A significant part of our Committee’s work involves listening to the questions and concerns related to possible reunification that come to us from around the dioceses and responding when we can. This FAQ speaks to the most common questions we have received with the information that we have now. As we continue to develop possible models for a reunified diocese and receive further input, we will be able to add more detail. Our Committee will continue to update this document as our work progresses.

Why Reunification?

We get this question more than anything else and the truth is, we haven’t yet said YES to reunification ourselves, nor have we said NO to reunification. The language of “discernment” in the title of this Committee and this process is intentional. Our Committee has been charged with “considering a plan for full reunification” but only because building models representing various dimensions of diocesan life will allow us to test the waters, to look for red flags, to see how our various diocesan pieces could fit together or won’t. We’re considering a plan and building models so that we can all see more about what reunification would actually look like and our dioceses can make an informed decision with data and other content in front of us when it’s time. This process also creates space for inspiration, encouraging us all to dream of a vibrant Episcopal Church in Indiana. Should our dioceses decide to reunify, this work will also give us the starting points of a foundation from which to begin to build together.

“To reunify or not to reunify” has become the central focus, but there is something more important beneath those options. At the heart of this work are questions related to whether we can set ourselves up better to thrive as the Episcopal Church in Indiana, not for the sake of being one or two dioceses, but for the sake of the Gospel. How can our structures be aligned in a way to best nurture, strengthen, and sustain the proclamation of the good news of Christ that we as Episcopalians seek to embody and have to offer a hurting world? We are looking at a lot of data. We are gathering a lot of feedback from various directions within and beyond our dioceses. We will soon have financial, canonical, structural, geographic models for our dioceses to consider not for the sake of one diocese or two but for the sake of our mission and witness now and into the future.

As we prayerfully ask the Spirit to guide us forward in faithful, life-giving ways, we are inspired by the recent words of our new Presiding Bishop, Sean Rowe, "We’re not a collection of dioceses and institutions, a collection of ways of doing things. We are one church, one church in Jesus Christ. God has given us the ability to share our resources and talents and invest in ministry happening on the ground—ministry in which everyday faithful people, Christians all around the world, are building communities, advocating for justice, and saving lives. Your ministries and your communities where you are doing the work of unbinding, of liberating, of being the risen body of Christ in the world."

Reunification Discernment Process

It sounds to me like reunification is a done deal. Who decides whether or not we reunify?

(See above. ) AND....we can assure you that none of the members of our Committee have approached this work with any certainty of outcome. This is a process of ongoing discernment and discovery or we would have quickly presented specific recommendations shortly after this group was formed. We have questions too, and we remain open to options as we continue to gather information, talk with our members and other dioceses throughout TEC, and diligently, prayerfully seek a way forward. This is not a simple decision. We trust, however, that it will become a more clear one as this discernment continues to unfold. As mentioned above, this Committee has been charged with “considering a plan for full reunification” and so we are building models of what reunification could look like.

It’s important to remember that this Committee has no decision making authority. Reunification will be decided by the Conventions of our dioceses. In order to keep this discernment moving and focused with broad engagement, our Committee has recommended that the decision on reunification be made in October 2025. Our Bishops and Standing Committees will decide if and when to call for those Special Conventions.

Our dioceses have similar mission statements that express shared values. We see diverse and potentially complementary strengths among us and we began as one. We also recognize the different cultures of our dioceses as well as the multi-cultural realities within each. Could we make a greater impact as a single, larger, entity rather than two smaller ones? Would our financial resources be better stewarded as one? Could moving beyond collaboration into becoming one diocese strengthen the current and future missional presence of the Episcopal Church in Indiana? Is God calling us to this? We’re asking these questions and hope that you’re spending time with them too.

We don’t feel like we’re informed enough about the possibility of reunification to know if we support it.

Our Committee is aware that one of the greatest challenges right now is the information gap that exists among congregants and members of the Committee as well as our being able to experience, work, and pray with those from “the other diocese” on a very regular basis. We have a more developed communications plan in place for the next phases of this process, are actively increasing opportunities for engagement at the parish and diocesan levels, and look forward to early spring when we will begin to share actual models for feedback and revision. Please be sure to implement the Parish Engagement Packet in your congregation. Gather parishioners, reflect on the questions in the packet together and send us your responses! Encourage one another to stay informed and engaged. Visit the Reunification Discernment website regularly and remember that you can send us questions and input via the website anytime.

While we work to share information we also want to emphasize the importance of deepening relationships between the members, clergy, and leadership bodies of our dioceses as we move through this process. Getting to know one another will provide some of the foundation for this discernment and whatever the outcome of. Help us strengthen relationships within and between our dioceses as we discern together. Regardless of the outcome, that effort alone will benefit us all.

Diocesan Size

How many parishes are in each of our dioceses? How do we compare in terms of the sizes of our congregations?

The Diocese of Indianapolis has 47 worshipping communities and a total average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 2,893. The Diocese of Northern Indiana has 30 parishes and a total average ASA of 1191. The Episcopal Church in Indiana is composed predominantly of very small worshiping bodies. Approximately eighty-nine percent of the Episcopal parishes in Indiana average under 100 ASA. Sixty-eight percent of the parishes are below 50 attending on Sundays. For comparison's sake, in 1963, there were 47 Faith Communities in the Diocese of Indianapolis and 17,319 Baptized members. In 1963, there were 33 Faith Communities in the Diocese of Northern Indiana and 12,675 Baptized members. As is true throughout the Episcopal Church and in other faith bodies too, even though they are faithful in ministry, the long-term future of a number of faith communities in both dioceses are precarious due to declining attendance and membership.

Of the seven parishes with an ASA of 100 or more, one is in the Diocese of Northern Indiana and six are in the Diocese of Indianapolis. All four of those averaging more than 200 are in the Indianapolis metro area. Except for these four large congregations, the make-up of the two dioceses is very similar, with Indianapolis having an ASA of 41 and Northern Indiana, 38.

Wouldn’t reunification create a diocese that is too big?

If our dioceses reunify we would not be among the largest in TEC in terms of either geography or number of parishes. In terms of parishes, a reunified diocese would have about 77 parishes. There are approximately thirty dioceses in TEC with more. Geographically, a reunified Diocese would be about 36,420 mi2. There are currently twenty-six dioceses in The Episcopal Church (TEC) that encompass an entire state and they include some of the largest states like Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma and Minnesota. It also seems to be true that neither numbers of parishes nor geographic size is a primary factor in determining the health and vibrancy of a diocese.

Bishops, and Staffing

What about Bishop Baskerville-Burrows and Bishop Sparks? Can a diocese only have one bishop?

A diocese may only have one Diocesan Bishop but it is possible to have a Suffragan, Assistant, or Assisting Bishop serving with them. Bishops Baskerville-Burrows and Sparks are very clear that their commitment is for a vibrant and sustainable presence of the Episcopal Church here in Indiana for years to come. The model that seems to align best with their individual and mutual sense of call should reunification be recommended and approved, is that Bishop Baskerville-Burrows would be put forward for election as Diocesan Bishop with Bishop Sparks to be appointed as Assistant Bishop.

A reunified diocese would be served pastorally, sacramentally, and administratively by both bishops for a period of time through the transition of becoming one. Upon Bishop Sparks’ retirement, having had the opportunity of experiencing this model, the Diocesan Bishop in conversation with the Standing Committee and other diocesan leadership would determine whether to call a second Bishop to serve.

What would happen to the staff members of each current diocese if we reunify?

Should we reunify, our Bishops are committed to maintaining staff to help resource and support our parishes and ministries as we live into the reality as one diocese. Current responsibilities would be reconfigured in order to strengthen a larger, dispersed, and unified team. Both dioceses already operate in some level of hybrid office settings, gathering and coordinating work both in-person and virtually. A reunified Diocese would have more than one office location in order to best serve the breadth of a larger diocese.

Constitution and Canons, Cathedrals, and Congregations

What about the Constitution and Canons for a reunified diocese?

A subgroup of the Reunification Discernment Committee has read through and studied the Constitutions and Canons of each of our dioceses and identified similarities and differences between them. This subgroup now includes the chancellors from both dioceses.

This subgroup has begun to gather input from our Bishops and leadership bodies regarding the workings of current structures and visions regarding a reunified diocese. They are also studying the Constitution and Canons of other dioceses throughout the Episcopal Church, seeking best practices to possibly adapt and incorporate here.

They have begun to outline and develop a draft Constitution and Canons for a potential reunified diocese with the goal of sharing that initial draft for feedback in March or April of 2025. Another cycle of revision and opportunities for feedback will follow before a final draft is proposed for consideration.

Don’t we have two cathedrals? What happens with those?

Our Committee is currently seeking feedback and learning from our Cathedral Deans and communities as well as staff and leadership bodies about the identity and functioning of our cathedrals. One model being considered for a reunified diocese (resembling the plan adopted by the three Episcopal dioceses which reunified into the Diocese of Wisconsin and also by the Dioceses of Central Pennsylvania and Bethlehem as they prepare to reunify) involves keeping both cathedrals functioning as such. Should our dioceses reunify, there will be a lot for us to learn in the early phases of being one diocese. Rather than introducing too much change in the early stages of the life of the new diocese, we could leave room for those learnings to feed into the future evolution of the cathedral structures.

How would reunification affect my congregation? We are a small rural, but vibrant community.

Both of our dioceses (and most dioceses of TEC) are composed of a majority of small churches. While we are asking whether or not we could make a bigger impact throughout the State of Indiana as one diocese, we are also asking whether or not by combining diocesan resources and unifying our efforts, we could better support local faith communities. Reunification would mean meeting new colleagues and folks on similar journeys. We could expand our networks of support for each of our particular kinds of congregations and ministries.

The day-to-day functioning of each congregation would likely not change dramatically whether we reunify or not. Folks may travel a little further to gatherings like Diocesan Convention, but not everyone and not for every gathering. For some, there are congregations closer to them in the neighboring dioceses than currently in their own.

Diocesan Finances and Parish Giving

Are there financial reasons for us to reunify?

The Financial Stewardship Team of the Reunification Discernment Committee expanded in 2024 to include the Treasurers of both dioceses. This team has been working with the financial staff of both dioceses to undertake a thorough analysis of the funds and operating budgets of both dioceses, noting how the funds are structured and how they relate to the overall financial operation of our dioceses. We have also gathered information on staffing, policies, and benefits provided to staff.

As of now, this group does not see barriers from a financial standpoint to reunification. Next steps will help reveal whether or not there are financial advantages to reunification and indicators that it would be better stewardship of our financial resources for our dioceses to function as one.

The team has begun to model a draft budget for a reunified diocese that will be structured along identified (and shared) mission categories. This model will initially include the full current income and expenses of both dioceses and trial levels for parish assessments. Models are also being run for expanding Indianapolis’ health care plan for all clergy and lay employees across a reunified diocese.

These models will be shared for feedback and further revision in early Spring 2025.