The Reunification Discernment Committee held an in-person meeting on 28 July, 2023 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kokomo, IN. In attendance were the twelve members of the committee which consist of both clergy and laity along with Bishop Doug Sparks of the Diocese of Northern Indiana and Canon Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale who represented the Diocese of Indianapolis as Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows is currently on sabbatical. The meeting was facilitated by the Reverend Jennifer Adams who is serving as consultant for our process.
Bishop Sparks offered an opening prayer and reflection. The committee then spent some time reconnecting through conversation around what each member has enjoyed most and what has been most surprising in their work to this point. They reviewed their charge and the discernment process and next steps before breaking out into their four working teams (Programmatic; Organizational; Episcopate; Other Dioceses & Our History).
Each team was asked to:
Summarize the team’s work to this point.
Discuss what stands out from the work done thus far. Are there themes emerging?
Discuss next steps.
Organize any questions the team may have for the committee.
After lunch the teams reported back to the committee and then walked through an exercise naming “Positives,” “Potentials,” and “Concerns” in response to these team reports. It was noted that within both dioceses there are “myths” about the other that it will be important to address and that there is significant opportunity to learn from each other.
The committee discussed how “listening sessions” might best be organized and scheduled and began to plan for presentation to and engagement with this Fall’s diocesan conventions . It was decided that members of the committee (representing both dioceses) will present at both of the Diocesan Conventions this Fall in order to experience one another’s gathering and offer mutual learnings and support while also enhancing communication among members of the dioceses.
We ask for your continued prayers as we continue the work of discernment and look forward to our upcoming conventions.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Clay Berkley, At-large Ms. Joan Amati, At-Large
Mr. Evan Doyle, Diocesan Council The Rev. Canon Jodi Baron, At-Large
Mr. Paul Kincaid, Standing Committee Mr. George Eastman, Standing Committee
The Rev. Canon Ted Neidlinger, Diocesan Council Mr. Greg Seamon, Executive Council
Ms. Brenda Rigdon, Diocesan Council The Rev. Allen Rutherford, Executive Council
Ms. Stephanie Pawlowski, At-large Ms. Katherine Tyler Scott, At-Large
The Rt. Rev. Douglas Sparks, Bishop
(The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville Burrows, Bishop is on sabbatical)