David Álvarez

Who is David Álvarez?

David Andrés Álvarez-Velázquez served as Bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Rico of the Episcopal Church of the United States, or "Iglesia Episcopal Puertorriqueña", succeeding the late Right Reverend Francisco Reus-Froylan, the first Puerto Rican to serve as Diocesan Bishop. He also served as acting Bishop in Cuba and is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Episcopal Church of the United States.

After serving as Vicar of Santa Hilda Church in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, and as Bishop Reus Froylan's administrative assistant, Alvarez-Velazquez was made Bishop Reus Froylan's Bishop Coadjutor of Puerto Rico on 20 August 1987 and Bishop of Puerto Rico on 3 December 1989.

During his years of service, he strengthened the Episcopal Church's role within the island's health services provider sector, expanding the church's hospital holdings from one hospital to three. The Episcopal health system will add one more facility when the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station hospital reopens under its management. Under his leadership, the Church ceased to be a separate national church within the world Anglican community and rejoined the Episcopal Church of the United States.