Decision by Pennsylvania dioceses to have separate bishops underscores Episcopal unwillingness to accept reality
- Charles Perez
- May 14
- 1 min read
ANGLICAN WATCH
May 13, 2025
The two Pennsylvania dioceses that previously shared Bishop Sean Rowe as part of a partnership agreement voted on May 3 to end their six-year collaborative effort. The announcement spells bad news for both dioceses. It reflects an unwillingness to face the reality that both dioceses are facing an existential crisis that will only get worse with time.
Soon after Sean Rowe was elected presiding bishop, the Dioceses of Northwestern PA and Western New York launched a study to assess the possibility of electing a new shared bishop. While the study identified some positive outcomes of the partnership between the two dioceses, it also found numerous challenges, including a lack of clarity over resource allocation, cultural differences, a yearning for the past, and lingering suspicion and mistrust.
Soon after, the dioceses voted overwhelmingly to end their partnership and pursue separate bishops.
Numerous challenges confront both dioceses.
Both dioceses have historically been small, and membership has plummeted in recent years. Indeed, the two dioceses had a collective 2023 average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 2,665, making them together roughly 60 percent the size of the average Episcopal diocese.
Back in the early 70s, I worked for the local newspaper in northwestern Pennsylvania, and for some reason I don't recall I found myself in the office of the Episcopal bishop there. I just remember him saying that the gay-marriage issue was emerging and that he didn't think the Episcopal Church would survive that if it continued to gain approval.