Central Pennsylvania, Bethlehem vote to reunite; two others organize as Diocese of the Great Lakes

[Episcopal News Service] The dioceses of Central Pennsylvania and Bethlehem voted Oct. 19 to reunite as one diocese – just as the dioceses of Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan took final steps toward combining as the Diocese of the Great Lakes.

These latest developments reflect an ongoing trend in some parts of The Episcopal Church toward greater cross-diocesan collaboration and, in some cases, diocesan mergers to strengthen Episcopal ministries at a time of growing concern about long-term financial sustainability.

The Harrisburg-based Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the neighboring Diocese of Bethlehem voted to reunify at their diocesan conventions, held jointly Oct. 18-19 in State College, Pennsylvania. The votes came two years after the dioceses first launched a discernment process to consider a merger. They are following a canonical process known as reunion because the two were once part of the same diocese.

“Pending the reception of consents from a majority of standing committees and bishops diocesan of The Episcopal Church, our dioceses will enter into 2025 as the ‘Year of Transition,’ during which we will continue to deepen our relationships, align systems and budgets, further develop the Constitution and Canons for a reunified diocese and much more,” the dioceses said in a joint statement.

Following that timeline, they expect to reunite on Jan. 1, 2026, as the Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna, named after the river that runs through the center of Pennsylvania.

Reunion received 86.5% approval from the Diocese of Bethlehem and 84.5% approval from the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.

“I am delighted that our two dioceses have chosen this way forward to reunite and serve God’s mission together,” Central Pennsylvania Bishop Audrey Scanlan said in the dioceses’ joint news release. “This is bold and courageous work, and we live in hope that with God, all things are possible.”

Bethlehem Bishop Kevin Nichols noted that the successful votes were made possible by the work of the dioceses’ Reunification Discernment Committee, which engaged widely with members of both dioceses. “I am grateful for everyone’s efforts towards this important discernment and am eager to begin the work of becoming one body as the Diocese of the Susquehanna,” Nichols said.

The dioceses of Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan have followed a different process toward combining, known canonically as juncture, because their histories didn’t so closely overlap with each other. Their merger, which was authorized in June by the 81st General Convention, couldn’t take effect until the new diocese met to organize itself, as it did Oct. 18-19 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

The three dioceses in Wisconsin also combined this year as the reunited Diocese of Wisconsin. Its first convention since the reunion was held Oct. 4-5. The 81st General Convention also authorized the combination of the church’s Micronesia area mission with the Diocese of Hawai’i.

In addition, the dioceses of Indianapolis and Northern Indiana are in the middle of their own discernment process over whether to reunite as a single statewide diocese. The dioceses held listening sessions to learn about each other’s current practices, though they have not yet announced a timeline for taking formal steps toward a merger.

Other dioceses, though not engaging directly in merger talks, are experimenting with shared leadership, training, administration and ministries through partnerships that could become models for other diocesan collaborations around The Episcopal Church. For example, the dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York are six years into a partnership that involves sharing a bishop. They are now discerning next steps, as their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, prepares to take office Nov. 1 as the church’s presiding bishop.

– David Paulsen is a senior reporter and editor for Episcopal News Service based in Wisconsin. He can be reached at dpaulsen@episcopalchurch.org.