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The Reunification Discernment Committee met on June 10, 2025 (via zoom).
Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows of the Diocese of Indianapolis offered an opening prayer.
Meeting with Members of Diocesan Leadership Bodies
At the June meeting of the RDC, with Bishops Baskerville-Burrows and Sparks present, we spent time talking through recent experiences which included our May meeting with some members of diocesan leadership bodies as well as
the Spring Neighborhood and Deanery meetings. We recently distributed and presented several draft models all of which focus primarily on the “technical” dimensions of a potentially reunified diocese, part of our fulfilling the charge
given this committee to “consider a plan for full reunification.” Input received and the conversations of which our members have been part has been constructive and helpful. We look forward to hearing more and for future drafts
models which will benefit from these contributions to the process.
Our main question now is how to expand THE RELATIONAL dimensions of discernment beyond our Committee and beyond the other smaller pockets in which the relational has begun to be explored and in some cases, integrated into shared ministry. The RDC feels a need to pause and allow our dioceses to
respond to the frequently voiced request to “know one another more than we do.” We hear this desire as genuine and hopeful input, potentially lengthening the process of discernment, but strengthening it too.
We have become increasingly aware that as members of this Committee, we have had the privilege of working in relationship with one another across diocesan lines for over two years now. It’s the models that we are currently
sharing, but there has been much more to the experience of discernment for those of us on this Committee. Each of our teams is made up of members from Northern Indiana and Indianapolis. Relationships among us have grown and
deepened over time. These relationships have guided and sustained our work and allowed for deep and honest conversations that have fed us in this process, given us insight and understanding as we give shape to some of the
“technical” realities of diocesan life, and contributed to our ability to look forward together.
We are grateful for input we’ve received and for conversations that took place at Spring Neighborhood and Deanery meetings. Before we take next steps in further developing these models, we will be working with diocesan staff, leadership bodies, and ministries to expand on the relational aspects of this ongoing discernment.
Closing
We thank you for your attention, participation and input and ask for your continued prayers for this Committee, our Bishops, and dioceses as we walk through this discernment together, faithful that the Spirit is at work here and will get us where we need to be.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis
The Rt. Rev. Douglas Sparks, Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Indiana
The Rev. Clay Berkley, At-Large, Diocese of Northern Indiana
Mr. Evan Doyle, Diocesan Council, Diocese of Northern Indiana
Mr. Paul Kincaid, Standing Committee, Diocese of Northern Indiana
Ms. Joan Amati, At-Large, Diocese of Indianapolis
The Rev. Hilary Cooke, At-Large, Diocese of Indianapolis
Mr. George Eastman, Standing Committee, Diocese of Indianapolis
The Rev. Ted Neidlinger, Diocesan Council, Diocese of Northern Indiana
Mr. Greg Seamon, Executive Council, Diocese of Indianapolis
Ms. Brenda Rigdon, Diocesan Council, Diocese of Northern Indiana
The Rev. Allen Rutherford, Executive Council, Diocese of Indianapolis
Ms. Stephanie Pawlowski, At-Large, Diocese of Northern Indiana
Ms. Katherine Tyler Scott, At-Large, Diocese of Indianapolis
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