Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Just two weeks ago, in our reading from Hebrew scripture, we heard the story of Samuel’s search for a new king for Israel. Samuel had some ideas about the future king’s appearance, experience, and age. He met all of Jesse’s sons and each time he was about to select one of them, God interrupted the process, saying to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

This week at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York, was elected and confirmed the 28th Presiding Bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church on June 26 for a nine-year term beginning in November. Rowe was chosen from among five nominees on the first ballot by a clear majority. All of the nominees already bring great gifts to the Church, but only one can be the presiding bishop.

Rowe, 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. Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Rowe 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.

Known for his research and work on organizational learning and adaptive performance in the church, Rowe serves as parliamentarian for the House of Bishops and the Episcopal Church Executive Council; chair of the Episcopal Church Building Fund; and as a member of the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, and Constitution and Canons. He also serves on the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable. In 2018, he became the first bishop to serve on the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church. Rowe is married to Carly Rowe, a Christian educator; they have a daughter named Lauren.

Rowe was the youngest Episcopal priest in the U.S. when he was ordained in 2000 at age 24, and he was the youngest member of the House of Bishops when he was ordained and consecrated at age 32. He is now the youngest bishop ever elected to serve as the church’s presiding bishop.

Bishops are not kings; they are humble leaders in God’s Church. Hearing the story of the anointing of David as king, hearing the story of a General Convention peacefully gathering in prayer to discern and to elect their next leader, we see how God continues to build the Church through the ages, joining us together in unity of spirit.

May the people of God in the scripture, in our parish, in our diocese, and in the Episcopal Church show unity of spirit, choosing heart over appearance, to a world so in need of this example.