Disciple: RECAP: The 81st General Convention

The 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church took place June 23-28 in Louisville, Kentucky. It marked the first convening of General Convention under a new format, with much of the legislative work being done online in the months leading up to the gathering, allowing the in-person portion of General Convention to run seven days.

There was still a great deal of excitement, celebration, commemoration and news packed into those seven days, as the business of The Episcopal Church was conducted and the next steps for our collective journey put in place.

[Image: The Rev. Kevin Matthews, Bishop Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, the Rev. Rebecca Yarbrough, the Rev. Jacob Pierce, Megan Carlson, Bishop Anne Hodges-Copple, Brian Duggan, Bishop Sam Rodman, the Rev. Canon Kathy Walker, and, seated, Alice Freeman, Martha Alexander and the Rev. Sara Ardery-Graves represented the Diocese of North Carolina at the 81st General Convention. Photo by Christine McTaggart]

ELECTION OF THE 28TH PRESIDING BISHOP

As expected, the election of the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church was the marquee event of the 81st General Convention. On Wednesday, June 26, the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe was elected by the House of Bishops on the first ballot and confirmed by the House of Deputies shortly thereafter.

He was one of five nominees, joined on the slate by Bishop J. Scott Barker, Diocese of Nebraska; Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe, Diocese of Central New York; Bishop Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez, Diocese of Pennsylvania; and Bishop Robert Wright, Diocese of Atlanta.

As reported by Episcopal News Service (ENS), “The presiding bishop has a range of responsibilities, as outlined by The Episcopal Church Constitution and Canons. Those include presiding over the House of Bishops, chairing Executive Council, visiting every Episcopal diocese, participating in the ordination and consecration of bishops, receiving and responding to disciplinary complaints against bishops, making appointments to the church’s interim bodies, and ‘developing policies and strategies for the church and speaking for the church on the policies, strategies and programs of General Convention.’”

Rowe currently serves as bishop of the Diocese of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of the Diocese of Western New York. He was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Grove City College, a master of divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership from Gannon University.

Rowe is the youngest bishop ever to be elected to serve as presiding bishop; however, it is not the first time his age has served as a distinction. He was the youngest Episcopal priest in the United States when he was ordained in 2000 at age 24 and the youngest member of the House of Bishops when he was ordained and consecrated at age 32. Rowe, now 49, was ordained bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 and became bishop provisional of Western New York in 2019. From 2014 to 2018, he served as bishop provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. In addition to his bishopric duties, Rowe served as the parliamentarian for the House of Bishops and Executive Council.

[Image: Former Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry after Rowe’s election. Photo by Randall Gornowich/The Episcopal Church]

In his remarks to the House of Deputies following his confirmation, Rowe said, “It’s not too strong to say we’re facing an existential crisis…because the world around us is changed and continues to change and is changing all the time. God is calling us ever more deeply into the unknown…. We know that we cannot continue being The Episcopal Church in the same way, no matter where we live…. It’s time to reorient our church…to support dioceses and churches on the ground, where ministry happens.”

Rowe’s nine-year tenure begins November 1, with his installation taking place the following day. The installation is already a noteworthy event, as only two days after the election, it was announced that the installation would be a scaled-down affair, foregoing the traditional service at Washington National Cathedral for a small, simple ceremony in the chapel at The Episcopal Church headquarters in New York.

“With gratitude to all involved, I have decided to begin this ministry in a new way,” Rowe said in the announcement. “With a simple service at the Church Center that will include everyone via livestream, we can care for God’s creation by reducing our collective carbon footprint. I have great respect and admiration for the ministry of Washington National Cathedral. My seating will take place in the following months, and I am grateful to Dean Hollerith and the cathedral staff as we plan for that event.”

Rowe will succeed the Most Rev. Michael Curry, the current presiding bishop. At the press conference, Rowe said it was an honor to follow Curry, “who has brought life to this church and a kind of energy and a focus on Jesus and the Gospel in a way that we’ve not seen in a generation.”

Rowe also noted he looks forward to the opportunity to “usher this church into whatever it is being called into in this next phase and season of life.”

"We don’t exactly know what that is or what it looks like,” he said. “What we know is that God is in the midst of it and that love is the way, and if we continue to live and move ever more deeply into those ways that the world can be transformed around us in Jesus.”

Watch Rowe’s sermon at the 81st General Convention’s Closing Eucharist at bit.ly/GC81ClosingEucharistRowe.

ADDITIONAL ELECTIONS

Though it garnered the most attention, the election of the 28th Presiding Bishop was not the only election to take place at General Convention.

House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris was re-elected to a second three-year term. The first Latina to hold the position, Harris was elected at the 80th General Convention in 2022. Her election to a second term was a contested one, with House of Deputies Vice President the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton and former Executive Council member Zena Link also running. Harris was re-elected on the first ballot.

The Rev. Steve Pankey, a four-time deputy from the Diocese of Kentucky and rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was elected vice president of the House of Deputies. He was one of four candidates standing for election, and he was elected on the fourth ballot. With Harris’ election as House of Deputies president, only clergy were eligible to run for vice president, as The Episcopal Church requires that one lay person and one clergy person hold the top two positions in the House of Deputies.

[Image: Julia Ayala Harris was elected to a second term as president of the House of Deputies. Photo by Randall Gornowich/The Episcopal Church]

The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, was elected vice president of the House of Bishops. The House of Bishops is comprised of all active and retired bishops of the church and is led by the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.

Ten new members were elected to a six-year term on the 40-member Executive Council, the church’s governing body between General Conventions. The newly elected members are Heidi Kim, Diocese of Minnesota; Gerlene Gordy, Missionary Diocese of Navajoland; Warren Hawk, Diocese of South Dakota; Laura Russell, Diocese of Newark; Katie Sherrod, Diocese of Texas; Grecia Christian Reynso, Diocese of the Dominican Republic; the Rev. Lester Mackenzie, Diocese of Los Angeles; and the Rev. Stannard Baker, Diocese of Vermont.

SHIFTING DIOCESES

Several dioceses marked new beginnings in three separate celebrations throughout General Convention.

Perhaps the most emotional and joyous was the approval of the request by Episcopalians in Navajoland to become a missionary diocese. Now known as the Missionary Diocese of Navajoland, the new status allows the diocese to elect its own bishop, rather than having bishops appointed by the House of Bishops, as was done while its status was as an area mission. It may also create its own constitution and canons, be governed by its own standing committee, and elect its clergy and lay deputations to General Convention. Per the church canons, “The convention of a missionary diocese shall also adopt an annual budget and program for the diocese, and provide for the means of its administration throughout the year, and shall make provision for the review and approval of requests for grants in aid from the Executive Council or other sources of funds, both toward current operations and for capital needs.” As reported by ENS, “The proposed 2025-27 churchwide budget plan includes $800,000 over three years for a bishop serving Navajoland and an additional three-year block grant of nearly $1.5 million to support Navajoland’s congregations and ministries.”

The Diocese of the Great Lakes also came into being during General Convention when the Dioceses of Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan received approval of their request to merge. The request came following a five-year experiment that forged a formal partnership between the two dioceses, providing for the sharing of administrative resources and collaborative ministry. The unification was made official through a process known as “juncture,” and the Diocese of the Great Lakes will become official when it convenes as a diocese later this year.

In a similar vein, the Dioceses of Milwaukee, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire reunited to become the Diocese of Wisconsin once again. Created in 1847, the original Diocese of Wisconsin became three separate dioceses over the course of 80 years as the state grew. The reunification followed a three-year discernment process, during which the dioceses involved worked to identify ways to collaborate and cooperate. As reported by ENS, “[A]t the start of the 81st General Convention, Fond du Lac Bishop Matthew Gunter was the state’s only diocesan bishop, while also serving as bishop provisional of Eau Claire and assisting bishop in Milwaukee. He now becomes bishop of the reunited Diocese of Wisconsin, which will hold its first diocesan convention in October.” Because this process was a reunification instead of a juncture, the Diocese of Wisconsin became official immediately.

[Image: The Rev. Rebecca Yarbrough addressed the House of Deputies during debate on Resolution D031. Photo by Christine McTaggart]

RESOLUTIONS AND BUSINESS OF NOTE

More than 300 resolutions were submitted and processed in the lead-up to and throughout the duration of General Convention. Any and all may be accessed via the General Convention’s Virtual Binder. Some of the more prominent business items discussed include:

Updates to the Book of Common Prayer: A constitutional change defining the Book of Common Prayer was adopted. It now reads, “Those liturgical forms and other texts authorized by the General Convention in accordance with this article and the Canons of this Church.” This was the second vote in this direction, as affirmative votes at two successive conventions are required for a constitutional change. The new language was adopted as part of Resolution A072, which revises Article X of the church’s Constitution and Canons. Article X determines if and how the Book of Common Prayer may be amended, though its previous form did not address other authorized liturgies. Though conversation on the approach proposed by the resolution continues, its intent is to make it easier to update the Book of Common Prayer with more inclusive language, such as the addition of same-sex marriage rites and gender-neutral language, without having to create an entirely new edition.

Israel and Palestine: One of the most contentious conversations between the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops centered on resolutions about the ongoing war in Israel and Palestine. Resolution D013, a statement affirming the need for a Palestinian state separate from the state of Israel, became a focus on whether to include the word “apartheid” when referring to Israeli actions. The final version did not. Resolution D056, which calls for a ceasefire, carefully considered the inclusion of the term “ongoing genocide,” before settling on a call for prayers that the “conflict not end in genocide.” Conversation around resolutions was not the only presence of concern on the subject; two demonstrations and a Compline for Palestine took place as well.

Communion with the United Methodist Church: The Episcopal Church took the next steps in considering a full communion with the United Methodist Church. Resolution A049 allows for the exploration of full communion to continue. If achieved, the United Methodist Church will be the eighth church with which The Episcopal Church is in full communion, joining the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; the Moravian Church-Northern and Southern Provinces; the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, India; the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht; the Philippine Independent Church; and the Church of Sweden.

[Image: Megan Carlson spoke to the assembly about Resolution A079, the proposal to designate October 10 as Mental Health Sunday. Photo by Christine McTaggart]

Diocesan assessments and budget: Resolution C008 proposed the reduction of diocesan assessment to 10% by 2033, down from its current 15%. Debated extensively in the House of Deputies, the resolution was overwhelmingly defeated.

The $143 million budget, however, was adopted without amendment, though conversation in the House of Deputies called for greater funding of creation care initiatives.

The itemized budget is available at budget.episcopalchurch.org.

Title IV process: Another subject expected to be discussed at length at General Convention was revision to the Title IV disciplinary process. Reviewing the process is a regular occurrence, but in the year leading up to Louisville, questions arose as to the fairness of the process when bishops were involved, as the infrastructure was essentially peer driven. However, the 28 resolutions pertaining to Title IV questions and revision were passed in both houses or referred for more study. As reported by ENS, “Several of the resolutions proposed by the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons to improve accountability in the disciplinary process were passed. A053, for example, seeks to ensure the independence of the complaint intake officer, who should not also be tasked with providing pastoral care to complainants. A139 mandates an intake report be filed within 45 days of a complaint, while A140 mandates that a reference panel meet within 45 days of receiving the intake report to determine next steps. A054 clarifies the role and authority of the church attorney, and A055 clarifies the role of Title IV investigators.

“Although the Title IV Canons only pertain to clergy discipline, General Convention also asked the standing commission to study whether canonical changes are merited in response to disciplinary matters involving lay leaders, as specified in resolutions A146 and A147.”

Explore all resolutions at bit.ly/GC81VirtualBinder.

WORSHIP

As always, worship was at the center of General Convention. The night before the official start of General Convention, The Episcopal Church hosted a revival to celebrate both the church and Presiding Bishop Curry. Thousands gathered for a service that included joyous singing, dancing in the aisles and a sermon by Presiding Bishop Curry. North Carolinians from all three North Carolina dioceses were in attendance and easy to spot, as they were decked out in red revival t-shirts and seated front and center at the KFC Yum! Center.

The services that took place in the Louisville Convention Center were no less impactful and moving. Throughout the course of General Convention, the multicultural and music-infused services included sermons from House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris and Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe.

Available recordings of worship services can be watched at bit.ly/GC81Worship.

[Image: The Rev. Rebecca Yarbrough served as deacon during the Closing Eucharist of the 81st General Convention. Photo by Randall Gornowich/The Episcopal Church]

CELEBRATIONS

150 Years of Episcopal Women: The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) celebrated their 150th anniversary in Louisville with a party on the first night of General Convention. The celebration drew more than 200 people and included music, dancing, food and a photo booth.

At the ECW triennial meeting, outstanding women from each diocese were honored with a Distinguished Woman award. Diocesan archivist Lynn Hoke was honored from the Diocese of North Carolina not only for her contributions in this diocese but also for her decades-long service in many forms to the church.

Honoring the Philadelphia 11: July 29 was the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia 11, or the first women to be ordained priests in The Episcopal Church. This seminal event was marked by a special screening of “The Philadelphia Eleven,” the documentary that tells the story of this remarkable group of women, along with a special resolution that read, in part, “That the House of Deputies of the 81st General Convention celebrates the 50th anniversary of the ordination of the Philadelphia Eleven and the bishops that ordained them on July 29, 1974, and offers appreciation for their ministry and the ministry of all women in the Episcopal Church.” A separate resolution called for the commemoration of the Philadelphia 11 on the church calendar, to be celebrated annually on July 29.

Celebration of Presiding Bishop Curry: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry was celebrated throughout the 81st General Convention, with thanks given in a number of ways and spaces throughout the gathering. Perhaps none was more jubilant than his celebration at the Union of Black Episcopalians gala on June 21. The association traditionally hosts a banquet during General Convention, and this event was a tribute to Curry, whose tenure as presiding bishop ends October 31. The celebration included a “mock trial,” essentially a reverse roast, during which Curry answered lighthearted questions about his myriad accomplishments over the last nine years. (He was found “guilty” of all “charges.”) In addition to other speakers giving thanks for all Curry has done for the church, he was presented with a $10,000 check, which Curry said would be donated to Episcopal Relief & Development and Episcopal Migration Ministries.

[Image: Episcopalians from all three dioceses in North Carolina wore red shirts to the opening Love.Always.Episcopal Revival. Photo courtesy of Diocese of NC]

NOTABLE MOMENTS

On June 28, the Bishops United Against Gun Violence led a public witness in downtown Louisville. Bishops wore orange stoles, and members of Youth Working to End Gun Violence stood at the front of the procession with the bishops and carried the banner. The march began at the Convention Center and ended at Jefferson Square Park. Those gathered listened to youth speak about the impact of gun violence on their lives and their call to end gun violence. Several bishops spoke as well, and the gathered crowd prayed and sang as they bore public witness.

The public witness to end gun violence was not the only place youth were prominent and present. In addition to those attending with Youth Working to End Gun Violence, 18 high school students comprised the Official Youth Presence. Though they have seat and voice, they do not (yet) have a vote. They used those voices in legislative committee hearings and in debate on the House of Deputies floor, bringing a fresh perspective and insight into what matters most to upcoming generations of Episcopalians. Their dedication to the church was only reinforced by other youth present and serving as volunteers.

As the host diocese, the Diocese of Kentucky hosted Kentucky Night, a multitude of events staged throughout downtown Louisville that included food trucks along the way and a silent “Episco-disco” at Christ Church Cathedral, also the site of the House of Bishops gathering to elect the next presiding bishop. Disco became an unofficial theme of General Convention, an homage to the fact that Louisville is the only city in the United States where disco balls are produced, supplying 90% of disco balls worldwide. In fact, it was a disco ball trophy that was awarded to the best-decorated stanchion in the House of Deputies, won in Louisville by the three dioceses that reunited as the Diocese of Wisconsin.

Highlights still represent only a fraction of the action that took place in Louisville. Suffice it to say the 81st General Convention was a highly successful gathering that left those in attendance full of hope and enthusiasm for the future of The Episcopal Church.

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Additional GC81 Coverage

We give deep thanks to the communications team of The Episcopal Church and the news team at Episcopal News Service (ENS) for their comprehensive and generously shared coverage of the 81st General Convention.

View all available livestream recordings and photos at media.episcopalchurch.org/video.

Read all the coverage provided by ENS at episcopalnewsservice.org/tag/general-convention-2024.

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Learn More

As it’s not possible to recap every facet of any General Convention, we invite you to visit the General Convention page on the diocesan website on the General Convention page for links, resources, daily recaps, videos, headlines and more.

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The 82nd General Convention

The 82nd General Convention will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2027. Specific dates have not yet been set.