Biography - Bishop Rutherford I Ralphovich Johnson-Roma-Rus'

H.A.H. Bishop Rutherford I Ralphovich Johnson-Roma-Rus' shepherds the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. He is an accomplished leader, educator, and clergyman with more than a quarter-century of international diplomatic and executive experience. Bishop Rutherford focuses on empowering others to build transformational collaborations while improving the quality of lives.

As a seasoned chief executive and compassionate clergyman, the Bishop is noted for his positive, metric-driven, people-centered approach that leads teams to exceed expectations, and for his unique personal ability to build donor relationships. For example, he regularly builds, mentors, and leads teams that provide invited expert policy advice to the United Nations General Assembly and Economic and Social Council regarding some of the most pressing humanitarian, economic, sustainability, and social issues the world faces today. Being a representative of an ancient ethnic-religious dynasty, he has also written and spoken extensively about the history of his church and family heritage. He also served as an Observer at a G20 Summit.

Throughout his service to others, Bishop Rutherford continues to prioritize authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering a sense of belonging for everyone. Characteristically versatile, he is experienced in government, diplomatic, and academic settings, turning challenges into opportunities. As Bishop of an ancient apostolic church and traditional culture, Rutherford leads many Christians around the world. His influence goes beyond just the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, reaching individuals across denominational lines. The United Roman-Ruthenian Church serves people around the world, regardless of race, nationality, or religious affiliation.

Bishop Rutherford’s approach adapts to the circumstances and needs of the organization and others to achieve maximum team effectiveness and optimal benefit to stakeholders. His leadership has brought several organizations to global prominence. As an educator, he works to bring the best out of his students, preparing them for success beyond the classroom.

Bishop Rutherford is also a behavioural scientist, specialising in behavioural and psychological economics. His diverse training and education includes degrees from Harvard University Extension School, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, as well as from Pontifical Georgian College, the principal seminary of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church. Having lived and worked around the world, he maintains a global outlook and a human focus.

A popular international speaker, consultant, and author, the Bishop’s academic research interests include environmental and social sustainability, behavioral economics, and the economics of culture and religion. Bishop Rutherford is a retired high-altitude alpine mountaineer and is a qualified mariner with additional certifications in navigation and maritime search and rescue. H.H. is married to Dame Hanna Alexandrovna.

As Prince-Bishop and Papa-Catholicos of Rome-Ruthenia, Bishop Rutherford is 266th in succession from St. Peter the Apostle as Prince of the Romans, 74th Grand Duke and titular Korol of Ruthenia, 142nd in Gallican-Antioch succession from St. Peter, 169th in Greco-Russian succession from St. Andrew the First-Called, 145th in Armenian succession from Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, and 116th in Syrian-Antioch succession from St. Thomas the Apostle. Although he neither controls nor seeks to control political territory, the Church he leads is a sovereign state unto itself and has special status with the United Nations.

The P.I. Household is the ecclesiastical heir to the Old Russian House of Rurikovich and its branch of Romanovich, and the Spanish-Italian House of Ivrea. And, the United Roman-Ruthenian Church is Orthodox with Old Catholic heritage, with ancient origins in the Apostolic era. It is the successor to St. Leo X, the temporal successor to St. Peter the Apostle, and the successor to the See of St. Mark the Apostle at Aquileia. Also, the Church is a successor to St. Aftimios Ofiesh, himself the direct successor to St. Raphael as Russian Orthodox Bishop of Brooklyn. The Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia is also the direct successor to St. Edwin Caudill, Apostolic Founder and Confessor.

Note: H.H. Bishop Rutherford I and the P.I. Household, as a matter of their
own policy, are not involved and do not seek to be involved in the governance,
political parties, or politics of any current civil government in any nation.