Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on Oct. 19 presented publicly for the first time his sweeping, point-by-point strategic vision for The Episcopal Church, titled “Our Courageous Witness,” that combines Christian witness in the public square, greater support for dioceses and congregations, and structural and financial changes intended to sustain the church for years to come.

The 15-year framework, which is expected to guide a restructured triennial churchwide budget for 2028-30, was endorsed in a vote by Executive Council, the church’s governing and oversight body between meetings of General Convention. The council adopted the plan unanimously without discussion during a livestreamed session.

The council, attending a one-day meeting at the Episcopal Church Center in New York, had been one of a select group of key church stakeholders who had provided previous feedback to earlier drafts of the strategic framework, including at the council’s private retreat meeting in June in Puerto Rico. It has been in development by Rowe and his staff for much of this year, though many of its component details reflect changes that have been underway since Rowe took office as the denominational leader in November 2024.

Rowe spoke for about a half hour before the vote to detail some of the key components of the plan, which is not being released in printed form.

“We can be faithful to God in the here and in the now,” Rowe said in his presentation. “What does that mean for us? What does that mean for the church? How do we position ourselves to meet the needs of the time and God’s call on us now in this time and place?” Rowe then outlined the plan’s three strategic priorities — “ways in which we’ll reorient our work as a churchwide body toward the work of being the risen body of Christ in the world.”

The plan’s three priorities are “Witness: A Christianity Worth Proclaiming,” “Support: Capacity Where It’s Needed” and “Sustain: A Church Built to Last.”

Read it all at the Episcopal News Service