Our mission: To restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
We grow together through radical hospitality, passionate spirituality, and committed engagement to peace and justice.
All are welcome as equally beloved of God.
Our Mission
Our Faith
Together, we live the Christian life. We gather for worship and prayer to strengthen each other as seekers and followers of Jesus Christ. We believe that God forgives and makes us whole We work to proclaim our beliefs in all we do and say. We seek to see the holy in every living being, loving others as we do ourselves. We respect the dignity of every person, working for God’s justice to be available to all.
Our Parishes
The Episcopal Diocese of Rochester is a collection of 46 diverse parishes throughout the region. Our diocese includes urban parishes in the heart of Rochester neighborhoods, country churches in the northern reaches of Appalachia, parishes in small towns and suburbs, and beautiful lakeside chapels.
We have parishes in Allegany, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates counties - view the parish map to see parishes near you. The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.
Our Leadership
Bishop Kara Wagner Sherer is the chief pastor and has oversight of the diocese along with democratically-elected teams. More from Bishop Kara.
More about leadership teams.
Leadership of the diocese is shared with the Bishop by Diocesan Staff and District Deans.
Churches are led by priests, deacons, and lay leaders. Priests and deacons are chosen through a process of prayer and study and they can be of any gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or ability.
Reflections
A prayer for reconciliation: Where there is separation, there is pain. And where there is pain, there is story. And where there is story, there is understanding, and misunderstanding, listening and not listening. May we - separated peoples, estranged strangers, unfriended families, divided communities - turn toward each other, and turn toward our stories, with understanding and listening, with argument and acceptance, with challenge, change and consolation. Because if God is to be found, God will be found in the space between. Amen. Daily Prayer. With the Corrymeela Community. Padraig O Tuama.
Bishop's Writings
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Website ChangesThursday, September 26, 2024You may notice some changes in our diocesan website. As part of the bishop transition, we are no longer using the dove logo or "Joy in Christ, a way of life." The discernment process to articulate a new vision and mission will be a deliberate and lengthy process, so this is a kind of scaffolding, a placeholder until we begin that conversation. Read more » |
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Bishop's Writing / Enews September 2024Thursday, September 19, 2024I was heading north after a wonderful visit to Christ Church, Hornell, and lunch with the Rev. Shanna Hawks. I was going slightly out of my way to pick up an antique (?!?) vase, perfect for the niche in our new stairway, that John had found on Facebook marketplace. I wound my way through Naples when suddenly before me opened a great valley, and what I now know to be the West River and the south end of Canandaigua Lake. Wow! Read more » |
News
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Bishop Kara's Visitation to Trinity, GreeceSunday, October 6, 2024A look at Bishop Kara's Visitation to Trinity Episcopal Church in Greece. 4 Confirmations and 11 Receptions were celebrated, along with the Blessing of the Animals. Read more » |
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College for Congregational DevelopmentFriday, October 4, 2024College for Congregational Development 2024We are offering Saturday programs starting in September. Read more » |
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A Celebration of New MinistryTuesday, October 1, 2024By the grace of God and by the consent of the people, the Wardens, Vestry, and congregation of St. John’s Episcopal Church, The Reverend James E. Trimble as Rector of St John’s Episcopal Church, Honeoye Falls |