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.

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe preached the sermon during a Feb. 2 Eucharist at Washington National Cathedral celebrating the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The service also included Bishop Rowe’s ceremonial seating, a liturgy in the Book of Occasional Services.

Washington National Cathedral will host the ceremonial seating of the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe, the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, during its Feb. 2 Eucharist service. The 11:15 a.m. ET service will be livestreamed on the cathedral’s channels.