As Episcopal congregations and dioceses across the church plan local watch parties to celebrate the Nov. 2 investiture service of Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe, All are invited to tune in to the event webpage for the livestream link. The 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT, 9 a.m. MT) service will also be livestreamed to
The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page.
Downloadable materials are now available to support children’s involvement in the churchwide virtual ceremony, among other
online resources. The worship booklet will be posted the morning of Nov. 2.
Announced in June, the simpler, scaled-down service to welcome the 28th presiding bishop is ordered around a smaller carbon footprint and increased churchwide virtual participation. Nearly all dioceses sent in video greetings for a special “roll call” that will precede the service at 9:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. CT, 7:30 a.m. MT) and be livestreamed on the event webpage and The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page.
A recording of the service inside the Chapel of Christ the Lord in The Episcopal Church Center in New York City—which will include limited in-person attendees will be posted after the event and shared churchwide.
“This will be the first time in our history that we have installed a presiding bishop in this way,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry notes in a video invitation to the church. “We learned through the pandemic how to be the church embodied physically and how to be the church embodied in cyberspace.”
Congregations, dioceses, and individuals are encouraged to hold watch parties. Customizable invitations are available for download on the
resource page, which also includes a media kit with photos, biography, and statements by Bishop Rowe, as well as FAQs.
“Episcopalians and friends can join together wherever they are via the internet,” Bishop Curry said. “We are the church because the Spirit of God can move wherever the people of God are.”
Read past releases about the election and planned investiture of Bishop Rowe
.