By Susan Sherrill Axelrod
On a day full of prayer and celebration, the Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe, bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of Western New York, was elected to be the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. The election, which was decided on the first ballot, took place during the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, where on Wednesday at mid-morning, members of the House of Bishops walked from the Kentucky International Convention Center to nearby Christ Church Cathedral to cast their votes. Their decision was made by noon, with the announcement held until after a lunch break, sparking much excited speculation among members of the House of Deputies (HOD), visitors, and the press.
When it was announced, the news was greeted with elation in the HOD, which confirmed the bishops' vote by a 95-percent majority. Here is what some members of the Maine deputation had to say about the presiding bishop-elect:
"I think a lot of people are excited about Bishop Rowe, his vision, and where he may take us. He clearly has a plan, and that's pretty exciting to see." - Deputy Sarah Ambrogi
"I think he's absolutely amazing. He doesn't do top down; he's a boots on the ground kind of guy; I'm looking forward to it." - Deputy Jane Van Zandt
"One of the things that excites me most about him is that he's our first GenX Presiding Bishop, and while I think every generation brings their gifts to the church, I think as we're asking 'what is God calling us into'—this new chapter in the Jesus movement—I think he's absolutely the right person to lead us into that conversation." - Rev. Kate Harmon Siberine
"The Episcopal Church can rejoice at the prospect of being shepherded by the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe. He possesses a clear understanding of the issues and choices we'll encounter as we continue to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. He is a strategic thinker, and most importantly, he's a person of profound faith and hope." - Deputy Margaret Porter
At 49, Bishop Rowe is the youngest presiding bishop ever elected, he was also the country's youngest Episcopal priest when he was ordained at 24, and became the denomination's youngest bishop at 32. He will begin his nine-year term on Nov. 1. Read more about the presiding bishop-elect and the election process here.
Photo by Randall Gornowich
In his address to the HOD, which you can watch here, Rowe expressed gratitude to his fellow nominees, stressed that a willingness to take risks and embrace change was key to the future of the church, and urged the HOD to "hold our structure lightly," with an eye on providing more church resources for dioceses, "where ministry happens on the ground." He suggested that the time between now and his installation on Nov. 1 be considered as "a kind of relational jubilee," where anger and resentments built up during the pandemic and post-pandemic years be forgiven "for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Rowe finished his speech with a quote from "Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander," by theologian Thomas Merton, who spent much of his life in Kentucky.
“In a time of drastic change one can be too preoccupied with what is ending or too obsessed with what seems to be beginning. In either case one loses touch with the present and with its obscure but dynamic possibilities. What really matters is openness, readiness, attention, courage to face risk. You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith, and hope. In such an event, courage is the authentic form taken by love.”
Bishop Rob walks next to Bishop Rowe on the way to Christ Church Cathedral, where the House of Bishops voted to elect the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. Photo by David Paulsen, ENS