From the earliest days of the church, we know that Christ followers were dedicated to the idea of community, knowing that “when two or three were gathered” (Matthew 18:20), Christ would be in the midst of them.

The Book of Acts traces some of the early development of the Christ Community. In Chapter 2, we read: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2: 42)

Today, we place the same emphasis on the importance of community in our Christian practice. We gather to worship together, to break bread, to study and for fellowship. In all that we do, we strive to maintain a safe and wholesome environment where all are welcomed, and all are treated as neighbors and siblings.

The work of our Safe Church, Safe Communities program in the Episcopal Church sets the standards for creating safe communities and trains those who are leaders in the church for creating safe spaces and maintaining healthy practices.

The last time that our diocese reviewed and adopted Safe Church guidelines was in 2018. There is now a new set of standard policies that our wider church body has developed; we are asked to adopt them as updated policies for our churches.

The Model Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth and Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults are the latest version from The Episcopal Church and represent the “minimum” or “floor” of what is expected in each of our churches. They were created by a Task Force appointed by our Presiding Officers of the Church (The President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop) and have been sanctioned by The General Convention. These polices have also been reviewed by our diocesan Council of Trustees and will be formally received by the Council at its June 2025 meeting. These policies may be enhanced by a parish, adding requirements to them, but their requirements may not be diminished.

In addition to implementing these policies, each parish is required to audit its compliance with the policies on an annual basis using an audit form. We recommend that this audit be done and included each year in the annual meeting reports of each parish. A final copy of the audit form will be published at a later date, however, the draft audit form is available for your review.

The diocesan staff wants to ensure that our congregations are well prepared to adopt these updated policies by August 31, 2025. To that end, please note the schedule of the policy implementation:

1. Form goes live to receive questions and feedback – April 2025
2. Zoom meetings for questions and feedback (see below) – May 2025
3. Policies brought to the Council of Trustees for final approval – June 2025
4. Parishes adopt or adapt the policies – by August 31, 2025

Moving forward, these policies will be available on Praesidium, and individuals will read and approve as they complete their Safe Church, Safe Communities training. Parishes will complete self-audits annually, with the Diocese conducting an audit every three years.

Please complete this feedback form to submit your comments and questions online.

Canon Micalagh Moritz, our diocesan Safe Church Administrator, will be hosting a Zoom meetings (Step 2) on the following dates:

Tuesday, May 13, 7 p.m. Register
Thursday, May 15, 12 p.m. Register

Please make note of these meetings and come with your questions and comments, or reach out to Canon Moritz.

With appreciation for your careful attention to this work –

In the Way of Love,

The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan

Bishop of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania

Beloveds of the Dioceses of Bethlehem and Central Pennsylvania,

Grace and Peace in the name of Jesus.

Across the gospel accounts of the Easter story in Holy Scripture, we read of the disciples’ reactions as they encounter the empty tomb and our Risen Lord: there is confusion, lack of understanding, terror, and disbelief. There is also weeping, impassioned devotion, amazement and great joy. Those who meet the truth of God’s greatest act of love on Easter morning are moved with emotion. Death has been vanquished. The power of God’s hand over evil has triumphed, and in this moment of Jesus’ rising, humankind is redeemed. It is no wonder that the disciples were overwhelmed and at once, both afraid and joyful. Jesus, the beloved rabbi, was not just alive again…but Jesus the Christ had risen.

The Easter story offers us God’s most poignant act – the power of which changed the course of human history and gave Jesus’ followers purpose, assurance and hope. In God, all things can be made new. In Jesus’ rising again, we find our salvation, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we experience this power of love as potent in our time as it was two thousand years ago.

As we meet the changes and chances of the world today, take heart, knowing that the God of Love who raised Jesus from the dead abides with us and gives us strength. In God, our hope is founded.

May you live in the light of Christ’s resurrection and rejoice.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

In the Way of Love,

The Rt. Rev. Kevin Nichols
Bishop of the Diocese of Bethlehem

The Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan
Bishop of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania

Mother Ginger first felt called to ordained ministry at a young age, but due to the environment in which she was raised, she believed that calling was not possible. “For many years, I did not believe that women could or would be accepted in that role. I thought women could only serve as chaplains, and even those jobs would be difficult to come by.”

On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the Rev. Ginger Bennett was received into the Priesthood of The Episcopal Church by the Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan at St. Andrew’s in Shippensburg.

This perspective began to shift during her teenage years when Sister Alice, a Catholic nun encouraged her to seek out God in the still small voice within. As Mother Ginger explored contemplative worship, her appreciation for the sacraments, theology, and liturgy grew. This journey culminated in a time of prayer and discernment that brought her to 2 Corinthians 8:10-12. As she read the passage, she knew she was being invited to share the gifts God had given her in a new way.

Mother Ginger was first ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2020. While serving as a Lutheran pastor, Mother Ginger continued to feel a deep longing to connect with God in quiet, sacramental, and even mystical ways. The Rev. Barbara Hutchinson, Rector of St. Andrew’s, Shippensburg, guided her in this spiritual journey. Together, they explored this dimension of Episcopal spirituality, and through a course on liturgical theology from the Stevenson School for Ministry, Mother Ginger’s call to ministry in The Episcopal Church grew stronger, culminating in her reception as an Episcopal priest in February.

“I feel a strong call to serve at the altar, but I also feel God calling us into the tension of being active and present outside of the church,” Mother Ginger shared. “I have really appreciated this type of both/and ministry at St. Andrew’s, Shippensburg. I am leaning in as I discern where and how God is calling me next.”

Mother Ginger is currently serving in a variety of church and chaplaincy contexts. She is Associate to the Rector at St. Andrew’s, Shippensburg; Chaplain Resident at Lebanon VA Medical Center, Lebanon; Air Force Reserve Chaplain stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Civil Air Patrol Gettysburg Squadron Chaplain; and Civil Air Patrol Group 2 Chaplain.

On a clear spring evening, members of Hope Episcopal Church gathered with neighbors, environmental partners, and friends from across the diocese for an event that brought together learning, gratitude, and faithful witness.

We began in the parish house with a creation care expo, where guests were welcomed to a room full of conversation and shared knowledge. Partners from across the region – scientists, conservationists, township representatives, and members of interfaith coalitions – brought displays, tools, and encouragement to help people understand both the urgency and the joy of caring for creation. Their work connected practical action with long-term vision, and reminded us that the future of our water and land depends on collaboration.

From the beginning, this project at Hope was guided by a growing network of trusted partners and public advocates. We were proud to host and give thanks for:

• Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake
• Lancaster Clean Water Partners
• Center for Watershed Protection
• Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center
• Penn Township
• Flyway Excavation
• and all those who stayed to help us dream, plan, and plant this new beginning.

After the expo, the group moved outdoors for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the edge of our new bioswale and rain garden, located just across the street on the church’s 17-acre property. Our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan, offered a blessing and joined in the ribbon cutting as children, longtime members, and visitors looked on.

The bioswale, now planted with native species and carefully designed to slow and filter stormwater runoff, is both a conservation measure, and a visible sign of what happens when a church chooses to serve – not only its members, but its watershed, neighbors, and those downstream. The work will continue with a “Green Master Plan” that will continue to develop and be funded by the public money resources provided in the grant which funded the bioswale’s creation.

As the gracious light of the evening began to fade, we made our way back into the church sanctuary for an instructional Eucharist, offered with deep reverence and rooted in creation-centered theology. From the windows of the sanctuary, you can look out over the newly planted garden – where water will now move more gently and where new life is already taking hold.

The Eucharistic Prayer used that evening was developed right here at Hope – crafted for moments like this when the sacrament and the soil feel especially close. Our worship bulletin included a reflection on Creation Care ministries in The Episcopal Church, The Way of Love, and our parish’s Indigenous Land Acknowledgment and Policy for Reconciliation. During the Prayers of the People, we named each partner organization out loud, prayed for all who live downstream, and gave thanks to God for the gift of earth and water, and for the Church’s calling to serve with humility and hope.

Of course, the project began well before last week’s gathering. It started with questions, continued with conversations, and flowed from the belief in the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  From there came planning, prayer, and partnership.

And now, something new is growing. Not just in the soil, but in us.

We didn’t do this just because it seemed like the right thing to do. We did it because it’s part of how we, through this work, have begun to understand the Gospel. Jesus told us to love our neighbor, and one of the clearest ways we can do that is by loving those downstream. Quite literally. What leaves our property – whether through runoff or reverence – becomes part of someone else’s story. Now, it carries a little more hope with it. 

We did this because Paul’s words still hold true. We are to work out our salvation with awe and reverence. For us, this project became one small way of doing just that – with a dose of public witness, with presence and prayer, with plants and partners, with bread and wine and soil.

We did this because we believe the Church is not just here to preserve its history – it’s here to live its mission.

I know it’s easy to worry about what people might think when doing the work of creation care today. To fear we’re letting someone down by trying something new or unfamiliar or “political.”  But more and more, I find myself wondering if we’re asking the wrong question. Maybe we should be less concerned about who we are letting down, and more concerned about who we are helping up.

This project has helped people up. Stormwater management helps up families worried about flooding, water quality, and erosion. It helps up children who now know the names of the plants in the garden because of instructional signs that will be installed. It helped up a congregation ready to say yes to public faith. And it helped up those downstream, who may never know our names, but will feel the effect of this work.

Soon, our new diocese will bear the name of the Susquehanna River – that mighty waterway which receives what we pour into it. And I can’t think of a better way to begin that next chapter than by tending carefully, and lovingly, to what flows from our own corner of it.

We’ve shared photos of the evening – faces smiling at the ribbon cutting, volunteers standing in the garden, the sanctuary filled with gentle light. But what we really hope people see is the invitation beneath the image: to join in, to begin, to believe this is part of our calling.

If your congregation is wondering where to start, we’d be glad to walk alongside you. We didn’t begin with a perfect plan. We began with prayer, and a faithful green team who saw the work through.  

May Jesus be our “hope, always.”

Read more about this project in this Episcopal News Service article.

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. 

Greetings from Camp McDowell in the Diocese of Alabama where we are finishing up our spring 2025 House of Bishops meeting. Later today I will fly home, and I am looking forward to being back among you to continue our work in the mission of God. The time here has been informative, restorative, and engaging. I always leave these meetings inspired to be the best bishop that I can be for our diocese.

In this letter I want to offer some thoughts on three questions: 1) What is the purpose of the House of Bishops meeting? 2) What did we actually do for the last 7 days? 3) What Good Word might I offer our diocese as a result of this time away?

The House of Bishops

The House of Bishops is made up of all active and resigned bishops in The Episcopal Church. With 110 dioceses in the Church, that means that there are about 115+ active bishops (some dioceses have a Diocesan Bishop and a Suffragan Bishop) and many resigned bishops are still active in the life of the church as Assistant and Assisting Bishops. Our House of Bishops meetings generally have about 115-120 bishops present. Active bishops are expected to attend; resigned bishops come as they are able and are interested.

The House of Bishops meets twice per year – in March and September – for a week at a time. We gather in various diocesan camps and conference centers alternating locations because of the geographical expanse of our church (The Episcopal Church is across the entire U.S. and in 16 different countries).

The purpose of the meeting is multivalent: We gather as a community to learn – we study topical issues and receive training in salient subject areas; we gather as faith leaders to discuss how we are being faithful to the teachings of Jesus and serving the world in our various contexts; we serve as a collegial body to network, support and hold each other accountable; and we gather to benefit from being together as the judicatory heads of dioceses who often work in isolation. We are also, perhaps first and foremost, grounded in prayer – joining for Centering Prayer sessions, praying the Daily Office and nurtured by the Holy Eucharist.

The Work

The overall tenor of our meeting this time was to establish ourselves as a Body with the leadership of a new Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Sean Rowe, and to study, reflect, and learn about issues impacting our work today. We had theological reflections on the efficacy of prayer in our work, on Christian Nationalism in our country today, and on the place of Institutions in our culture. These addresses did more than communicate data – they integrated information and scriptural teaching while inviting us to reflect on how, as bishops, we can lead in these times. We learned from data offered to us from church statisticians on the numerical decline of the church and how, across the decades, membership in the Episcopal Church has been largely influenced by the birth rate in the U.S. This presentation also tracked the financial resources and wealth of the church which, despite decreasing membership, has remained steady and/or showing growth. This offered a positive marker signaling increased personal investment and stewardship in the work of the church.

The consulting group, Compass, talked with us about the realignment underway in the church for staffing and designing a church-wide administrative structure that will best support our mission. So far, this appears to be a reduction of staff at the churchwide level and the design of some new systems to support bishops and dioceses in areas where they most need assistance – namely, Title IV processes and training for leadership in all areas of church planting, spiritual growth, and the merging and reunification of dioceses. 

A consultant for property development presented five different “success stories” across the church where parishes and diocesan owned properties have been transformed into centers of mission and income. The College for Bishops (a three-year orientation program for all new bishops) shared its work as they look for its next Executive Director, we received continued training in Title IV (disciplinary canons for clergy) and heard about hopeful developments to offer new pathways for reconciliation. We had a stunning presentation from the Office of Government Relations (OGR) related to immigration. The OGR has substantial resources for us, some of which we used in our diocesan zoom meeting two weeks ago as we shared our own efforts at assisting refugees. Each day was filled with information and material to support us in our work.

In the “interstitial moments” there were gatherings of the Bishops United Against Gun Violence, the “Green Bishops” (Creation Care), those interested in learning more about the Holy Land, Church Planting, Theological Education, and other topics of interest. Bishop Nichols and I spent several successive lunch breaks working on our design for the Diocese of the Susquehanna.

And, we had a sabbath day (Sunday). On that day I joined a small group for a guided hike to a place called “St. Christopher’s Canyon” which was a winding path through some old growth forest down into a damp basin edged in iron rich rock covered in moss. Getting there included a walk across a swinging bridge which took some real faith and trust. The metaphor was not lost on me. Each morning before dawn I also took a walk and listened to the birds as they woke up to the new day. Deer with their fawns walked alongside the path – it was a lovely way to start the day.

A Good Word

Each night as I climbed into bed, I prayed one of my favorite collects: “Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (BCP pg. 133)

Friends, I have hope. Firm in my faith, energized by you, buoyed by my colleagues, and confident in a God whose love knows no end and whose power cannot be vanquished – I am hopeful for our work together, grateful for the faithful way in which we address our challenges, and eager to keep at it, growing every day, together, closer to the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4).

See you soon!

In the Way of Love,

+Audrey

The Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan
Bishop of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania

With the recent loss of federal funding, many local refugee resettlement agencies struggle to provide the necessary support for those in their communities. Whether responding to urgent needs, offering short-term or long-term assistance, or advocating for just policies, churches have many opportunities to step in and take meaningful action. Below is a list of resources to guide this important work.

Volunteering 

Church World Services is seeking volunteers to assist in the Harrisburg and Lancaster areas. Tasks may include accompanying individuals to appointments, enrolling them in English language classes, and setting up apartments.

Advocacy

Advocating for refugee support is a critical way to make a difference. The Episcopal Church Office of Public Relations shares how to advocate to US Senators and Representatives. 

Donations

Gift Card Collection

Church World Services is collecting grocery store gift cards to distribute to immigrants and refugees in need. Collect and send gift cards to: 

CWS Harrisburg c/o Durre Sharif
2101 North Front St.
Bldg. 3. Suite 301
Harrisburg, PA 17110

CWS Lancaster c/o Rachel Helwig
308 East King Street 
Lancaster, PA 17602

Monetary Donations

Fundraising and loose plate offering collections can be sent to any refugee resettlement agency of your choice. Episcopal Migration Ministries offers this Refugee Sunday toolkit as a way to learn, pray, and act to support refugees. Some options include: 

• Episcopal Migration Ministries
• Church World Services Harrisburg
• Church World Services Lancaster

Ongoing Information

As this situation is rapidly evolving, we share these resources for ongoing information on the latest ways to get involved:

• How you can help from Episcopal Migration Ministries
• Immigration action toolkit from The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
• Diocesan Migration Ministry Resources

Legal Questions

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Pennsylvania is one source for information about immigrants’ rights. Compass Immigration Legal Services is an organization local to Harrisburg that provides immigration legal services for immigrants, families, and business, and also offers informative workshops to non-profits and churches looking to learn more. If you have legal questions about supporting this ministry through your church, please contact the diocesan office to be connected with the diocesan Chancellor. 

The story of Episcopal Square Towers began in 1982 with a vision inspired by Doris Quier Stevenson, wife of Bishop Dean Stevenson. With the original Shippensburg High School slated for demolition, she saw an opportunity to repurpose the site for the greater good through the creation of the Episcopal Square Towers. This project was a part of a broader initiative by The Episcopal Church to provide housing and essential services to those in need. While ownership of the property changed in 2024, the commitment to providing vital housing for vulnerable populations in this facility remains.

The proceeds from the sale of the Episcopal Square Towers created the Episcopal Towers Legacy Fund, an endowment fund managed in alignment with the Diocese’s investment policies, ensuring responsible stewardship and sustainable growth. Distributions from the fund will be allocated to support ministries in housing-related services, as well as the health, education, and welfare of elderly and disabled individuals. Churches located within the geographic boundaries of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania as of January 1, 2024, and diocesan ministries will be eligible to apply for grants from this fund. 

After the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania reunifies with the Diocese of Bethlehem on January 1, 2026, a granting body composed of members from the Diocese of the Susquehanna will be created to administer the grant distributions. 

Although direct ministry with Episcopal Square Towers has shifted outside of diocesan hands, its mission continues. Through the Episcopal Towers Legacy Fund, churches and ministries will have the opportunity to grow programs essential to fulfilling the baptismal call to seek and serve Christ in all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.

“I am grateful to Cricket for taking on the role of Secretary of the Diocese. In this role she will take minutes of our quarterly Council of Trustees meetings as we oversee the programmatic life and ministry of the diocese between Conventions. The position requires exceptional listening skills, the ability to distill our business into a succinct record, and a foundational understanding of the polity and procedures of our Church. Cricket comes to us with an impressive record of service as a Colonel in the Air Force, equipped with a degree in theology, and a love of the arts. She is passionate about serving our Church and we will be well served by her.”
– The Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan

Cricket will serve as diocesan Secretary until September. Nichol Free, Executive Assistant to the Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan, will serve as Secretary pro-tem for our Convention in October. A new Secretary will be elected for the Diocese of the Susquehanna at our Convention and begin upon reunification in January 2026.

Las clases serán el primer sábado del mes de febrero a junio del 2025 de 10 de la mañana a las doce del día hora del este. 

Para registrarse se necesita solamente su nombre, número de teléfono y correo electrónico. Si tiene preguntas por favor llame a la Dra. Luisa Bonillas al 480-707-9017 o mande un correo electrónico a lbonillas@wellesley.edu.

La clase será completamente en español. 

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