patriarchate
  • Filaret, Patriarch (1995–present)
• Macedonian Orthodox Church - Stephen, Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia and Metropolitan of Skopje (1999–present)

Old Believers not currently in Communion

• Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church
  • Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Russia - Oleg Ivanovich Rozanov (?-present)
  • Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Belarus - Pyotr Alexandrovich Orlov (2001–present)
  • Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Latvia - Alexy Karatayev (?-present)
  • Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Lithuania - Nikolay Pilnikov (2002–present)
  • Chairman of the Council of the Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church in Poland - Feodosy Novichenko (1993–present)
• Lipovan Orthodox Old-Rite Church - Leonty (Izotov) (1996–present)
• Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church - Korniliy (Titov) (2005–present)
• Russian Old-Orthodox Church - A. Alexander of Novozybkov, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (2000–present)

Oriental Orthodox

• Armenian Apostolic Church -
  • Karekin II, Catholicos of Armenia (1999–present)
  • Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia (1995–present)
• Coptic Orthodox Church - Shenouda III of Alexandria, Coptic Pope (1971–present)
• Eritrean Orthodox Church -Dioskoros (2005–present)
• Ethiopian Orthodox Church - Abune Paulos (1992–present) (Disputed by Abune Merkorios, abdicated 1992 but then recanted abdication)
• Indian Orthodox Church - Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan - Baselius Mar Thoma Didymos I (2005–present)
• Syriac Orthodox Church - Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (1980–present)

Anglicanism

Provinces of the Anglican Communion

• Church of England –

• Elizabeth II, Supreme Governor of the Church of England (1952–present)
• Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (2002–present)

• Anglican Church of Canada – Fred Hiltz, Primate (2007–present)
• Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui – Paul Kwong, Archbishop (2007–present)
• Episcopal Church in the United States of America –

• Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop (2006–present)
• George L.W. Werner, President of the House of Deputies (2000–present)

Continuing Anglicanism

• American Anglican Church – John A. Herzog, Presiding Bishop (1994–present)
• Anglican Church of Virginia – Larry Wilson Johnson, Bishop (2001–present)
• Anglican Orthodox Church – Jerry L. Ogles, Presiding Bishop (2003–present)
• Anglican Province of Christ the King – James E. Provence, Bishop (2007–present)
• Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas

• Anglican Church in America – President of the House of Bishops (2005–present)
• Anglican Province of America – Walter Grundorf, Presiding Bishop (early 1990s–present)
• Diocese of the Holy Cross – Paul C. Hewett, Diocesan Bishop (2006–present)
• Episcopal Missionary Church – Council Nedd II, Presiding Bishop (2005–present)
• Reformed Episcopal Church – Leonard W. Riches, Presiding Bishop (1996–present)

• North American Anglican Conference

• Anglican Episcopal Church – George Connor, Presiding Bishop (2006–present)
• Diocese of the Great Lakes – David T. Hustwick, Bishop Ordinary (2002–present)

• Orthodox Anglican Communion – Scott Earle McLaughlin, Metropolitan Archbishop (2000–present)
  • Orthodox Anglican Church – Scott Earle McLaughlin, Presiding Bishop (2000–present)
• Traditional Anglican Communion – John Hepworth, Primate (2002–present)

• Anglican Catholic Church in Australia – John Hepworth, Archbishop (1998–present)
• Anglican Catholic Church of Canada – Peter Wilkinson, Bishop and Metropolitan (2005–present)
• Anglican Church of India – Stephen Vattappara, Metropolitan Bishop (1990–present)
• Anglican Church in America – President of the House of Bishops (2005–present)

• United Anglican Church – Robert D. Parlotz, Archbishop and Primate (c.2001–present)
• United Episcopal Church of North America – Stephen C. Reber, Presiding Bishop (1996–2010)

Protestant churches

Baptist

• National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. - Dr. William J. Shaw, President (2003–present)
• Southern Baptist Convention - Johnny Hunt, President of the Southern Baptist Convention (2008–present) [1]

Lutheran

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) - Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop (2001–present)
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Susan Johnson, National Bishop (2007–present)
• Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad, Andres Taul, Archbishop of Canada (2007–present)
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia - Andres Põder (2005–present)
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland - Jukka Paarma, Archbishop of Turku (1998–present)
• Evangelical Church in Germany- Barbara Rinke President of the Synod (2003–present)
• Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Gerald B. Kieschnick (2001–present)
• Lutheran World Federation - Mark Hanson, President (2003–present)
• Church of Norway - Harald V of Norway, King of Norway (1991–present)
• Church of Sweden - Anders Wejryd, Archbishop of Uppsala (2006–present)
• Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), Mark Schroeder (2007–present)

Pentecostal

• Assemblies of God - George O. Wood, Assemblies of God Fellowship chairman (2008–present)
• United Pentecostal Church International

1. Kenneth F. Haney, General Superintendent, (until 2009)
2. David K. Bernard, General Superintendent (2009–present)

• Worldwide Church of God - Joseph Tkach, Jr., Pastor-General (1995–present)

Other

• United Church of Canada - David Giuliano, Moderator (from August 2006)
• United Church of Christ - John H. Thomas, President and General Minister (1999–present)
• Salvation Army - Shaw Clifton, General (2006–present)
• Seventh-day Adventist Church - Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (1999–present)
• United Methodist Church – Gregory V. Palmer President of the Council of Bishops (2008–2010)
• Worldwide Faith Missions – Johannes Maas, International President, (1982–present)

Other Christian or Christian-derived faiths

• Assyrian Church of the East - Mar Dinkha IV, Patriarch (1976–present)
• Ancient Church of the East - Mar Addai II, Patriarch (1970–present)
• Community of Christ - Stephen M. Veazey, President (2005–present)
• Christian Science - J. Thomas Black, Walter Jones, Chair, Nate Talbot, Mary Trammell, Vic Westberg (2005–present), Board of Directors
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) - Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2008–present)
• General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian) - Thomas L. Kline, Executive Bishop (2004–present)
• Iglesia ni Cristo –
  • Eraño Manalo, Executive Minister (1963–2009)
  • Eduardo V. Manalo, Executive Minister (2009–present)
• Jehovah's Witnesses –
  • Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses - John Barr (1977–2010), Samuel Herd (1999–present), Geoffrey Jackson (2005–present), Theodore Jaracz (1974–2010), Steve Lett (1999–present), Gerrit Lösch (1994–present), Anthony Morris (2005–present), Guy Pierce (1999–present), David Splane (1999–present)
  • Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania - Don A. Adams, President (2000–present)
• Kimbanguist Church - Simon Kimbangu Kiangani (1992–present)
• Members Church of God International - Eliseo F. Soriano, Presiding Minister (1977–present)
• Mita Congregation - Teofilo Vargas Sein (1970–present)
• National Council of Churches USA - Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA (2000–present)
• New Apostolic Church - Wilhelm Leber, Chief Apostle of the New Apostolic Church (2005–present)
• Providence Church - Jung Myung Seok (1980–present)
• Shakers - Sister Frances Carr (acts as Eldress and Trustee if not as leader per se as the group is egalitarian) (?-present)
• Swedenborgian Church of North America - Christine Laitner, President (2003–present)
• Unification Church - Sun Myung Moon (1954–present)
• Unitarian Universalist Association

• William G. Sinkford, President (2001-2009)
• Peter Morales, President (2009–present)

• Universal Church of the Kingdom of God - Edir Macedo (1979–present)
• World Council of Churches - Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (2004–2009)

Islam

Shia Islam

Note: It should be mentioned that in Shi'a Islam, apart from the Twelfth Imam currently in occultation, there are no religious leaders. The highest religious authorities in Shi'a Islam are the few marjas, or Grand Ayatollahs, who give their interpretation (ijtihad) of religious laws.

• Muhammad al-Mahdi - the current and final Shia Imam, thought to be in occultation.
• Ayatollah Sistani - One of the Grand Ayatollah's in Iraq, considered to be the leading Shia religious authority.
• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - The Supreme Leader of Iran and officially the Spiritual Leader of Hezbollah.
• Ayatollah Fadlallah - The only Grand Ayatollah in Lebanon. Often thought to be the spiritual leader of Hezbollah, a claim that Fadlallah and Hezbollah deny.
• Ayatollah Montazeri - The one-time successor of Ruhollah Khomeini.
• Ayatollah Bashir Najafi - One of the important Grand Ayatollah's in Iraq. Originally from Pakistan, he has spent almost his entire life in An-Najaf.
• Hasan Nasrallah, the current Secretary-General of Hezbollah.
• Bektashi Community - Haxhi Reshat Bardhi Dedebaba (1993–present)
• Ayatollah Muhammad Hussain Najafi - The only Marja in Pakistan.
• Allama Talib Jauhri - A leading and influential scholar in Pakistan.
• Maulana Sadiq Hasan - A leading and influential religious scholar in Pakistan known for his speciality in Fiqh.
• Kalbe Sadiq - Leading Shia cleric in India and the vice-president of the All India personal Muslim Law Board.
• Kalbe Jawad - A leading cleric in India.
• Professor Abdul Hakeem - A leading and influential scholar in Pakistan.
• Maulana Taqi Mehdavi - A young and a promising religious scholar in Karachi, Pakistan.

Sunni Islam

Note: It is important to mention Sunni Islam has no leaders as the term is understood in the Christian world. There is currently no caliph. Even when the caliphate was active it was not equivalent to a "Pope" or "Dalai Lama". In fact such a thing could well be deemed shirk in orthodox Sunni circles. The following people are mentioned to add Sunni content as they are leading figures.

• Al-Azhar Universityالأزهر الشريف - Muhammad Sayid Tantawy, Imam (?-present)
• India - Great grandson of Ala Hazrat Tajush Shariah Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qaadiri Al Azhari, Supreme Islamic Chief Justice of India or qazi ul Qudat fil Hind
• Jerusalem - Sheikh Ekrima Sa'id Sabri, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem (As a Grand Mufti he has a degree of legal authority in Sunni Islam without being its leader) (?-present)
• Egypt - Shaikh Ali Gomaa, Grand Mufti of Arab Republic of Egypt (?-present)
• Tunisia - Shaikh Kamal-u-Din Ja'eit, Grand Mufti of Tunisia (?-present)
• Uzbekistan - Shaikh Abdurahman Bakhromov, Grand Mufti of Uzbekistan (?-present)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - Shaikh Mustafa Ef. Cerić, Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina (?-present)
• Russia - Shaikh Ravil Gainutdin, Grand Mufti of Russian Federation (?-present)
• France - Shaikh Soheib Bencheikh, Grand Mufti of France (?-present)

Ismailism

• Nizari Ismaili - Karīm al-Hussaynī, Aga Khan IV (1957–present)
• Dawoodi Bohras - Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (1965–present)

Ahmadiyya Islam

• Ahmadiyya Muslim Community - Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (2003–present)
• Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement - Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha (2002–present)

Islam or Islam derived

• Nation of Islam - Louis Farrakhan (1978–present)

Jainism

• Federation of Jain Associations in North America - Mr. Anop R. Vora, President (?-present)
• Terapanthi Jains- H. H. Acharya Mahaprajna (1995–present)

Judaism

• Cyprus - Arie Zeev Raskin, Chief Rabbi (2005–present)
• France - Gilles Bernheim, Chief Rabbi (2009–present) (elected 2008)
• Iran - Yousef Hamadani Cohen, Chief Rabbi (1994–present)
• Israel
  • Ashkenazi - Yona Metzger, Chief Rabbi (2003–present)
  • Sephardic - Shlomo Amar, Chief Rabbi (2003–present)
  • Leader of the Orthodox Ashkenazi Haredi non-Hasidic ("Lithuanian Jews") - Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (?-present)
• Poland - Michael Schudrich — Chief Rabbi (2004–present)
• Russia
  • Adolf Shayevich — Chief Rabbi recognized by Russian Jewish Congress (1983, officially since 1993–present)
  • Berel Lazar — Chief Rabbi recognized by Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and the Russian Government (2000–present)
• South Africa - Warren Goldstein — Chief Rabbi (2005–present)
• Turkey - Isak Haleva, Chief Rabbi (2002–present)
• United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations
  • Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth (1991–present)
• United States
  • Orthodox Union - Stephen J. Savitsky, President of Lay Leadership (2004–present)
  • Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative Judaism) - Rabbi Perry Raphael Rank, President (?-present)
  • Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox Judaism) - Rabbi Dale Polakoff (?-present)
  • Union for Reform Judaism - Eric Yoffie, President (1996–present)
• See List of Hasidic dynasties which lists each of the current Hasidic leaders or "Rebbes"

Note: The extent of the authority of these leaders varies from group to group.

Samaritanism

• Elazar ben Tsedaka, High Priest (2004–present)

Sikhism

• Sikhism - Joginder Singh Vedanti, leading figure (as the current Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib)

Other

Western origin

• Mandaeanism - Satar Jabar Helo (?-present)
• Yazidi - Prince Tahsin Sayid Beg
• W.A.P.I. Zoroastrians (Iranian Zoroastrians) - Areez P. Khambatta, Presdident
• Bombay Parsi Punchayat (Zoroastrian, generally orthodox) - Minoo Shroff, President (2003?-present)
• World Zoroastrian Organization - Sammy H. Bhiwandiwalla, Chairman (2004–present)

Indian subcontinent origin

Ramakrishna Mission

• Swami Gahanananda, 14th President (2005–2007)
• Swami Atmasthananda, 15th President (2007–present)

New Religions

Some of these new religions are classified as "sects" in several countries.

Eastern or Hindu derived

• Falun Gong - Li Hongzhi, Foundator (1992–present)
• Sathya Sai Baba - Sathya Sai Baba (?-present)
• Rissho Kosei Kai - Nichiko Niwano, President (?-present)
• Soka Gakkai - Minoru Harada (2006–present)

Speculative science derived

• Scientology -
  • David Miscavige, [2] President of the Religious Technology Center (1982–present), "highest ecclesiastical official of the Scientology religion" (1986–present)
  • Heber Jentzsch, [3] official president of the Church of Scientology (1982–present)

Other

• Universal Life Church - Andre Hensley, President (2006–present)

External links

• http://www.rulers.org/relig.html
• http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/
• http://www.faswebdesign.com/ECPA/ (Eastern Catholic Churches)
• (French) http://www.eleves.ens.fr/home/sray/seca/ (Byzantine structures and Oriental Catholic Churches)
• http://home.wanadoo.nl/arjen.nandita2/uhj-members-timeline.htm (Baha´i Faith, Timeline of members of the Universal House of Justice)
• http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=197 (Bogdo Gegeen)
• http://www.zanabazar.mn/Life/javzandamba.html (Bogdo Gegeen)
• (French) http://www.orthodoxie.com
• http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org