During a keynote conversation at the 40th annual Episcopal Parish Network conference in Kansas City, Missouri, this week, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe shared more details about the staff and structural changes taking place within The Episcopal Church. Watch the video of his talk with Eric Motley, deputy director of the National Gallery of Art.

Following yesterday’s churchwide announcement about Episcopal church staff realignment, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe provides further insight about the vision behind the changes underway.

Dear People of God in The Episcopal Church: On the day I was elected presiding bishop in June 2024, I told the General Convention: It’s time to reorient our churchwide resources—budgets and staff—to support dioceses and congregations on the ground where ministry happens. To build on what dioceses and diocesan partnerships already do better than the churchwide structure and use churchwide resources to strengthen those ministries.

Following is a lightly edited transcript of opening remarks by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe to the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting Feb. 17-19 in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.