On January 1, 2026, the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Bethlehem will reunify to become the Diocese of the Susquehanna. As we approach this milestone, leaders from both dioceses are working diligently to plan how our ministries will merge and evolve to meet the needs of our new diocese. The Transition Leadership Committee meets monthly to review progress on our path to reunification.
Several working groups have been tasked with planning the future of specific administrative and ministry areas within the Diocese of the Susquehanna. These include:
- Branding and Shield
- Clergy Life and Ministry
- Constitution and Canons
- Diocesan Offices
- Finance
- Legal Process
- Ministry of the Episcopate and Staffing
- Mission Granting Process
- Ordination
- Social Justice
- Title IV
Each month, we will share highlights from a few of these working groups as they plan for our life together as the Diocese of the Susquehanna.
Constitution and Canons
The Constitution and Canons is a document which contains the rules and regulations pertaining to the governance of the church. The Episcopal Church has a Constitution and Canons that applies to all within it, and each diocese also has a Constitution and Canons which provides additional, specific regulations for this portion of our church.
The Constitution and Canons working group is reviewing the Constitution and Canons from the dioceses of Bethlehem and Central Pennsylvania, and proposing a new document to guide our life together in the Diocese of the Susquehanna. Some other working groups are collaborating with this team to draft sections relevant to their area of ministry. The Ordination working group has completed a draft of the Commission on Ministry portion, which will guide the process through which new deacons and priests are ordained in our diocese. The Title IV working group is also hard at work drafting how the clergy discipline process will be structured. Title IV refers to the portion of The Episcopal Church Canons that outlines steps for accountability, reconciliation, and pastoral response when a clergy person is accused of misconduct. The Title IV working group is deciding how to combine the disciplinary boards of both dioceses, and has proposed a model with intake officers assigned to each region of the Diocese of the Susquehanna – a new element for the Diocese of Bethlehem.
Branding and Shield
The Branding and Shield working group is developing a new visual identity for the Diocese of the Susquehanna. This project includes creating a new logo, bishop’s shield, and an official font and color scheme that represent our new diocese. The working group is currently in the brainstorming phase, and will soon begin work with a graphic designer to bring this vision to life. To share your thoughts with the working group, please fill out this survey. The unveiling of the new visual identity will take place at the annual Diocesan Convention this October.
Clergy Life and Ministry
One of the primary tasks of the Clergy Life and Ministry working group is to create a new clergy manual for the Diocese of the Susquehanna. Clergy manuals outline expectations and provide information on several aspects of ordained ministry including: clergy participation in diocesan life; guidelines for sacramental rites such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms; and financial responsibilities, such as the completion of annual parochial reports, church audits, and the use of discretionary funds. This working group is integrating policies and practices from the Diocese of Bethlehem and the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania to create a comprehensive clergy manual for the Diocese of the Susquehanna.
