Presiding Bishop Rowe addresses Church Club of New York, looks to church’s future
Presiding Bishop Sean W. Rowe speaks to the 139th Annual Dinner of Episcopal Connections, The Church Club of New York on April 27, 2026 (credit: Natalie Bero, anniewatt.com)
Presiding Bishop Sean W. Rowe brought his vision for the future of The Episcopal Church to one of the denomination’s oldest fellowship organizations Monday evening, delivering the keynote address at the 139th Annual Dinner of Episcopal Connections, The Church Club of New York. The gathering was held April 27 in the Parish Hall of Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan, itself a landmark of American Episcopal history.
A Leader Focused on the Future
Elected on June 26, 2024, and installed that November for a nine-year term, Bishop Rowe serves as the Church’s chief pastor and CEO. At 49, he is among the youngest presiding bishops in Episcopal Church history, having been consecrated a bishop in 2007 at the age of 32. Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and raised in nearby Hermitage, he comes from a working-class family with roots in steel and manufacturing, and previously served as bishop of the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York.
Bishop Rowe spoke to assembled lay leaders and clergy about the road ahead for the Church, drawing on his expertise in organizational learning and adaptive change and his ongoing commitment to directing churchwide resources toward local ministry and mission, supporting dioceses and congregations “on the ground where ministry happens.”
The Right Reverend Matthew Foster Heyd, 17th Bishop of New York, gave the benediction, along with the Reverends Philip A. Jackson, Rector of Trinity Church, who provided a greeting and invocation to the guests.
A Historic Setting for a Forward-Looking Evening
The Church Club of New York was founded in 1887 by J. Bleecker Miller, George Zabriskie, and John Brooks Leavitt, with Everett P. Wheeler serving as its first president. Longtime members included John Jay, grandson of Chief Justice John Jay, and J.P. Morgan. For nearly 140 years the Club has served as a vital hub for Episcopal fellowship and education, and in 2023 added the name Episcopal Connections broaden its reach while maintaining its inclusive spirit and focus on programmatic work.
“We are deeply honored to welcome Presiding Bishop Rowe to address our community,” said Emory Edwards, President of the Board of Trustees. “His visionary leadership and expertise in organizational transformation speak directly to the challenges and opportunities facing our faith community today.”
The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and integrated auxiliary of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Learn more at www.episcopalconnections.org.