News & Messages

Tri-diocesan reunion, aka “Trialogue,” conversations

From Canon Scott Leannah, canon to the ordinary:

As you know, we are in the midst of a time of conversation, prayer and reflection as we look at the possibility of becoming a reunited Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin. We are also in the midst of holding several (19 by the time all is said and done) town hall conversations about this possibility. As the town hall meetings have progressed, a variety of excellent questions, comments and concerns have surfaced. The Steering Committee, comprised of people from all three dioceses, along with our project manager, Canticle Communications, have been doing our best to notice trends in the feedback we are receiving and we have been adding them to our list of FAQs. You can find these on the Trialogue website. Interestingly, we are beginning to see some similarities in concerns and questions expressed by people from each of the dioceses.  Of course, this is not universal; we are Episcopalians after all! Nevertheless, there are some discernible trends.
 
One issue that has been raised a handful of times by people from Milwaukee is a sentiment that runs along these lines: “As long as we are looking at reuniting, why are we not starting fresh with a new bishop?” They are often quick to add, “I think Bishop Matt is a solid leader, a person of faith and I am sure he is a great bishop, but it has been 20 years or so since Milwaukee has elected a new bishop.” This is a good point, and my response is twofold:
 
First, the reason it feels like about 20 years since we have had an episcopal search and election is that is how long it has been. Bishop Steven Miller served for about 17 1/2 years. Following his retirement, our Standing Committee was the ecclesiastical authority for a few months until Bishop Jeff Lee became bishop provisional. Jeff served for two years and a couple of months, and his time with us was transformational on many levels. Twenty years is a long time—I feel that too. This work of reunion has brought this immediate concern in our own diocese alongside the broader vision called for by the Trialogue process.
 
This broader, long-term process leads to my second point. The tremendous, historic work of reuniting is a massive undertaking. I am not being dramatic; it just is. If we vote to move forward in October (the resolution before us is a “resolve” that indicates that we agree to move forward and produce a joint statement of reunion for a vote in Eastertide), then it will be time for further, deeper work around all the areas of reunion. This includes but is not limited to models for ministry, necessary documents to govern our shared life, staffing considerations, legal and financial structures, regional planning, and more. To add the creation of a search team comprised of people from all three of the current dioceses and to ask them to engage in a search process for a bishop of a newly reunified diocese does not seem prudent or wise. By not pivoting immediately to an episcopal search, we will have the grace of some time to do the work of reunifying. This in turn will allow us to better understand who we are and who God is calling us to be, essential questions to be explored when discerning leadership.
 
By grace and circumstance, we have in our midst a bishop who feels called and is willing to serve in this time of new beginnings. As Bishop of Fond du Lac, Bishop Provisional of Eau Claire, and Assisting Bishop of Milwaukee (for the second time), Bishop Matt Gunter is uniquely equipped to walk with us during this liminal time. He has a strong focus on mission and ministry and sees this coming together as making good sense but most importantly as an opportunity for witness and innovation. Bishop Matt has also indicated a very concrete timeline in terms of his ministry among us. By the time we will have lived into this new way of being church in Wisconsin for four years, he will call for the election of his successor. This strikes me as an ideal situation for a transition of this magnitude.
 
Please continue to pray about this proposed transition. Get to one of the remaining town hall meetings, or reach out to a Steering Committee member (in our diocese, the Rev. Jana Troutman-Miller, John Vogel, the Rev. Dave Mowers, or me) and let us know what you are thinking or ask a question.


The Rev. Scott Leannah

Canon to the Ordinary  

Letter from Trialogue Task Force

Dear friends in Christ:

We are in an exciting moment as Episcopalians in Wisconsin. We hope you have heard something about the Trialogue, conversations taking place among Episcopalians across the state about the future shape of the Episcopal Church here. These conversations are broad and open-ended as we explore how we might collaborate throughout the state in ministry and mission, witnessing to the Good News of Jesus Christ. We hope to envision and embody new ways of being together as Wisconsin Episcopalians. In the book of Acts, the disciples found themselves moved and inspired by the Holy Spirit to cross boundaries between Jew and Gentile, to carry the gospel into all the world. So too are we being challenged by the Holy Spirit to embark on a new journey.

Such journeys take us into uncharted territory, leaving the comforts of home, the past, and tradition behind. As we explore these new relationships there is considerable uncertainty as well as excitement, fear alongside hope.

 The “Parish and Regional Engagement Task Force” is one of seven task forces participating in the Trialogue. We are reaching out to Episcopalians across the state to listen and learn, to hear your questions and concerns, your hopes and dreams. To that end, in the coming weeks, our task force will contact every congregation in all three dioceses to solicit your feedback, your questions, concerns, and anxieties about the Trialogue and about the future of the Episcopal Church in Wisconsin. We look forward to hearing from you and to serve as a conduit sharing your questions, your hopes and fears with the other task forces and with the Steering Committee.

In the name of Christ,

The Rev. Dcn. Paul Aparicio, Diocese of Fond du Lac, co-facilitator
The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Grieser, Diocese of Milwaukee, co-facilitator
Bevra Cole, Diocese of Milwaukee
Tim Donahue, Diocese of Eau Claire
The Rev. Julie Hendrix, Diocese of Fond du Lac
Edie McDougal, Diocese of Eau Claire
The Rev. Dcn. Steve Russell, Diocese of Eau Claire
The Rev. Joanne Skidmore, Diocese of Fond du Lac

https://www.episcopalwisconsin.info/

Trialogue Plans for Participation

main image

When the Diocese of Wisconsin was formed in 1847, Bishop Jackson Kemper lived out the missionary spirit of the Church. He did so while working in a field rife with possibility and being God’s witness “in the wilderness.”

There is a type of wilderness today, and not one of geography. The world has changed, but will the church in this place? Can we form ourselves to be relevant? Can we use the resources God has provided to support the work of the Episcopal Church through local congregations?

The three Episcopal dioceses determined to pursue reunion as one diocese in Wisconsin to come together with a blank slate to create a new culture. Leaders from the Milwaukee, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire met in December to continue talks about reunification – to dream about what God wants us to do and take the steps to do it. This second meeting looked at ways to best involve people in the trialogue so we can begin to crystallize a direction and some action.

Delegates from each diocesan convention had provided thoughts, comments, and responses to the idea of reunion. There were a lot of questions about things we don’t yet know. Many comments reflected a general desire to move towards a combined diocese. The responses noted the potential of one diocese to equip churches to better share the Gospel. But there is a lack of clarity evident as to what that means. The trialogue has just started, so this was to be expected. The need for information is great to generate specific ideas or proposals as well as to have more informed questions and discussion.

Reflecting on many responses, the leaders at this second meeting recognized the pursuit will not be easy and is to be undergirded by prayer. Seeking to come together and do things in a different way will be a challenge in a variety of ways.

The purpose of the trialogue is to enable members of the three Episcopal dioceses in Wisconsin to explore how reunification into one diocese can better equip us to be the church God is calling us to be in these times. Work is beginning to shape how we can get to know each other better. There will be opportunities to learn more about each diocese and its people. These will help in building relationships and informing the discussion. As with any change, there will be more questions than answers to start.

The leaders, who were selected by each diocesan governing body, serve as the trialogue Steering Committee going forward. Its purpose is to take collaborative action to build connections and relationships exploring reunification.

The Steering Committee will establish task forces to examine various components of trialogue. These are Prayer; Parish and Regional Engagement; Culture; Location, Place, and Staffing; Finances; Constitution and Canons; and Communication. Members of each diocese with experience, knowledge, or passion in each area are being called to participate. These task forces will establish ways to involve more voices as ideas and proposals are developed. This may involve in-person connections as well as technological ones.

Communication will be essential. To involve over 10,000 persons is an immense task. An interactive website as centralized source of information is being designed. There will be ways to interact with others, provide answers to frequently asked questions, and share your thoughts and ideas with the task forces. Stay tuned to diocesan communication channels to learn ways to be a part to better equip us to be the church God is calling us to be in these times.

The trialogue Steering Committee members are the Rev. Canon Kathleen Charles, Tim Donahue, the Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter, the Rev. Canon Aaron Zook (Diocese of Eau Claire), the Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter, Matthew Payne, Pat Pfeifer, the Rev. Canon Wilson Roane (Diocese of Fond du Lac), The Rev. Canon Scott Leannah, the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, the Rev. Jana Troutman-Miller, John Vogel (Diocese of Milwaukee).