Bio: The Reverend Canon Willie (“Will”) H. Mebane, Jr.

Canon

Will Mebane was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. His spiritual journey began in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion and Baptist Churches – the denominations of his mother and father respectively. He found his way to The Episcopal Church in his late teen years as a result of the anti-war activities of Episcopal Peace Fellowship. He was mesmerized by the liturgy of the Church and found himself stimulated and challenged by the sermons. Will was subsequently baptized, confirmed and joined Saint Titus’ Episcopal Church. He had wrestled since childhood with a call to ordained ministry and entered a formal discernment process just short of his 50th birthday. He was accepted into Yale Divinity School and earned his Master of Divinity along with an award for excellence in preaching. He received a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale at that same time.

Will studied in programs accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. He completed an internship at Hartford Hospital and residency at Bridgeport Hospital. He was certified CPE supervisory candidate while affiliated with Griffin Hospital in Derby. Will served five years as a liturgical and pastoral care assistant to Christ Episcopal Church in Greenwich, CT where he began as seminarian. He was ordained transitional deacon in The Episcopal Church in 2009 and to the priesthood in 2010.

Will had an eclectic business career prior to entering seminary and ordained ministry. It included managing 50th Anniversary Celebrations commemorating the entry of Jackie Robinson into Major League Baseball, the 1995 Special Olympics World Games, and the 1998 Elton John World Tour. He is a founding board member and served as vice president of AMISTAD America, Inc. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he held positions with several radio and television stations. He also founded and operated a management, media and marketing consulting firm. His professional experience includes a brief stint as a hospital vice president.

Will has volunteered for nonprofit organizations addressing HIV/AIDS, affordable housing, refugee resettlement, the education of urban youth and other social concerns. He formerly chaired the Board of Education in Hamden, CT where he resided for 30 years until his relocation to Cleveland, Ohio. He is a former college and high school football referee, and high school basketball official.

Will joined Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland as Curate in 2009 and assumed the role of Canon of the Cathedral in 2011. He shares with Cathedral clergy in service as pastor, prophet and priest to the more than 900 individuals that gather there.  He works with clergy, staff and laity on neighborhood ministry, congregational life and social justice programs. Will is chaplain to the Wilma Ruth Combs Union of Black Episcopalians Chapter in Northern Ohio. He serves the Cuyahoga Mission Area Council (CMAC) as liaison to Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC) and is also a member of the GCC Strategy Leadership Team. Will serves on the Executive Committee of Diocesan Council and is on the Diocesan Convention Resolutions Committee of The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. He is a member of the board of directors of Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE).

He and his wife Paulette (aka “Ronnie”), a registered nurse affiliated with University Hospitals, have parented two sons during their near 40 years of marriage. Karreem graduated Yale Divinity School with Will in 2006 and is an adjunct professor with Albertus Magnus College and Southern Connecticut State University. Blair attended Morehouse College and works for Bridgeport Bluefish Baseball and Yale Athletics.