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The Most Rev. Sean Rowe, the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. Dear People of God in The Episcopal Church: Among the Christmas Gospels, Luke is surely the crowd pleaser. Nearly our entire visual vocabulary of Christmas—the manger, the shepherds, the angels—comes from the second chapter of Luke. Thanks to Luke, we all know…

[Episcopal News Service] The Diocese of Easton Standing Committee released a statement Dec. 19 saying it will create a discernment committee to “determine whether our participation in God’s mission could be strengthened by collaborating or partnering with another nearby diocese.” The announcement comes as several dioceses across The Episcopal Church have agreed to or are…

[Episcopal News Service] It was the year a presiding bishop said goodbye – and the year The Episcopal Church said hello to a new presiding bishop. Episcopalians put the pandemic (mostly) behind them, yet plenty of uncertainty remained, regarding the church’s long-term membership decline, dioceses’ financial sustainability and a possible clergy shortage. And 2024 was…

[Episcopal News Service] Episcopal Church Chief Financial Officer Kurt Barnes plans to retire after 21 years, according to an announcement Dec. 19 by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe. In addition to chief financial officer, Barnes holds several other top positions in church governance and administration, including treasurer of General Convention and treasurer of Executive Council, which…

[Anglican Communion Office] The Most Rev. Anthony Poggo, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Dec. 19 released his Christmas message for 2024. Reflecting on the light of Christ and the transformative power of His love, the message highlights stories of faith, resilience, and reconciliation from across the global Anglican Communion. On behalf of everyone at…

One of the 16 colonial-era angel paintings being revealed at Old North Church, overpainted and hidden for more than a century. Photo: Old North Church [Diocese of Massachusetts] Through a painstaking and possibly once-in-a-lifetime paint restoration project underway at Old North Church in Boston, a host of colonial-era angels is coming into view, one by one, for…

[Episcopal News Service] The Church of England has offered a fuller explanation of the process that will lead to the appointment of the next archbishop of Canterbury by King Charles III. The seat becomes vacant on Jan. 6, 2025, when the resignation of the current archbishop, Justin Welby, takes effect. This process is led by…

[Anglican Communion News Service] On Dec. 13, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued a Christmas message that notes it comes ” in the midst of these dark days of continuing conflict and uncertainty in our region” while proclaiming the  the eternal Christmas message — “the birth of our Lord Jesus in…

[Episcopal News Service] A month after Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said he would resign over his handling of a sprawling abuse scandal in the church, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell is also facing calls to step down over a separate, unrelated abuse case. Cottrell, who is expected soon to take over temporary leadership of…

The Rev. Joseph Alaak (front row, center) gathers with family and other clergy after his ordination to the priesthood at St. Martha’s, Papillion, Nebraska, on Aug. 16, 2024. Photo: Diocese of Nebraska [Episcopal News Service] Life has been busy for the Rev. Joseph Alaak since his ordination to the priesthood in August 2024. He serves…