Statement from the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana and Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis Reunification Discernment Committee

INDIANA—On March 17-18 the Reunification Discernment Committee held its initial meeting in Kokomo, Ind. In attendance were the 12 appointed members of the committee (six from each diocese), Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows of the Diocese of Indianapolis, Bishop Doug Sparks of the Diocese of Northern Indiana, and the Reverend Jennifer Adams who is serving as facilitator of our process. In addition to these members, the bishops will each be appointing a chaplain to prayerfully support us in this work.

The initial meeting was introductory and organizational in nature while emphasizing both the technical and spiritual nature of this discernment. The first phase of work involves gathering data and stories from programmatic and organizational areas of diocesan life as well as exploring our own histories and entering into conversation with other dioceses who are themselves in similar discernment processes.

Over the course of this entire process we will be prayerfully exploring the possibilities and ramifications of a potential reunification, and submitting reports and recommendations to the appropriate legislative and leadership bodies. We will also want and need to hear from you, as we invite input and feedback at various steps along the way.

The committee itself has no legislative authority. Our work involves discerning and recommending faithful ways forward for our dioceses as we consider reunification. This process is in its earliest stages and we will be developing a timeline as we move. The committee will meet on an approximately monthly basis and will release updates along the way.

For now, we ask for your prayers and your patience as we begin a process to benefit our faithful now and for years to come,

Faithfully,