The Bishop of Arima:
His Grace, The Most Reverend Lord
Jerome 'Ephraim' Chandler
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His Grace, the Most Reverend Lord Jerome ‘Ephraim’ Chandler (affectionately known as Pastor J. to many of his parishioners), is a graduate of Computer Learning Centers for Network Administration and IT, and the Greater Northwest Bible and Training Institute. He was eventually ordained an Elder within the Church of God in Christ, Inc., serving as a Musician and Choir Director. During these influential years, he was mentored by Clergy from the Pentecostal/Charismatic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Independent Catholic circles.
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In 2005, Jerome Chandler would be joined together in holy Matrimony with his wife, Angela. He would eventually leave COGIC Inc and be received into the Oriental Orthodox Church. He was then ordained a Deacon then a Priest under Metropolitan Mor Cassianus Yuhanon Lewis of the Antiochian Jacobite Orthodox Church. At his ordination to the priesthood, he took the name “Ephraim” in honor and recognition of Saint Ephraim the Syrian.​
After some time, he was granted leave, converting to the Orthodox Catholic Churches of the West, joining the United Holy Caribbean Apostolic Church under the leadership of His Beatitude Patriarch Trevor ‘Elihu’ Greene, the Patriarch of the West Indies. Upon entry, he was incardinated and made Archpriest of the newly established Diocese of Detroit and Arima. The Diocese would later be renamed “The Diocese of Arima”.
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Father Ephraim would establish Saint Thomas the Apostle Church in Detroit, Michigan; it would eventually be renamed Transfigured Church an become the cathedral seat of the Diocese. He was selected and assigned to work in the Department of Ecumenical Relations and soon become the department's Director. On May 22nd, 2021, His Grace was consecrated as the first ever "Bishop of Arima, Trinidad and Tobago" at the hands of the Patriarch.
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His Grace Lord Jerome ‘Ephraim’ and the Reverend Sister Angela Chandler have three children (three biological, two adopted, all loved), each keeping the couple quite busy. His wife the Reverend Sister Angela, an ordained Deaconess in the Diocese of Arima, is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors in Accounting, and a graduate of Devry University with a Masters in Accounting. She is also a graduate of the Geraldine Marvell Miller Wright Institute for Women in the Ministry.