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From July through October, the Trialogue Steering Committee will hold a series of town hall meetings, in person and on Zoom, to discuss the proposal for reunion among the Dioceses of Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, and Milwaukee, and hear the hopes and concerns of the people of our dioceses. Please plan to attend any of these meetings that fits your schedule, and watch for Zoom links and specific location information coming soon.

Developing the GoFeRs: New Geographic Regions

8/1/2023

by the Rev. Canon Aaron Zook, Diocese of Eau Claire

As the Trialogue Steering Committee has begun to use newsletters and Town Hall gatherings to share details and answer questions about the proposed  reunification of the Dioceses of Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, and Milwaukee, we’ve attempted to give comprehensive explanations for the decisions we made as we created that proposal. 

As the author of the first draft of our proposed geographic regions, which I am abbreviating as “GoFeRs,” for Geographic Fellowship Regions, I want to reflect on the elements we considered in drawing our initial map.

 For many of us on the Steering Committee, these regional structures feel like a central pillar that supports the whole of the proposal for reunion. They allow us to have the bishop (and perhaps parts of their staff) in each region twice a year. With nearly 100 parishes in a reunified diocese, Sunday visitation will likely require a cycle that takes 2-3 years to complete. If the bishop will only be in your parish once every 30 months, you need to have more opportunities to connect with him or her! These week-long regional visits will allow for several gatherings and provide opportunity for folks to meet, eat, and pray with our bishop more regularly.

Additionally, these regions allow opportunities for the Mission Action Teams (MATs) we are proposing to have gatherings and trainings that can reach the people of 20 or more parishes at a time, regardless of where that gathering might happen. It does us no good to have a MAT meeting on evangelism that is situated exclusively in the Southeast corner of the state. That’s quite a drive from St.-Alban-the-Martyr in Superior! In both cases, the GoFeRs allow for increased connectivity by keeping distances manageable. This draft map allows for GoFeRs that are roughly equal in number of parishes, while not creating any regions with untenable distances for connecting in person.

The ability to meet in-person regularly is foundational to the GoFeR portion of our proposal. We all know that building friendships and community is central to every aspect of church life. Being able to have regular connections with one another and with diocesan leadership is crucial to drawing us all into new relationships with each other. That doesn’t mean that the existing relationships between members or parishes are coming to an end. Certainly there are some who have worked together in the past and are concerned that those ministries or friendships don’t play a role in this model. Perhaps a parish you’ve worked alongside for decades will now be in a separate GoFeR from your home parish. The regions are not meant to prevent people or parishes from stretching into other regions for various events or purposes, but part of the point is to "shake up" historic ties for the sake of creating new connections. (Note, I say "shake up," not "break up.")

That said, the importance of putting some folks together who have not been connected historically shouldn't be ignored. One of the hopes we have for the GoFeRs is to create some sense of regional community. Anything that already exists at this point should not be stopped. In fact, it is those very regional ministries and connections that will help the GoFeRs find their footing by sharing and replicating some of the foundations that already exist. The Diocese of Eau Claire has worked hard to create a similar regional body on a much smaller scale by creating an umbrella group that loosely combines four small parishes (under a similar model to those used in Wales and Ireland.) That program, the Northern Highlands Benefice, didn’t take anything away from those parishes. In fact, it added a new layer that allows for increased energy and support for the ministries and relationships that already existed. The fruits of that fellowship have been wonderful they can be replicated and perhaps even exceeded with these GoFeRs.
 
I developed more than a dozen variations of the “GoFeRs,” as we were considering this approach, each of which held some potential as well as obvious obstacles.The GoFeR draft that has been presented to you represents the best model we could develop based on your suggestions, while also providing the opportunity to develop fruit that we may haven’t even considered in the past. We also hope that the concepts the draft were developed to enable bring you some level of hope and excitement for what this portion of the proposal could mean for you and the life of your parish.

Of course we can make some changes to this draft GoFeR Map! We want to get input from you once you have given the GoFeRs Map serious consideration. We are entirely in the "adjustment phase" of every part of the proposal for reunion, and if you see things that can be tweaked to give us a better chance at hitting the ground at full speed, we want to hear from you. You’ll note that the GoFeR Map contains a list of every parish (and affiliated group) that would reside in each region.  We want your feedback on any and every aspect of the draft; please send your thoughts to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


Proposed Map of New Diocesan Regions: Feedback Needed

The Trialogue Steering Committee's Proposal for Reunion includes new regions for fostering deeper connection and relationship. Regional missioners would support local congregations; foster relationships among congregations, clergy, and lay leaders; and ensure connections with the bishop and bishop's staff.

The Steering Committee has now developed a proposed regional map and list of congregations in each region. Download the map and list.

This map is a draft, and the Steering Committee wants to know what you think! Please send your comments and bishops to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Zoom Meetings

Tuesday, July 25, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, July 25, 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 29, 10 a.m.
Wednesday, August 9, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, August 9, 6 p.m.
Monday, August 21, 10 a.m.

Monday, August 21, 6 p.m.
Saturday, August 26, 10 a.m.
Thursday, October 5, 1 p.m.
Thursday, October 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 7, 10 a.m.

In-Person Town Hall Meetings

Wednesday, September 13, 6 p.m. Christ Church, La Crosse, Diocese of Eau Claire
Saturday, September 16, 10 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church, Rice Lake, Diocese of Eau Claire
Wednesday, September 20, 6 p.m. Diocese of Fond du Lac location TBD
Saturday, September 23, 10 a.m. Diocese of Fond du Lac location TBD
Wednesday, September 27, 6 p.m. Diocese of Milwaukee location TBD
Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m. Diocese of Milwaukee location TBD


Lord,
It is Your voice that calls each of us
To play our part in the story of Your Church in Wisconsin,
For You have made us for Your purpose of revealing love
In a challenging time and in a divided world.
As our three dioceses discern becoming one,
Continuing to seek your will for us,
Enlighten our hearts to know what things we ought to do.
Enlighten our minds to know what things we need to leave behind.
Enlighten our spirits to embrace a future none but You know.
Give us peace, give us courage, give us hope.
And give us perseverance to make the steps necessary to
Continue to follow Your lead. Amen.


Pastoral Words from Bishop Gunter and Bishop Lee

We conclude this newsletter in the same manner that each meeting of the Steering Committee opens: with a spiritual reflection from one of the bishops in Wisconsin. Here are videos of their most recent remarks:

Bishop Matt Gunter:

"For too long, the Episcopal Church has been a church of spiders," Bishop Gunter said. "A spider spins a web, sometimes they're beautiful webs. And then they wait for flies to land, and stick to the web. I think that's what we have gotten used to being ... we expect that people are just going to come because we're beautiful, and they will stick like flies in a spider web .... we need to stop being spiders."

Bishop Jeff Lee:

"In this work I ask myself, and suggest that you ask yourself and we ask ourselves: What do we really want," Bishop Lee said. "What is it that we long for? At the end of the day in all of this Trialogue work, what do we long for, what do we ache for? ... What is it that the Spirit is bringing about in us? "


The Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter                       The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey D. Lee
Bishop, Diocese of Fond du Lac                    Bishop Provisional, Diocese of Milwaukee
Bishop Provisional, Diocese of Eau Claire

The Rev. Canon Kathleen Charles, Tim Donahue, The Rev. Canon Aaron Zook
Trialogue Steering Committee members, Diocese of Eau Claire

The Rev. Portia Corbin, Patricia Pfeifer, The Rev. Canon Wilson Roane
Trialogue Steering Committee members, Diocese of Fond du Lac 

The Rev. Canon Scott Leannah, The Rev. Jana Troutman-Miller, John N. Vogel
Trialogue Steering Committee members, Diocese of Milwaukee


Download the Trialogue Proposal

Judith (LaMere) Janz, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at Marshfield Medical Center, Weston.

Judith was born on March 25, 1937, in Wausau, WI, the daughter of the late Richard and Ruth (Hartwig) LaMere. She graduated from Mosinee High School, then attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point as a non-traditional student.

After graduation from UWSP, Judith taught vocal music at St. Stephen’s School in Stevens Point and then taught general music at Mosinee Middle School and Mosinee Elementary School. She gave private piano lessons for many years and served as the organist, at age 15 at St. James Episcopal Church, Mosinee, dedicating fifty-three years to the ministry of music.

Judith was united in marriage to Alfred Janz on August 10, 1957, at St. James Episcopal Church, Mosinee.

She is survived by sons, Jonathon Janz, and Steven (Mayka) Janz, and daughter, Rochelle Janz, all of Mosinee; grandchildren, Amanda Janz, Allegra Coolidge, Kirstin Bates, Nicholas Chapman and Monica Janz; great-grandchildren, Aidan, Keitan and Mason Mengel, Iyla Mabry, great grand baby arriving soon and Logan and Brinley Bates. Judith is also survived by a brother, Robert (Sally) LaMere and a sister Anita (Don) Olds. Brother-in-law, David Janz, Gary (Danelle) Janz, Sisters-in-law, Luetta Hartz and Carolyn (Larry) Graff. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Judith was a life-long member of St. James Episcopal Church and at various times, served on the vestry. She was also a member of the St. James Guild. Judith served as a judge for the Wisconsin State Music Association and was also on the Board of Directors for the Central Wisconsin Youth Orchestra. Judith’s continuous commitment of accompanying and coaching high school students in the Class A Division for the Wisconsin State Music Association Solo and Ensemble competitions brought her much enjoyment. She has used and shared her talent with so many people.

Judith found much happiness spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She faithfully watched the Green Bay Packers and enthusiastically enjoyed her trip to Quebec with her brother and sister in 2001. They helped celebrate the 300th anniversary of the marriage of their ancestors, Jean-Francois Lemire and Francoise Foucault, who married in 1701. Judith spent many pleasurable years researching her family tree and traced some of the family lines back to the 1600’s. She enjoyed hobbies that included needlework, reading, gardening and bird watching.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 11:00 am, at St. James Episcopal Church, Mosinee. The Rev. Samuel Cripps will officiate. Burial will take place at Mosinee Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 am, until the time of service, all at the church. Beste Funeral Home, Mosinee, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be directed to the family at www.bestefh.com.

Judith’s family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Marshfield Medical Center, Weston, particularly Nurse Sarah, Nurse Practitioner Hailey and caseworker Jodi.