Join us to discuss "What we Love About our Diocese and our Hopes for the Future."
At our recent clergy gatherings we began conversations regarding
what we love about our diocese
what might be important to bring with us into a reunified diocese
what might we reinforce in our current diocese if we decide to remain separate
what possibilities might we hope for in a reunified diocese.
We are inviting you to be part of these conversations by attending in-person deanery meetings as detailed below.
The meetings are not designed to answer specific questions about budgets, staffing, insurance, etc. We leave that important work in the hands of the Reunification Discernment Committee. Rather, we hope to gather in order to celebrate and name what makes the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana special to each of us: what we love, what we might miss, what has helped to make us who we are, and our hopes for the future. To accomplish this, we will begin our conversations with the following three questions using an Appreciative Inquiry approach:
How and where have we encountered God in our recent life within this diocese? (What do we love about our diocese?)
Where do you think God is calling us as a diocese?
What might we have to change in order for us to reunify into one diocese?
What possibilities or opportunities might be revealed in a reunified Diocese of Indiana?
The schedule of meetings is detailed below. We want to encourage you to attend in-person if that is possible. Being in the same room will allow for the best connection and sharing. If you can’t make any of the in-person meetings, please join us for our Zoom meeting. We want to hear from everyone.
Western Deanery
Sunday, May 18, 2 p.m. (CDT), St. Andrew (Valparaiso)
Central Deanery
Sunday, May 18, 3-4:40 p.m. (EDT), St. Michael and All Angels (South Bend)
Eastern Deanery
Monday, May 12, 5:30-7 p.m. (EDT), Holy Family (Angola)
Sunday, May 18, 2-3:30 p.m. (EDT), St. Alban (Fort Wayne)
Sunday, June 1, 1:30-3 p.m. (EDT), St. Andrew (Kokomo)
Zoom for those unable to attend an in-person session
Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. (EDT) Register here.
God has abundantly blessed the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana. We know that whether we continue as a separate diocese or reunify into one, God will continue to bless and guide us on the way. Join us to discuss these blessings and prepare ourselves for the next steps in Reunification Discernment.
Blessings,
Your Diocesan Deans
The Rev. Cathy Carpenter, St. Andrew’s, Valparaiso (Western, to be elected)
The Rev. T.J. Freeman, Trinity, Fort Wayne (Eastern)
The Rev. Jen Fulton, St. Michael and All Angels, South Bend (Central)
The Very Rev. Brian Grantz, The Cathedral of St. James, South Bend