In a historic moment for the Episcopal Church, Sean Rowe, a 49-year-old bishop from western Pennsylvania, has been elected as the youngest person ever to lead the denomination. Rowe's election comes at a critical time as the church grapples with division and continuous membership loss, which he likened to the collapse of the steel industry in the Rust Belt.

Rowe, who currently oversees two small dioceses along Lake Erie, will succeed Bishop Michael Curry, the first African American to hold the position, on November 1st, following the end of his nine-year term. As the presiding bishop, Rowe will serve as the chief pastor, president, and CEO of the Episcopal Church.

The election took place in the House of Bishops, where Rowe secured a majority on the first ballot with 89 votes, while the other four candidates received scattered support. His election was then confirmed with 95% of the vote by the House of Deputies, consisting of clergy and lay people, who met in the Episcopal cathedral in Louisville.

Rowe's ascent to leadership positions began in May 2007 when, at the age of 32, he became the bishop of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Since 2019, he has also been overseeing the Diocese of Western New York. These adjacent dioceses, with less than 10,000 members combined, have been collaborating on ministries in recent years, showcasing the need for the church to adapt to changing realities.

Addressing the existential crisis facing the Episcopal Church, Rowe emphasized that it wasn't due to a loss of faith but rather the changing world around them. He urged the church to embrace the unknown and cited the need for collaboration, stating, "It's not too strong to say that we're facing an existential crisis."

The decline in membership numbers within the Episcopal Church is a challenge shared by many mainline Protestant denominations. Membership peaked in 1959 at 3.4 million, but by the time of Bishop Curry's election in 2015, it had fallen to 1.9 million. As of 2022, membership has dropped further to under 1.6 million, with an average Sunday church attendance of 372,952.

Drawing parallels to the collapse of the steel industry that deeply impacted his native Pennsylvania, Rowe acknowledged the challenges the denomination faces. He highlighted the need for greater grace and forgiveness among members and urged them to focus their anger on injustice rather than directing it towards each other.

Despite the uncertain times, Rowe offered reassurance, quoting Catholic monk Thomas Merton about the importance of embracing challenges with courage, faith, and hope. He also called for a reexamination of the church's structures and a redirection of funds and resources towards local and diocesan ministries.

Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Rowe holds a bachelor's degree in history from Grove City College. He obtained his master's degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2000 and completed a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership at Gannon University in Erie in 2014.

Bishop Curry praised Rowe's vision and understanding of the mechanics needed to navigate the church's challenges in a news conference following the election. The Episcopal Church now looks to Rowe as its youngest leader, hoping he will guide them through the existential crisis they face and lead them towards a renewed future.