NEWS PROVIDED BY
Anglican Watch
Jan. 5, 2026
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 5, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — Anglican Watch, the unofficial watchdog for the Episcopal Church, today urged church officials to launch an independent investigation of Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe. The news comes amidst allegations that Rowe, acting in collusion with church officials reporting to him, recently covered up allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation involving outgoing Dallas bishop George Sumner.
At issue is a Title IV clergy disciplinary complaint Anglican Watch filed with Rowe’s office, alleging that Sumner forced Episcopal priest Rich Daly to retire in retaliation for opposing the sexual harassment of an adult woman. The complaint further asserted that Sumner sandbagged a diocesan-level complaint against a Dallas priest involved in the matter.
Under written church policy, Rowe and the intake officer for bishops, Barb Kempf, both of whom serve on a panel responsible for referring complaints against bishops for consideration, are required to assume, for purposes of referral, that the matters complained of are true per the screen cap below.
Despite this requirement, Kempf, acting with Rowe’s approval, dismissed the Anglican Watch complaint on the basis of unauthorized findings of fact, including that:
● Anglican Watch provided no evidence that Sumner sandbagged the diocesan-level complaint
● Daly allegedly voluntarily retired, despite clear evidence that he retired under duress.
“I want to be absolutely clear: Kempf’s actions are expressly unauthorized and a cover-up, and can only be taken with Rowe’s approval. Thus, this is a cover-up that goes all the way to the office of Presiding Bishop,” said Anglican Watch official Mark Lowen.
“We used to believe that the issue with Barb Kempf is that she didn’t understand her role,” Lowen continued. “However, over time, Kempf has consistently ignored written church policy.
“Moreover, we have repeatedly notified church HR, legal, and strategic planning staff, including Chief of Strategy Rebeccas Wilson and Chancellor Mary Kostel, that we expect the Kempf and other church officials to follow the denomination’s written policies. We also have flagged specific ways in which Kempf is violating written church policy.
“Despite these conversations, Sean Rowe and Kempf continue to engage in cover-up and the improper dismissal of disciplinary complaints against bishops.”
“To be clear: Sexual harassment is always unacceptable. Moreover, neither church intake officers nor reference panels may make findings of fact or evidentiary rulings. Those are the church’s own policies,” Lowen continued, “and we expect full compliance with these policies. No excuses, no exceptions, no explanations.
“Since Rowe refuses to comply, the Executive Council needs to authorize an independent investigation into his conduct by an outside organization. Moreover, if Rowe continues to violate church policy, he needs to be removed from office.”
“Anglican Watch expects the highest standards of integrity from church officials,” Lowen continues. “The Episcopal Church needs to be a safe place for all persons, not just cisgender straight men,” Lowen adds. “Rowe needs to model integrity, not condone misconduct. He is the presiding bishop, and the buck stops with him.
“Finally, we reiterate our demand that Kempf resign. There is no room for an intake officer, either at the national or diocesan level, who ignores written church policy,” Lowen concluded.
Founded in 2015, Anglican Watch is the unofficial watchdog of the Episcopal Church. The organization addresses sexual and non-sexual abuse in the Episcopal Church and other faith communities.
SOURCE Anglican Watch
CONTACT: Mark Lowen, 240-331-6977, editor@anglicanwatch.com
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