The Rt. Rev. John Howe and the Rev. Deacon Karen Howe have been recently welcomed into the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic and the Anglican Church in North America.
Bishop Howe was ordained to the priesthood in 1968, and was mentored by Peter Moore and John Guest. In 1976, he became the Rector of Truro Church in Fairfax, Virginia after previously serving as a school chaplain in Connecticut and as the associate rector of St. Stephen’s in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. In 1990 he became the Bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida (TEC) where he served until his retirement in 2012.
The Rev. Karen Howe holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Masters in International Relations from the University of Connecticut. She was ordained to the diaconate in 2004 and has had a ministry of teaching, hospitality, writing, and prayer.
In an interview with VirtueOnline, Bishop Howe shared that the Episcopal Church’s redefinition of both marriage and the episcopate and its treatment of Bishop Bill Love of Albany became the impetus for their move into the Anglican Church in North America. “This has been a long time coming. I watched [Bill Love’s trial hearing] in its entirety. It was very respectful, but the bottom line was that — whatever the verdict for +Bill is — TEC has now clearly redefined not only marriage, but what it is to be a Bishop, and what it is to be a Diocese.” He said, “I am deeply honored to be part of the Anglican Church in North America. It feels like coming home. Karen and I have received many notes and emails from folks welcoming us, and for that we are deeply grateful.”
The Howes have been married for 58 years and live in Locust Grove, Virginia, where they currently lead the non-denominational Lake of the Wood Church.
Bishop Guernsey commented, “Bishop John is a long-time friend, and it is a joy to welcome him and Karen into the Anglican Church in North America and into our Diocese. He is a superb preacher and teacher of God’s Word, and I know that many would be blessed to explore the online archive of his years of sermons and teachings at biblebanquet.com.”
Archbishop Beach also welcomed the Howes saying, “Bishop John has been a spiritual giant in the Anglican world. His ministry touched me years ago when I was in college, and I have been blessed by his ministry throughout my years when serving as a youth minister and as a priest. I look forward to seeing how the Lord will use him for His glory in the Anglican Church in North America.”
