MILWAUKEE — The Rt. Rev. Matthew Gunter will be installed as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center in Stevens Point. The service of installation will take place as part of the first Annual Convention of the Diocese of Wisconsin since the reunion of the Episcopal dioceses of Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, and Milwaukee earlier this summer. Prior to the reunification, Bishop Gunter served as bishop of Fond du Lac and bishop provisional of Eau Claire, while also serving as assisting bishop in the Diocese of Milwaukee during its leadership transition. He was consecrated bishop on April 26, 2014.

On May 4, 2024, at a special joint convention in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the three dioceses voted to rejoin as one, after a nearly three-year process of discernment. On June 28, 2024, the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church voted to approve the reunion of the dioceses of Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, and Eau Claire.

The Diocese of Wisconsin was originally formed in 1847. In 1875, the Diocese of Fond du Lac was created to serve the northeastern 26 counties of the state, and the Diocese of Wisconsin was renamed the Diocese of Milwaukee in 1886. In 1928, the Diocese of Eau Claire was formed from parts of the Diocese of Fond du Lac and parts of the Diocese of Milwaukee to serve the northwestern part of Wisconsin.

In 2021, the dioceses of Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, and Milwaukee began the process to pursue reuniting as one diocese in Wisconsin. This process included widespread input from clergy and lay leaders in the state.

The reunited Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin includes over 100 congregations and ministries and more than 11,500 baptized members.