April 22, 2022
Statement from the Episcopal Church in North Texas and the Episcopal Diocese of Texas
The Episcopal Church in North Texas (ECNTX) and the Episcopal Diocese of Texas (EDOT) are in the process of exploring reunification. The Episcopal Church in North Texas was born out of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas (1849), becoming part of the Missionary District of Northern Texas (1874), then part of the new Diocese of Dallas (1895), then becoming the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth (1982).
In February of 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear the appeal of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, which let stand the decision of the Supreme Court of Texas awarding most of the property — including the name of the diocese — to people who left The Episcopal Church in 2008.
Just as they did in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 schism, the resilient faithful people of the diocese found new places to worship and missed not a beat in carrying on the vital ministries and outreach to their neighbors. The diocese also decided on a new name – the Episcopal Church in North Texas.
In the Fall of 2021, Bishop Mayer called together a discernment group of clergy and lay leaders to begin the process of identifying and evaluating options for the future of the Episcopal Church in North Texas.
The Discernment Group eventually concluded that exploring a reunion with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas (EDOT) made sense.
In January of 2022, the Discernment Group sent to the Standing Committee of ECNTX a recommendation that the Episcopal Church in North Texas reunite with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
On April 12, the Standing Committee of ECNTX voted to engage in conversations with the Diocese of Texas about potential reunification. On behalf of the Standing Committee, Bishop Mayer reached out to Bishop Doyle with an invitation to visit ECNTX and open formal conversations between the dioceses.
Bishop Doyle responded, “We are family, we love you, and we are delighted to explore this with you.”
“We are being welcomed gratefully and gladly into a diocese that shares our values. We believe this reunion will strengthen both parties, equipping The Episcopal Church to reach the people of North Texas, the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States, more effectively with our message of God’s unconditional love,” Bishop Mayer said.
Once the legalities of reunion have been worked out to the satisfaction of both dioceses, Bishop Mayer will call a Special Meeting of the Diocesan Convention of the Episcopal Church in North Texas to vote on reunion. Bishop Andrew Doyle will do the same with the Diocese of Texas Diocesan Council. Once both dioceses have agreed, the decision to reunite must be affirmed by a majority of the bishops and Standing Committees of The Episcopal Church.
“As we move toward a new future together, we are unified by the Love of Christ Jesus who prayed for us – that we all may be one and we are thankful for this reunion,” said Bishop Doyle.
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Both Bishop Mayer and Bishop Doyle will have pastoral letters read in all services in all congregations on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 24, 2022. Bishop Mayer’s letter will be posted on the diocesan website and social media sites around noon on Sunday.