Prior is a graduate of Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. In 1987, he received his Master of Divinity from Church Divinity School of the Pacific, located in Berkeley, California. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in October 2014.
He was elected on October 31, 2009 to succeed James L. Jelinek and was ordained and consecrated on February 13, 2010. From there he worked as the Director of and Development for the Diocese of Spokane and also was Executive Director of Camp Cross, a church-run camp on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene. He was reelected to that position in 2009, but gave up that post to join the House of Bishops.
A month after his consecration as Minnesota’s Bishop, Prior helped lead the Freeman High School Scotties girl"s varsity basketball team to their first state championship.
Freeman is a K-12 grade school in Rockford, near Spokane, with fewer than 1,000 students. Prior coached the team for about six years.
Prior has been married to Staci Hubbard Prior for more than 25 years. Prior is listed as a “Notable Person” in his hometown of Prosser, Washington.
Brian Prior was elected IX Bishop of Minnesota at Diocesan Convention on Saturday, October 31, 2009.
He was Ordained and Consecrated on February 13, 2010. He currently serves on the Church Pension Fund Board of Trustees. In Minnesota, the Bishop also serves as Board Chair of Shattuck-Saint Mary's School and Board Chair of Breck School.
