One Church, Together.
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe’s Vision
The Most Rev. Sean Rowe began his term as the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church with a heartfelt investiture service on Nov. 2, held in the Chapel of Christ Our Lord in New York City. The intimate but festive ceremony was livestreamed to nearly 20,000 Episcopalians across the United States and beyond, with many joining from homes, churches, and dioceses to witness the service.
Rt. Rev. Michael Curry handing over to Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe
Nov. 2, 2024
Rowe’s two living predecessors, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori and the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, joined the event in person, celebrating Rowe’s new role. Curry, who concluded his own nine-year term on Oct. 31, brought a personal connection to Wisconsin to the ceremony: Years ago, as a young priest, Curry acquired a set of Stations of the Cross from The Cathedral Press, which was originally run out of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Fond du Lac. When Curry later visited Fond du Lac, he was gifted a new set of those same Stations, which he then brought to New York, establishing a special Wisconsin connection at The Episcopal Church’s headquarters.
Stations of the Cross from The Cathedral Press which was originally run out of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Fond du Lac
In his homily, Rowe emphasized a unified church rooted in local ministry, reminding attendees that the heart of The Episcopal Church is in its diocesan and congregational communities, where faithful Episcopalians gather to worship, grieve, celebrate, and care for one another. "We need to become one church, one church in Jesus Christ," Rowe said, urging the church to embody this unity in its ministries and to let go of outdated structures that may hinder its ability to respond to today’s needs.
The modest service, included readings and intercessions in a range of languages and welcomed guests from across the Anglican Communion and other faith traditions. Leaders including Anglican Communion Secretary General Bishop Anthony Poggo, as well as Jewish and Muslim representatives, spoke, reinforcing Rowe’s call for mutual support and collaboration.
““We need to become one church, one church in Jesus Christ”
Rowe, 49, brings experience in guiding adaptive change, having served as bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of Western New York. His message of “unbinding” resonated throughout the service, echoing Jesus' command to “unbind” Lazarus. "If we can be faithful in this work of unbinding, we will find that we can become the stewards God needs us to be," he preached.
One of Rowe’s early tasks will be overseeing a “structural realignment” to better support The Episcopal Church’s mission, with plans to reduce churchwide personnel costs by about 5% over three years. Yet, his vision for the church goes beyond administrative adjustments; he envisions a church that embraces its interdependence, sharing resources and ministries to make a greater impact together.
Rowe’s message of hope, mutual support, and the unity of “one church” reflects a path forward where dioceses, congregations, and individuals are encouraged to work collectively. As he begins his term, his words echo across the church, affirming that Episcopalians are called to engage together in ministry for a world that needs their witness.
We encourage you to watch Most Rev. Sean Rowe’s sermon by clicking the button below and join us in learning why, in Rowe’s own words, that “as we serve together over the next nine years, we will find ourselves again and again” identifying as the different figures in the story of Lazarus.
