Sean Rowe

[2][3][4] Ordained as a priest in 2000, Rowe served for 7 years as rector for St. John's Episcopal Church in Franklin, Pennsylvania and was ordained and consecrated as the 8th Bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania in September 2007,[5][6] a position in which he remained for 17 years before succeeding Michael Curry as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in November 2024.

[4] He was active in the boy scouts and was elected class president in his final year at Hickory High School in Hermitage.

[17] Following consultations across the region,[17] both standing committees approved an arrangement to "share a bishop and staff for five years while exploring a long-term relationship".

[20] On April 2, 2024, Rowe was announced as a candidate to succeed Michael Curry as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, at the election to be held at the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 26, 2024.

[21] Meeting at Christ Church Cathedral, Louisville, the House of Bishops elected Rowe with 89 of 158 votes cast on the first ballot.

[2][3] In a break with tradition, Rowe announced that his installation would be held at the Episcopal Church's headquarters in New York, rather than at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.[22] The scaled-down service, intended to reduce the event's carbon footprint, took place on November 2, 2024, at the Chapel of Christ the Lord in the Episcopal Church Center, and was attended by Rowe's predecessors, Michael Curry and Katharine Jefferts Schori.

[23] It contained prayers, readings and hymns in English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic, Hebrew and other languages,[24] and in his sermon, based on the story of Lazarus of Bethany, Rowe emphasized the importance of supporting the ministries at the congregational and diocesan levels.

"[27] On January 9, 2025, Rowe officiated at the state funeral of President Jimmy Carter, held at Washington National Cathedral.