UPDATED: Keith Chen-Cheng Lee elected seventh bishop of Taiwan

Left to right: Hawai’i Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick, the Rev. Keith Chen-Cheng Lee and Taiwan Bishop Lennon Yuan-Rung Chang. Lee was elected to succeed Chang as bishop of Taiwan on May 9. Photo: Taiwan Episcopal Church/Facebook

[Diocese of Taiwan] The Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan elected the Rev. Keith Chen-Cheng Lee, rector of Good Shepherd Church, Taipei, as its seventh bishop on May 9, 2026, at the diocesan convention held at a Roman Catholic retreat center in Taichung.

One of three nominees, Lee was elected on the fourth ballot. Thirteen clergy votes and 27 lay votes were necessary for election on that ballot; Lee received 14 clergy votes and 27 lay votes.

The other nominees were the Ven. Lily Ling-Ling Chang, rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Taichung, and Rev. Simon Tsai-Shin Tsou, rector of St. Peter’s Church, Chiayi. The Episcopal observer was the Rt. Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick, bishop of Hawaiʻi.

Lee, 49, is married to Sindy Hsin-Yi Yeh, a church musician, and they have two children aged 20 and 17, both in full-time education. Lee graduated from Tainan Theological College with a Bachelor of Arts in social work in 1999 and a Master of Divinity in 2002. Growing up in Taiwan’s southern city of Kaohsiung, in a large extended Presbyterian family speaking Taiwanese, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, Lee’s early experiences accompanying his father as he taught music and trained church choirs led to his great interest in church music.

In 2001, Bishop David J. H. Lai became bishop of Taiwan; one of Lai’s major concerns was a lack of young Episcopal clergy to take the church forward into the new century. Each semester, Lai would be invited by Tainan Theological College to preside at a BCP Holy Eucharist in the college chapel and to share with the students. Through this and with his father’s support, Lee felt called to transfer to the Taiwan Episcopal Church and was confirmed in 2002.  After two years of training, he was ordained a deacon in 2004 and a priest in 2005.  Assigned to serve at St. Peter’s Church, Chiayi from 2004-2011, one of the highlights for Lee was the time spent with Bishop John C. T. Chien (bishop of Taiwan 1988-2001), who had returned to his hometown of Chiayi in his retirement. Chien became a role model for Lee’s ministry as a church leader.  “Even though he was a bishop, he was more like a father, friend and elder to me.  I, too, strive to be always open to everyone, and to treat all with the same level of respect and impartiality.”

Lee’s childhood experiences of speaking Japanese and his three months in 2016 spent in Taiwan’s companion diocese of Osaka, Japan, have helped deepen the diocesan relationship with the Japan Anglican Church NSKK. He says, “Our churches face similar challenges; we have so much to learn from each other, and I hope this close partnership can continue to be a blessing to us all.”

Reflecting on these last seven years working with Bishop Lennon Y. R. Chang, including almost five years serving as an archdeacon, Lee says, “Bishop Chang’s passion for outreach and his love for the church inspire me to continue his legacy sharing the Gospel and helping the Taiwan Episcopal Church become more self-reliant, with a long-term goal of one day becoming an independent province within the Anglican Communion”.

Chang retires in April 2027, and pending consent of the majority of The Episcopal Church’s bishops and standing committees, Lee will be ordained and consecrated as bishop of Taiwan on Nov. 7, 2026, with Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe as chief consecrator.

The Diocese of Taiwan is part of Province VIII of The Episcopal Church.