Not All Churches in Western NY Ready To Reopen Just Yet

From Western NY-

Leaders with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown and those from other denominations are preparing, but are in no hurry, to reopen their church doors.

"Our number one priority right now is serving our communities; it is not about getting back into buildings. It's not a tragedy. It's a tragedy that people are dying in a pandemic," said Sean Rowe, bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Rowe is uniquely working with reopening guidelines across two states.

He says he'll plan to follow the science and let public health lead the way as he puts a reopening plan together for his churches that is appropriate and safe.

"We're going to hold ourselves to the highest standards in that regard. What it will look like in each place, and we believe that our local communers will be able to adapt," said Rowe.

More here-

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2020/05/21/some-churches-across-western-new-york-not-ready-to-reopen-their-doors-just-yet-despite-state-guidance-allowing-small-religious-gatherings

Episcopal Bishop suspends Sunday worship

From Erie PA-

Bishop Sean Rowe, leader of the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York, has suspended Sunday worship and other diocesan events effective immediately.

His jurisdiction includes the Erie and Buffalo metropolitan areas, including the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Bradford and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Olean, N.Y.

“The COVID-19 epidemic is spreading so quickly that I cannot in good conscience permit gatherings that could easily hasten the spread of the disease and contribute to the collapse of our health care system,” he wrote in a letter to the two dioceses on Friday.

More here-

http://www.bradfordera.com/news/local/episcopal-bishop-suspends-sunday-worship/article_28208b31-55fb-52fb-9dc0-0ba15f56080a.html

Religious, education leaders stand against racism at Buffalo Athletic Club, 1968

From Buffalo-

For the last 39 years, heading to the Buffalo Athletic Club meant you were heading to the gym. After the original BAC fell on hard times, the club’s majestic E.B. Green-designed home was renovated into a modern health club with exercise facilities for both men and women.

For decades before it was just a gym, it was a private men’s social club. Very private.

When Episcopal Bishop Harold Robinson was given an award by the Erie County Bar Association at a banquet held at the club, a group of Episcopal priests signed a letter protesting the prelate’s attendance, saying in part, “We are … concerned that any of our church's leaders can allow themselves to be honored at a reception in a club that segregates by membership and from an association that meets in facilities segregated by membership. This situation is deeply confusing when religious leaders are expected to provide the leadership and personal example in the most pressing of the country's domestic crises — the breakdown of communication and relations between black and white citizens.”

More here-

https://buffalonews.com/2019/09/11/religious-education-leaders-stand-against-racism-at-buffalo-athletic-club-1968/

From black water bathhouse to a church, a place for healing in Alden

From Buffalo-

The way Margaret Rose sees it, the building that is home to St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Alden serves the same purpose today that it has always served.

“It’s been a site of healing for 100 years,” said Rose, the church's warden and worship leader. “There may have been a doorway blocked off, a floor covered, but basically it looks very much the way it used to look.”

But looks can be deceiving. The building that is now a house of worship got its start in life as a much different kind of house: a bathhouse. It was built at a time black water transformed the rural village into a giant health spa, with three bathhouses operating and attracting visitors by the trainload who bathed in a mineral-rich elixir that was known as black water.

Alden will celebrate its bathhouse legacy Saturday when the Alden Historical Society continues to mark its sesquicentennial with a Black Water Day bus tour. The tour from 2 to 4 p.m. will trace the story of the 20th century bathhouse phenomenon.

More here-

https://buffalonews.com/2019/06/10/from-black-water-bathhouse-to-an-episcopal-church-a-place-for-healing-in-alden/

Pastor plants ‘seeds of hope’ for radio listeners

From Western New York-

Through “Seeds of Hope,” a segment aired on WECK Radio, the Rev. Robert Harvey is able to deliver a message that is both thought-provoking and uplifting for listeners.

Rev. Harvey, who has been with Calvary Episcopal Church in Williamsville since September 2017, started the “Seeds of Hope” segment in March with WECK Radio.

“I wanted to put a message of hopefulness and inspiration out on the airways mostly in a time when we seem to have so much terrible news happening all around us,” he said.

WECK 1230AM, 102.9FM and 100.5FM are local Buffalo radio stations owned and operated by longtime Buffalo broadcaster and marketing executive Buddy Shula. The radio station plays music from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

The “Seeds of Hope” segment runs seven days a week on the radio station, with new segments airing each Monday through Saturday.

More here-

https://www.amherstbee.com/articles/pastor-plants-seeds-of-hope-for-radio-listeners/

Olean pastors try to modernize Easter Sunday message

From Western New York-

Pastors also acknowledged that doing so is all the more important in an era of declining church attendance and Americans who are less religious than they used to be.

The percentage of American adults who identify as Christians dropped nearly 8 percent from 2007 to 2014 — from 78 percent to 71 percent, according to surveys by Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank. In that same time, according to the surveys, the percentage of American adults who are not religiously affiliated increased from 16 percent to 23 percent.

Such trends are often attributed to millennials. A 2018 Pew Research Center poll found that while 60 percent of adults 40 and over say religion is important to them, only 43 percent of people under 40 say the same.

“Hopefully the preaching could serve to activate people who’ve gotten away from the church and to attract people who haven’t been in the church,” said the Rev. Anthony Salim, pastor of St. Joseph Maronite Church. “Invite people back, and interest and attract people to be part of the community of the church.”

More here-

http://www.oleantimesherald.com/olean/olean-pastors-try-to-modernize-easter-sunday-message/article_0c35cea0-4097-5896-978e-b755165e5eca.html

New Episcopal bishop will serve WNY and NW Pennsylvania

From NPR Buffalo-

Western New York's new Episcopal bishop was installed Sunday. Bishop Sean Rowe was welcomed to St. Paul's Cathedral. Rowe will continue as bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania, sharing staff and doing some travel back and forth.

Rowe said e-mail will be very valuable because of the combined area of the two dioceses. Bishop William Franklin will be retiring soon and moving to New York City. That's why the new cleric is the "provisional" bishop.

At a reception, the new 44-year-old bishop could look around himself and see many Episcopals who are much older. The new bishop said he is going to head out into the marketplace of ideas and try to reverse the long-term decline in his church membership in this area.

More here-

https://news.wbfo.org/post/new-episcopal-bishop-will-serve-wny-and-nw-pennsylvania

From pets to the priesthood: Lane leads St. Philip's Episcopal into a new era

From Buffalo-

The Rev. Stephen Lane wasted little time stealing the hearts of the congregants at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, one of seven original African-American Episcopal churches in the country.

Lane cut the Sunday service from two hours to one, serenaded churchgoers with gospel music and hosted a chicken-waffle celebration for 300 in honor of Shrove Tuesday — unusual for a traditional Episcopal church. And the faithful of St. Philip’s are eating it up.

“Certainly, he is the best thing that has happened in a decade,” said Constance Eve, 86, a longtime member of St. Philip’s. “He’s fired up and he has vision and fresh ideas. He is Caucasian, but I wouldn’t care if he’s lavender. He is a gift to the community.”

Lane, 61, tells his story as he's probably done many times, but on this winter afternoon there’s an undercoating of glee making his words flow. Lane is seated in the study of his parish office. His new gig was unfolding as he always had thought it might, and if ever there were a match that seemed to be made in heaven, it may just be Lane and this church.

More here-

https://buffalonews.com/2019/03/09/from-pets-to-the-priesthood-lane-leads-st-phillips-episcopal-into-a-new-era/

Episcopal Diocese of NWPA Bishop to also take over the Diocese of Western New York

From NW PA (with video)-

The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania begins a new leadership role next month.

Bishop Sean Rowe will be doing double duty, not only will he lead Northwest PA, but also act as bishop of the Diocese of Western New York. 

Bishop Rowe will maintain this dual role for the next five years. The bishop has served the Episcopal church in Northwest PA since 2007.

Rowe says, "Fewer and fewer people are attending our churches on Sunday morning.  We know that we have to continue to make our message more relevant to reach people and that we have to do new things in order to do that.  And this is one step in that direction. "

More here-

 https://www.yourerie.com/news/local-news/episcopal-diocese-of-nwpa-bishop-to-also-take-over-the-diocese-of-western-new-york/1831433149

Western New York, Northwestern Pennsylvania ratify partnership

From ENS-

The Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York voted Oct. 26 to share a bishop and a staff for the next five years as they explore a deeper relationship focused on creating new opportunities for mission.

The move was formalized when Western New York elected the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania, for a five-year term as its provisional bishop. Rowe will assume the office upon the retirement of Bishop William Franklin in early April.
“History will judge us as to the right and wrong of the choice,” said Rowe, in a brief address before the vote was taken. “God? God will bless us in our faithfulness to the Gospel call—no matter our choice. And that’s all that matters.”

During the first three years of the partnership, the two dioceses will work together to deepen relationships and develop shared mission priorities. In October 2021, they will re-evaluate the partnership and in October 2024, decide whether to continue it.

More here-

https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2018/10/26/western-new-york-northwestern-pennsylvania-ratify-partnership/

Urbana native elected dean of Buffalo Cathedral

From Southern
Ohio-

The Rev. R. Derrick Fetz, a 2000 graduate of Urbana High School, will serve as the next dean of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Buffalo, New York (www.spcbuffalo.org), beginning in September. The Vestry, the top leadership body at the local level, unanimously elected Fetz after a series of interviews with prospective candidates conducted by an interview team.

After being asked to consider the opportunity, Fetz was drawn to the position because of the Cathedral’s commitment to making a difference in the daily lives of those who call Buffalo home, including the homeless and marginalized, its implementation of a variety of worship styles, its diversity among parishioners, its success in partnering with and attracting Millennials, its focus on inclusion and social justice, and its appreciation for choral music.

The cathedral in many Episcopal dioceses is the mother church and spiritual center of the diocese, holding many worship services and other events on behalf of the diocese. As a result, a dean of a cathedral works closely with the diocese’s bishop and her/his staff to plan and implement a variety of festivities, including major holiday services, ordinations, festivals and lectures. In addition, the dean oversees the day-to-day life of the Cathedral, its staff, and its programs.

More here-

https://www.urbanacitizen.com/news/64033/urbana-native-elected-dean-of-buffalo-cathedral

From WNY to Windsor Castle, preparing to preach at royal wedding

From Buffalo-

Josephine Robbins was sitting Monday in her parked car on the East Side, about to attend a friend's funeral at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church on Cedar Street, when her phone started buzzing. She picked it up and listened as the voice on the other end, a friend she has known and loved since he was a 10-year-old, kept apologizing, feeling badly she had not learned some monumental news from him firsthand.

"It's fine," she told him, moved by a deeper truth.
To Robbins, 83, it means everything that Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Bruce Curry took the time early in the week to call her at all. He is busy preparing a wedding sermon that will be heard Saturday by an audience that includes Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, a monarch who will almost certainly be seated close enough to catch his eye.

Curry, 65, is presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, the U.S.-based member church of the international Anglican Communion, whose mother church is the Church of England.


More here-

http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/15/sean-kirst-out-of-buffalo-on-to-preach-at-a-royal-wedding/

Church Treasurer fired for suspected embezzlement

From Western New York-

St. David’s Episcopal Church has fired its treasurer, accusing the former employee of stealing $55,000 from the congregation.

Leaders with the church in West Seneca are gathering documents to hand over to police.

St. David’s handed out a letter to members earlier this month to explain the firing.

“I would like to express how proud I am of our vestry members; and how incredibly grateful I am for the many hours they have spent applying their abundant gifts and talents to resolving these issues,” the letter said.

2 On Your Side reached out to the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York. A spokesperson said the diocese is confident its insurance will cover the bulk of the losses.

More here-

http://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/west-seneca/church-treasurer-fired-for-suspected-embezzlement/71-532606318

Bp. Franklin to Retire in 2019

From The Living Church (North West PA and Western NY merger?)-

The Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin writes to the Diocese of Western New York to announce his plan to retire in April 2019:

When I left on sabbatical in April, I said to you that one of the things I would be doing during that time was praying and thinking about my retirement as Bishop of Western New York.

I want to share with you that I have made the decision to retire on April 3, 2019, which is the date required by the current Canons of the Episcopal Church.

I count it as one of the greatest privileges of my life that I serve you and the Church as the 11th Bishop of Western New York. It is a joy and pleasure to walk closely with each of your congregations and to see the Gospel of Christ manifested in so many places and in so many ways in our region.

Update and correction by the Diocese of Western New York: “With the consent of both Standing Committees, Bishops Franklin and [Sean] Rowe [of Northwestern Pennsylvania] discussed with clergy a plan for the two dioceses to consider the possibility of a shared future.”

More here-

http://livingchurch.org/2017/09/18/bp-franklin-to-retire-in-2019/

Muslim community rallies to protest immigration, refugee policies

From Buffalo-

More than 100 people gathered in Lackawanna on Friday, holding American flags and signs protesting President Trump's immigration and refugee policies.

The event, which brought together a host of community, political and faith leaders, aimed to show support for those affected by the administration's revised travel ban.

Trump signed an executive order Monday that blocked citizens of six countries that are majority Muslim from entering the United States: Yemen, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Syria.

The changes have led to fear and anger for some in the Muslim community, including in this city of 18,000 -- where one-third of the population is composed of people who are first-, second- or third-generation in the United States from Yemen.

More here-

https://buffalonews.com/2017/03/10/muslim-community-rallies-protest-new-immigration-refugee-policies/

Buffalo-born bishop now leads U.S. Episcopal Church

From Buffalo-

The Episcopal Church has survived the storms that swept the denomination in the past 15 years and is moving forward, Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry said Saturday in Buffalo.

"That's the testimony of an ancient faith, that it's durable. It lasts," Bishop Curry said in an interview at the Diocesan Ministry Center in the Town of Tonawanda. "We'll weather it. We've already weathered it."

Bishop Curry grew up in Buffalo and graduated from Hutchinson Central Technical High School. He returned this weekend to help mark the 200th anniversary of St. Paul's Cathedral, the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York.

More here-

https://buffalonews.com/2017/03/04/buffalo-boy-returns-episcopal-churchs-top-bishop/

St. Paul's considers landlord business to help pay for cathedral's mission

From Buffalo-

St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral has spent a decade trying to figure out what to do with a 121-year-old parish house on Pearl Street that has sat mostly vacant since it moved its offices down the street.

At first, church leaders thought they would sell the four-story building. That wasn't successful.

Then, they looked at all the downtown redevelopment around them and saw a different opportunity to bring in more money – going into the landlord business.

Now, St. Paul's is seeking city approval to renovate the educational and office building at 128 Pearl St. into seven market-rate apartments and a first-floor commercial office suite.

More here-

https://buffalonews.com/2017/02/25/st-pauls-cathedral-plans-apartments-across-street/

Buffalo Clergy supports detained workers

From Buffalo-

 Members of clergy in Buffalo announced Sunday they will provide support and shelter to workers detained last week after a federal raid of several Western New York Mexican restaurants.

The announcement was made at Trinity Episcopal Church on Delaware Avenue.

Representatives from multiple Buffalo churches said some of the workers are set to appear in immigration court this Tuesday. Their families may be at risk of being "torn apart," according to Drew Ludwig, the pastor of Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. Children could be placed in foster care or social services.

"What we see is these are good, honest people who are trying to do the best for themselves and their families," Ludwig said. "And I do want to emphasize-- these are families that are tied up in this. Stable, together family units."

More here-

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/buffalo-clergy-supports-25-detained-workers/340281007

How refugees resettle in WNY and make it home

From Western New York-

Volunteer organizations, such as Church World Services and Episcopal Migration Ministries inform Journey’s End when there’s a family facing persecution that needs to be resettled. They set up the airfare and refugees are required to pay it back.

Once they arrive at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Journey’s End employees greet them.

“We greet them right at the door and we bring them downstairs to collect everything. Then we bring them to their first apartment,” Scott said.

Scott added that federal funding helps the refugees with housing bills for the first month or two. During that time, workers help them get jobs and enroll in school to become self-sufficient.

More here-

http://wivb.com/2016/06/20/how-refugees-resettle-in-wny-and-make-it-home/

Voice Buffalo rallies for prison reform

From Buffalo-

Before any of the faith leaders gathered in front of the Erie County Courthouse spoke out about prison reform, they bowed their heads for a prayer. Signs sat by their sides as they closed their eyes, clasped their hands.

Rev. Matt Lincoln, the director of Trinity Episcopal Church, led the invocation.

“Help us to find new ways to uphold justice, to find ways not to tolerate violence against anyone,” he said before the group. “The loss of justice for anyone is a threat to justice for everyone, as Dr. King said.”

Voice Buffalo, an organization comprising 60 faith communities, held its revival rally on Tuesday evening to challenge Erie County officials to reduce its inmate population by 50 percent. Dozens of people crowded onto the courthouse steps, wielding poster boards bearing the names of area religious groups. Some had to stand off to the side as there was not enough room for all.

More here-

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/erie-county/voice-buffalo-rallies-for-prison-reform-20160614