It was an historic moment on January 27, 1996, when the Rev. Catherine S. Roskam became a Bishop in the Episcopal Church. In an elaborate consecration ceremony held at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, Catherine Roskam became the first female to ever become bishop in the State of New York and only the fourth female bishop in the Episcopal Church in the USA.
Thousands of Episcopalians, and hundreds of visitors from other denominations, including Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist, packed the Cathedral to witness her consecration. The ceremony was presided over by the Rt. Rev. Edmond Browning, then Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. An estimated 3,500 people attended the service, including Bishops from around the world and parishioners from the 200 Episcopal congregations in New York. The service featured commissioned music and traditional hymns in English, Spanish, and Chinese reflecting the rich diversity of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.
Prior to becoming a priest, Catherine Roskam worked in theater as an actress and a producer in New York. Ordained priest in 1984 in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, she served as Assistant Rector of Holy Apostles, Manhattan, where she was in charge of pastoral ministries, and as Program Director of Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen. Other previous positions include Priest-in-charge of Holy Innocents' mission congregation in San Francisco, Interim Rector of Church of Our Savior, Mill Valley, California, and Diocesan Missioner for the Diocese of California where she had oversight of 24 congregations.
Bishop Roskam is a member the ECUSA Executive Council (2000-2006), the Anglican Consultative Council (2001-2010), the Board of Trustees of General Theological Seminary (Vice Chair 2001-02) and the House of Bishops Theology Committee. Bishop Roskam is a nationally known consultant on church growth and congregational development, and also in multi cultural ministry
Youth ministry is an area of special interest, and she has particular expertise in Language Ministries - ministries serving Asian, Hispanic and Island congregations. She is also a member of Integrity, the National Gay and Lesbian organization of the Episcopal Church.
Bishop Roskam has been married for 37 years to psychologist Philip K. Roskam. They have one daughter, Gemma.
