For the past few weeks, we have prayed for “Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe” during the Prayers of the People rather than for Presiding Bishop Michael Curry as we have for the past nine years. For many of you “Presiding Bishop” probably conjures an image of some lofty person who holds an office far away. For me, we’re praying for my dear friend and colleague of over 20 years, Sean. I met him at the 2003 General Convention when he was a 28-year-old new Deputy, and I was the Vice Chair of the Canons Committee. Sean was born the year I graduated from high school; a fact I rarely let him forget. We’ve served together at the church wide level on serious matters of governance, structure, canons, and postponing General Convention due to COVID. Sean’s intellect is formidable and his sense of humor as dry as a desert.
After his election in June in Louisville, he spoke to those gathered and to the whole Church. If you want to be inspired about the future of the Church, I’d encourage you to watch his remarks here.
In his first sermon as Presiding Bishop-elect a few days later he said the Church “needs to be ready to tolerate uncertainty, make sacrifices and think differently about how the church should work so it can better share the Gospel of Jesus with a world that needs to hear it.” You can watch or read that sermon here.
Sean becomes Presiding Bishop at midnight on All Hallows Eve (Halloween). On Saturday, November 2nd at 10:00 a.m. central time, with music starting at 9:00, a liturgy of investiture will be held in the small chapel at the Church’s New York City offices. You can join the celebration of this once a decade event via live stream. You might even see me in the background! Here is the link to information about the service.
For nine years he will head the Church which stretches from Europe to Hong Kong and from the Canadian border to Ecuador. Challenges abound in every corner. I couldn’t be more excited that it is my old friend and colleague who will be leading us and honored that he has asked me to help him as his senior advisor and legal counsel.
