The Episcopal Church
We must commit to creating a Beloved Community in which we can disagree without shaming or blaming or tearing each other apart.
By God’s grace…
Overview
The Episcopal Church is rooted in The Book of Common Prayer, 75% of which comes directly from the words of Scripture. Our common worship brings us together, creating space for all kinds of people to worship God, love one another and serve as the hands and feet of Jesus.
While we offer the historic sacraments of the church (baptism, communion, confirmation, ordination, marriage, anointing with oil & reconciliation of a penitent), the Episcopal Church and its clergy do not view ourselves as gatekeepers or rule enforcers who get to determine who is worthy to take part. All people are welcome into the waters of baptism, at God’s table, to make their faith their own, celebrate their love in marriage, ask God for healing and strength, pursue one’s calling and share with another human being their shortcomings and experience God’s forgiveness. One way this posture is expressed is in ordaining LGBTQIA+ people to be deacons, priests and bishops.
Our Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe
"faithful Episcopalians gather day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, to worship God, to celebrate and mourn…and to care for God’s people"
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The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe
The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe was elected presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church in June 2024 and took office on Nov. 1 for a nine-year term. In this role, he serves as the church’s chief pastor and CEO. Known for his expertise in organizational learning and adaptive change, Rowe is committed to strengthening support for local ministry and mission.
He was ordained bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 after serving as rector of St. John’s in Franklin, Pennsylvania, for seven years. From 2014 to 2018, he served as bishop provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, and from 2019 to 2024, he led a partnership between the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York.
Rowe holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Grove City College, a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership from Gannon University. He has served as a leader of many civic and churchwide organizations and governance bodies, and as parliamentarian for the House of Bishops.
God loves us for who we are and just as we are.
Presiding Bishop Rev. Sean W. Rowe
The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, made up of 80 million Christians in 165 countries around the world. Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world share many aspects of their traditions and ways of worship. But there is diversity too – often even within a diocese. Anglicans and Episcopalians have always worked and worshipped together across national borders to support each others’ lives and ministry.