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.