Episcopalians from 13 counties in northwestern Pennsylvania will meet in Erie to elect their new bishop.
The leader they choose will become the ninth bishop of the Erie-based Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania and the first woman to hold the position, if all goes as expected. She will replace the Most Rev. Sean Rowe. He served for 17 years as bishop of the diocese that includes 31 congregations, leaving when he was elected head of the U.S. Episcopal Church.
A nine-member committee has been leading the search for a new local bishop. Applications were received earlier this year and a slate of three candidates was announced. Meet-and-greet events were held with the candidates, during which they responded to a variety of questions.
“We were very pleased by the number of applications and grateful for the interest across the nation in our diocese,” the Rev. Melinda Hall, dean of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie and chair of the search committee, said via email. “The search committee is delighted by the three talented candidates on our slate, and we are excited to see who is called to serve here as our next bishop.”
Why is a new bishop needed?
Rowe was elected bishop of the Erie-based Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 after serving as a rector in Franklin. He was elected as presiding bishop and primate of the 1.4-million member Episcopal Church in 2024.
Who are the candidates?
The final slate of candidates to replace Rowe includes:
The Rev. Jenifer Chatfield has been rector of St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church in San Marino, California, in the Diocese of Los Angeles since March 2020. Chatfield also has worked as an actress, singer and voiceover artist in television, film and theater.
The Rev. Stacey Fussell has been rector of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Bradford in the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania since 2010. Fussell came to Pennsylvania after serving churches in Texas and is the adoptive mother to two children.
The Rev. Molly Payne-Hardin has been rector of Trinity Church in Watertown, New York, in the Diocese of Central New York since 2019. Payne-Hardin is a married Florida native with experience in marketing communications and public affairs in state government.
Hall said no additional nominations for the position will be accepted.
What’s next?
The diocese will hold a special electing convention on Aug. 8 at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul, 134 W. Seventh St.
A new local bishop is expected to be chosen at that time by clergy and lay delegates representing each congregation.
The new bishop will be consecrated in Dec. 12 at the cathedral.
