The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe Elected 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
edited June 2024 in All Saints
The 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church, which is meeting in Louisville, has elected the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe as the 28th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. Story here.

Rowe is currently the bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and the provisional bishop of Western New York. At age 49, he is the youngest bishop elected presiding bishop in the Episcopal Church’s history. (He was elected bishop at age 32.)
Meanwhile, the 226th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) convened yesterday. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, committee meetings are happening (mostly) virtually. The Assembly will convene in plenary (and in person) on Saturday in Salt Lake City.


Comments

  • Do we know anything about his theology or anything?
  • I do not. (Although not an Episcopalian, I was very familiar with Michael Curry when he was elected, as I live in the Diocese of North Carolina.)

    Perhaps someone else does.


  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Is that the American equivalent of the Archbishop of Canterbury?
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    edited June 2024
    More or less, in the sense that the presiding bishop is the primate of the Episcopal Church. See here, from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church.”


  • I mean I’d like to assume he’s orthodox theologically in terms of you know the creeds and basic doctrines and things.
  • My understanding is that Bishop Rowe is a capable administrator and a theological moderate. He's not going to come out with any startling theological pronouncements that will alarm people, and would certainly meet @ChastMastr's assumption of being orthodox with regard to the basics.

    I'd expect more challenges from him with regard to organizational structures than with regard to faith. Are the particular structures we have the best way of serving the gospel?
  • I'd expect more challenges from him with regard to organizational structures than with regard to faith. Are the particular structures we have the best way of serving the gospel?
    From what I’ve read so far, it seems he’s making it clear that this will very much be his focus.

    The Episcopal Church is not alone, of course, in being faced with questions and challenges along these lines. The PC(USA) is having similar conversations, and I imagine other mainline churches are as well.


  • Nick Tamen wrote: »
    More or less, in the sense that the presiding bishop is the primate of the Episcopal Church. See here, from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church.”


    I would say more and less. The PB has a substantial bureaucracy in NYC with an impressive budget (which brings it great influence in poorer national churches), but has almost no influence in the election of bishops. Process is a very big part of how TEC makes decisions and a capable legislative manager of a PB can wield great influence. A very visible one (Jefferts Schori and Curry) may not have a lot of power within the church-- I wonder if PB Rowe will be able to somehow reform and redirect TEC's internal structures.



  • Nick Tamen wrote: »
    More or less, in the sense that the presiding bishop is the primate of the Episcopal Church. See here, from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church.”
    I would say more and less.
    A very appropriate friendly amendment.

    I wonder if PB Rowe will be able to somehow reform and redirect TEC's internal structures.
    As I understand it, he hopes to.


  • MamacitaMamacita Shipmate
    One of his first big decisions was to announce that his investiture as PB is going to be a low-key affair in NYC (where the central office is), no pomp and circumstance. And while that’s disappointing to a liturgy nerd like myself, it’s also a very wise decision and strikes me as setting the tone for the types of changes he will need to undertake.
  • Mamacita wrote: »
    One of his first big decisions was to announce that his investiture as PB is going to be a low-key affair in NYC (where the central office is), no pomp and circumstance. And while that’s disappointing to a liturgy nerd like myself, it’s also a very wise decision and strikes me as setting the tone for the types of changes he will need to undertake.
    This fellow liturgy nerd is similarly disappointed and impressed by the new PB’s plan.


  • There will be some smells and bells for you when he is installed at the National Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul.
  • There will be some smells and bells for you when he is installed at the National Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul.
    That’s the thing. His installation will not be at the cathedral. From Episcopal New Service: Presiding bishop-elect to forego installation at National Cathedral; scaled-back event to be held at church’s New York headquarters

    Granted, that article does make mention of a “seating” at the National Cathedral some time in the future.


  • Sorry, I should have said, Seated at the Cathedral.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    edited November 2024
    Bumping this thread to note that the investiture of the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe as Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church will take place tomorrow, Nov. 2, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) in the Episcopal Church Center’s Chapel of Christ the Lord. The service will be live-streamed here, and a recording will be available afterward.


  • Do you happen to know if there's an advance copy of the service leaflet available?
  • I couldn’t find one, and I did dig around looking for one. I’m assuming/hoping there will one with the live-stream and recording.


  • Me too!
  • The bulletin can be found here.

    We had a family gathering this morning, so I haven’t watched the service yet.


  • Thanks!
  • I’m not Episcopalian and I think the desire of the PB elect to save expense by not having it at the National Cathedral is praiseworthy, but…

    It is also cool that the chapel at the Church Center in NYC is visible to passers by on the street (I think?). It’s also not an ugly space, as far as modern church architecture goes.

    But I think maybe it might have been better to hold it in an ordinary parish in one of the countless beautiful traditional church buildings that fit with the brand that draws many (but not all) people to TEC. Maybe he is critical of that brand or thinks it is unsustainable? That might be interesting

    It doesn’t need to be an enormous church or in a particularly big or prosperous city, but maybe one with a congregation that is diverse in terms of age, socioeconomic status, and culture.

    I can’t criticize much because as I said I’m not Episcopalian or even Anglican. I do have a deep appreciation for Anglican liturgy and music though. And have sung in choir at three quite different Episcopal churches.

    One thing about “official” TEC events that I am not a fan of but that I’m sure there is a reason for is the tendency to hold Eucharist for conventions in convention halls at hotels or convention centers. It might be for some reason of cost or logistics, but wouldn’t it make sense to do it in a nearby Episocpal church?

  • But I think maybe it might have been better to hold it in an ordinary parish in one of the countless beautiful traditional church buildings that fit with the brand that draws many (but not all) people to TEC. Maybe he is critical of that brand or thinks it is unsustainable? That might be interesting
    I doubt he’s critical of that brand, though he well may think TEC shouldn’t be seen as confined to that brand. I assume the chapel was chosen simply because it’s the chapel in TEC’s national headquarters (where the PB’s office is), so this provided an opportunity for Episcopalians around the country to worship in that denominational chapel.

    It was also a “neutral” space, as it were, not belonging to a particular parish or diocese, but to the whole church. The only other place I can think of that fits a similar bill is Washington National Cathedral, where the PB’s cathedra is and where the investiture has taken place in the past.


  • As I recall, one stated factor in Bp. Lowe's decision on location was his desire for the event to have a smaller environmental footprint than what has been done in the past.
  • MamacitaMamacita Shipmate
    edited November 2024
    Sorry to double post, but here are some links that may be of interest. The service can be found here (the first hour is the roll call of dioceses, so fast forward if you want to get directly to the liturgy), and a transcript of the sermon is here .
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    When I saw it was in New York, I was quite surprised it wasn't held in St John the Divine - after all, it's about the size of a medium-sized town* ... :mrgreen:

    * apparently the two separate bits of the organ are actually in different postcodes.
  • Ex_OrganistEx_Organist Shipmate
    edited November 2024
    I

    One thing about “official” TEC events that I am not a fan of but that I’m sure there is a reason for is the tendency to hold Eucharist for conventions in convention halls at hotels or convention centers. It might be for some reason of cost or logistics, but wouldn’t it make sense to do it in a nearby Episocpal church?

    Not just TEC: the Orthodox often do the same. There seem to be two possible reasons. One is the logisitcs of moving a large number of people from the convention centre to a church some distance away and back again. The other is the size. Convention centre halls and hotel ballrooms are often much larger than a local church.
  • Thought I’d bump the thread, a bit belatedly, to note that the Presiding Bishop was seated at the National Cathedral on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation. Video can be seen here, and the bulletin found here.


Sign In or Register to comment.