Spirit April 2015

Spirit GENERAL CONVENTION 2015 | LENT MADNESS | ORDINATIONS

Diocese of West Missouri APRIL 2015 | VOLUME 7, NO. 2

LIVING THE EASTER STORY - PAGE 8

Publisher

In This Issue

Editor

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Editor’s Letter Reflections on preparing for the

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Keeping Watch Bishop Marty looks at Easter, what it

The Rt. Rev. Martin S. Field Gary Allman

Spirit is published by: Diocese of West Missouri 420 West 14th St. Kansas City, MO 64105

Editorial Board Members

Gary Allman, Communications Director Angela Crawford, Communications Assistant The Rev. Dr. Steven Rottgers, Canon to the Ordinary

Submissions/Letters

We welcome submissions of news articles, photographs and letters to the editor on topics of interest to the diocese.

 www.diowestmo.org/spirit-article-submission.html

Back Copies

You can see the latest Spirit magazine and an archive of Spirit issues going back to the winter of 2011 by following the link below.

 (816) 471-6161 ext. 17  communications@ediowestmo.org  www.diowestmo.org  www.facebook.com/diowestmo

means in our commercial society, and what it means to the Church.

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Lent Madness What is Lent Madness? Our resident

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General Convention 2015 Wonder what all the fuss

‘celebrity blogger’ reveals all.

The Rev. Megan Castellan

about General Convention is? Fr. Stan Runnels provides a brief insight as to what goes on and what will be discussed this year.

The Rev. Dr. R. Stan Runnels

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Telling, Rehearsing, and Living the Easter Story

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Emergency Planning - A Ready Church An

Easter is both a story and a practice for our daily paths.

Vern Barnet

Emergency planning committee has been formed, and all parishes, congregations and families and being encouraged to ensure they are prepared for an emergency.

The Rev. Bryan England

 www.diowestmo.org/spirit/spirit-magazine.html

Contact

Gary Allman

The Right Rev. Martin S. Field

Submission Guidelines

We will consider all submissions, but it helps us immensely if you can follow the submission guidelines provided on the diocesan website.

unexpected, Lent, and the calling to be ordained.

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How to Change 125 Lives One response to the

Diocese of West Missouri’s 125th Anniversary Challenge has raised over $20,000 for chemo chairs.

The Rev. Steve Wilson

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Institutions & Ordinations Some information on our newly installed priests and recently ordained deacons.

Only a Wet Baby Likes Change The first in a short

series about adaptation in the Diocese of West Missouri. In this issue we cover the reorganization of the deaneries.

The Right Rev. Martin S. Field

Cover photograph: Gary Allman

ON THE COVER The new flame of the Easter Vigil.

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SPIRIT | April 2015

BCP Page 285. In the darkness, fire is kindled...O God, through your Son you have bestowed upon your people the brightness of your light: Sanctify this new fire, and grant that in this Paschal feast we may so burn with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may attain to the festival of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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WEMO Youth at General Convention 2015

General Convention is a great opportunity for the youth to learn about the workings of the Church.

Kim Snodgrass

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English & Scottish Adventure for St. Luke’s & Friends Would you like to join an organized tour of England and Scotland?

Diane Montague

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Directory A directory of the churches of the diocese.

Gary Allman | Editor’s Letter

“Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition...”

CONTACT  communications@ediowestmo.org  www.diowestmo.org Direct:  (417) 522-5151

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t’s a favorite line of mine from a skit in the 1970s British TV series, ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’. And it reflects the truth that there will be times when completely unexpected events will whack us around the head.

If we’ve met, you may have noticed that I wear a small pouch on my belt. There’s nothing remarkable about it, most people think it is just a place where I keep my ‘phone. And so it is. It’s also where I keep the other essentials of modern life - a little cash, my all-important Green Card, my driving and fishing licenses, and of course the obligatory bank cards. But, that’s not all. It also contains a flashlight and lighter, which along with a multi-purpose pocket knife are the basic tools I feel I need to be able to cope with the minor and possibly major emergencies life might throw at me. Similarly, when my wife and I go out hiking or backpacking in the Ozarks wildernesses we always take a small emergency kit. It has everything we need to survive a couple of days in the wilderness should something untoward happen. And, over the years sitting around the campfire we’ve talked about the various problems we might encounter. The scenario we most often go over is where one of us is incapacitated due to a slip or fall. We assume that there will be no cell ‘phone service, and that any rescue attempt will likely take a day or more. When you are sitting in the wilderness, miles from the nearest help, it brings the unlikely into focus, and it makes sense to have at least a basic emergency plan in place.

Sitting comfortably at home or in church, surrounded by modern infrastructure, it is a different story. It’s difficult to imagine the need for such plans. And that begs the question.

Are you ready? Are you, your family, and your church ready for an emergency? In the media and online I’ve seen mention of emergency/disaster preparedness, but I prefer to think in terms of readiness. Readiness sounds a lot more imperative. I don’t know about you, but I’m always prepared to go out, but I’m seldom ready. To be ready, you not only need to be prepared, you also need to have a plan.

To help Churches, families and individuals plan and prepare for emergencies the diocese has formed an Emergency Planning Committee. You can read more about this new initiative on page 10.

I managed one-and-a-half out of the planned three. Lent Madness has been fun and, as usual, highly educational. I have enjoyed the reflections and questions posed by the monks of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist in their Lenten reflections.

But, if I’m honest with myself, I haven’t given enough thought to answering the questions. Then, at the time of writing this, I haven’t managed to fit in any additional reflection.

Worse than that, a period I had hoped to be full of calm reflection, became filled with stress and additional work. I find that it is very easy to let the requirements of the moment take over my life. It is precisely at this time that it is important to stop and take the time to draw breath. Make some ‘Sabbath time’, meditate and rest. Lent, of course, is the precursor to Easter. On page 4 Bishop Marty gives some thoughts on Easter’s place in our modern society. On page 8, you can read how Vern Barnet describes Easter as a time of awe.

Lent & Easter

You might recognize the picture on Page 9. I used it as the cover picture for my first Spirit in April last year. I like it so much I thought it deserved a second outing. +

How was Lent for you? My plan was to read and vote on Lent Madness, read the ‘Stop, Pray, Work, Play & Love’ Lenten Reflections, and set aside time for some additional reflection.

Callings We are all called to share in the priesthood of the Church.

We acknowledge this during Holy Baptism, see page 308 of the Book of Common Prayer...

Celebrant and People We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.

That doesn’t mean we all have to become clergy. That’s fortunate, at least from my own point of view, as it’s not a direction in which I feel I am called. I do, however, have a great deal of admiration for those whose call to ministry is to join the diaconate or priesthood.

It is arguably a healthy sign that the diocese has been, and continues to be, blessed by a steady stream of ‘new recruits’. For me one of the high points of the Diocesan Convention is the ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood. On page 14 we introduce our new ordinands and two clergy who were recently installed (instituted) into churches in the diocese.

Finally

SPIRIT | April 2015

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KEEPING WATCH | The Rt. Rev. Martin S. Field

What Does Easter Mean to you?

Bishop Marty looks at Easter, what it means in our commercial society, and what it means to the Church.

CONTACT  bishopmarty@ediowestmo.org  www.diowestmo.org  (816) 471-6161

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such an eventuality to be the most significant loss. But that may not be – and in my opinion is not – the most significant factor to consider.

Easter is the true and principal center of the Christian religion. After all, if there had been no Easter, Christmas would be irrelevant. But what the Church would lose if Easter’s first significance were just to fade away pales in comparison to what would be lost to the world outside the Church. The world around the Church truly and authentically needs the message and truth and sharing of Easter, just as much as we Church members do. If it’s crucial to one human being’s very existence and eternal life, it’s crucial to all.

So, I return to where I started: how do you plan to do Easter?

A former Archbishop of Canterbury is quoted, famously, as having said, “The Church is the only institution that exists for those who are not yet members.” I believe this definition of the Church’s purpose for being, and I believe this definition should affect what we do with and in Easter.

Photograph: Gary Allman

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n my article for the last issue of Spirit, I posed the question, “How are you preparing for Lent?” Recognize with me again that Lent is a season of preparation for Easter. But recognize also that Lent is most useful as a time of preparation when it is, itself, something for which we prepare. That was the gist of my last article. So, how did it go?

I hope your Lenten preparations for Easter were introspective and meaningful, produced abundant spiritual growth and maturity, and helped you come to Easter ready in yourself to be filled anew with joy because of God’s triumph.

Now the question is this: Having prepared for Easter, how do you plan to do Easter?

Let’s think about that starting with a word association. I say...

EASTER. When I say Easter, what pops into your mind? Bunny rabbits? Colored eggs? Chocolate!? The resurrection of Jesus? New spring clothing? Warming days? Spring cleaning time?

Easter, so much like Christmas, is a holiday of mixed symbols carrying mixed messages. At Christmas, we have a jolly old man in a red suit accompanied by a sleigh and reindeer.

At Easter, we have a furry little guy and his basket of eggs. The meanings of these holidays, it truly seems, have been eroded and displaced by a civic and social redefinition – not the least culprit in this being the retail industry – but hey! People gotta make a buck, right? I’m enough of a capitalist to say that it is only meet and right that they should do so.

So if making a buck at Easter is not the question here, what is? I think it’s this: whose responsibility is it to ensure the true meaning of our highest holy day is remembered, recalled, rehearsed, reviewed, and retained? It certainly is not the responsibility of retailers or manufacturers. This task does not belong to federal or state governments. It must, then belong to the Church, and it certainly does.

The Church is the only body formed around the story and message of Jesus; its purpose and its most important observances are centered in Our Lord’s Paschal Triduum. Therefore, it naturally follows that the Church has the most to lose if it fails to hold fast to the core meanings of Christmas and Easter and allows – shall we say – more secular definitions of these holidays to become ascendant. Right?

Well, no. I can’t agree with that supposition. At least not fully.

Certainly the Church would lose its core identity, its reason for existence, if the original meaning of Easter was forever abandoned by Church and society, and one might justifiably consider

Flowering the Cross - Easter Sunday 2014

Is Easter for us? Or for all? If the Church exists to tell the world about Easter, how can we allow Easter to remain only something that occurs and is celebrated inside our lily-laden church buildings? Shouldn’t it be shouted out in the streets? Like Jesus’ disciples at Pentecost, the day they became apostles?

More later. But for now, Happy Easter to one and all. God be with you as you do Easter. +

The Rev. Megan Castellan | Guest Column

Lent Madness What is Lent Madness? Our resident ‘celebrity blogger’ reveals all.

LINK Lent madness:  http://www.lentmadness.org/

Every year, Lent Madness manages to form a vibrant, creative community around the different saints. The saints I write about become fascinating, flawed human beings who offer their experiences and wisdom as we journey together through Lent, and into the glory of Easter. A silly contest becomes the means through which my faith is deepened, and my knowledge expanded, and I find myself learning more about my fellow Christians on this planet. Few things are more rewarding than that—madness or not! + Megan Castellan is Associate Rector and Chaplain at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City.

Photograph: Gary Allman

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ou may have heard a lot of talk at your church’s coffee hour this Lent about brackets, voting and nail-biting upsets.

Surprisingly, this wasn’t about college basketball. Welcome to the brave, new world of Lent Madness—the online ‘saintly smackdown’ that pits 32 saints against each other over the course of these forty days. Started in 2010 by The Rev. Tim Schenck, Lent Madness now operates as a partnership with Forward Movement - the friendly folks who bring you ‘Forward Day by Day’.

Inspired by March Madness, the contest presents two saints per day on the site. ‘Celebrity bloggers’ (including yours truly) chronicle the important doings of each saint: their biographies, their miracles—even the available kitsch. The voters decide which saint speaks to them, and vote. Whichever saint accrues the most votes advances through the bracket, until finally, one saint emerges victorious, and claims the Golden Halo! And a vaunted spot on the Lent Madness commemorative coffee mug.

Churches can participate in various ways. Not only can you head to the Lent Madness Website and vote every day during Lent, but many have also organized pools, with the proceeds going to some worthy cause like Episcopal Community Services, or the Youth Group. The WEMO Youth have done just that—with the proceeds going to the parish of the winner. As a ‘Celebrity blogger’ I have promised to autograph the bracket for the winner, though this may prove to be more of a disincentive to the participating youth.

Photograph: Gary Allman

CONTACT  stpauls@stpaulskcmo.org  www.stpaulskcmo.org  (816) 931-2850

Checking out the Saintly form.

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General Convention 2015 Wonder what the fuss around General Convention is all about? Fr. Stan Runnels provides a brief insight as to what goes on and what will be discussed this year.

The Rev. Dr. R. Stan Runnels

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CONTACT srunnels@stpaulskcmo.org  LINKS General Convention:  www.generalconvention.org House of Deputies:  www.houseofdeputies.org TREC:  extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/12478.pdf

he 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church will diocesan, coadjutor, suffragan, convene on June 25 and run until July 3, 2015 in Salt Lake assisting, retired, etc).

City, Utah (The first convention met in Philadelphia in Like most legislative bod1785). Meeting only once every three years, the General Convenies, much of the work of tion is the primary governing body of the Protestant Episcopal General Convention is done in Church in the United States of America - aka the Episcopal legislative committees. These Church committees are comprised of representatives from both The decisions of General Robert Maynard, Mother Pat Convention establish the Miller, Kelly Phelan, and Skip Houses. Most resolutions requiring legislative action, financial and policy trajectory Sage serve as additional alterof the work of the Church nates who may be called upon no matter their source, must pass through one of the legisfor the subsequent three-year if needed. In addition to our lative committees in order to period (trienium). Between deputies, Bishop Marty will come to the floor for action in conventions, interim bodies, represent us in the House of either the House of Bishops such as the Executive Council Bishops. Bishops Barry Howe or the House of Deputies. and Standing Commissions and John Buchanon, if they and Committees conduct choose to attend, will be in the Subsequently, if approved much of the business of the Church.

Every diocese is allowed The House of Deputies is the “original” House four lay and four clergy of the General Convention. When the first deputies elected to serve in the General Convention was held there were as House of Deputies. The deputies for the Diocese of West yet no bishops. The Constitution provided Missouri are: Fr. Stan Runnels for a House of Bishops, but it awaited the (chair), Fr. Ted Estes, Curtis arrival of the first properly consecrated Hamilton, Judy Kile, Carole bishop. Thus, the House of Bishops is lovingly Pryor, Dr. Linda Robertson, Fr. Marshall Scott, and Fr. referred to as the “junior” House. It met for Galen Snodgrass. In addition, the first time in 1789. we have four alternate deputies elected in each order to serve.

If for some reason one of the House of Bishops as the retired in one House, the resolution must also be approved elected deputies is unable to Bishops of West Missouri. by the other House. Once serve, an alternate will step The General Convention acted upon in each House, the in. Fr. Jonathan Frazier and is structured as a bicameral action is “law” in the Church.

Channing Horner serve as (two level) legislative body.

An exception to this process the “first” alternates in each The House of Deputies (often occurs when a prior general order and are a part of the referred to as the HOD) is convention provides for an official deputation sent to Salt composed of the clergy and extraordinary process, such Lake City (“official” means lay deputies from each dioas a “Task Force,” allowing a the diocese is paying regiscese. The House of Bishops designated group to bring its tration and expenses for the (referred to as the HOB) is report and suggested resoludeputies to attend the General composed of all the bishops tions directly to the floor of Convention). Mother Megan of the Episcopal Church (i.e. one or the other House for Castellan, Fr. Peter Deveau, original legislative action (both 6

SPIRIT | April 2015

the Task Force for Re-imaging the Episcopal Church and the Joint Nomination Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop fall under this rubric).

Membership of legislative committees is by appointment of the President of the House of Deputies for lay and clergy deputies and by appointment of the Presiding Bishop for bishops. Serving on legislative committees from the Diocese of West Missouri for the 2015 General Convention are Bishop Marty—Formation and Education for Ministry, Fr. Marshall Scott—Social Justice and US Policy, Dr. Linda Robertson—Stewardship and Development, Carole Pryor— Formation and Education for Ministry, and Fr. Stan Runnels—Chairperson of Church Pension. In addition to these General Convention legislative appointments, the Diocese of West Missouri is represented on several triennial commissions and committees that serve the General Convention: Bishop Marty serves on the Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church; Fr. Marshall Scott serves on the Standing Commission on Health; Fr. Stan Runnels serves as the Province VII clergy representative to the Executive Council (EC) (the “vestry” of the Episcopal Church), as a member of the Task Force on the Anglican Covenant, and as liaison of the Executive Council to the Standing

Commission on Constitution and Canons (serving also on this commission is Mother Megan Castellan), and recently Carole Pryor was appointed to fill a vacancy as Province VII lay representative to the Executive Council. In addition to these persons, Kathryn Spicer serves on the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop.

The deputation of the Diocese of West Missouri began its work in January of 2015. During the months leading up to General Convention, the deputation will meet online as well as face-to-face to review materials and information as it becomes available to us. We will work hard to be aware of the wide variety on reports and proposals that will be sent to us. Resolutions will come from several different sources: deputies and bishops, dioceses, provinces, and interim bodies. Our responsibility is to be familiar with those matters that are of particular interest to our province and our diocese. In order to achieve this, in the pre-convention period, each member of the deputation will be allocated specific areas of focus. Through reporting, we hope to identify every resolution or report that needs our special attention as deputies serving the Diocese of West Missouri.

Of course, all members of the Diocese will have access to the same materials we will. We encourage everyone to let us know of resolutions or reports that are of interest; the more eyes looking at this massive amount of materials the better.

The typical day at General Convention begins with committee meetings at around 7-7:30 a.m. each morning.

These last until 9:30 a.m. or so, when a break for Holy

Bishop. This will have significant impact on the Church for the next nine years (the term of office for the Presiding Bishop). I am sure we will spend some time speculating, but, in the end, we, like everyone else, must await the official announcement of the Joint Nominating Committee.

The members of the deputation are keenly aware of the obligation and responsibility given us faithfully to serve God and God’s Church, as expressed in our Diocese uniquely and the Episcopal Church generally, in the deliberations of General Convention. Our charge is Eucharist occurs. At 11:15 possible. All our legislative to prayerfully discern God’s a.m. either committee meetwork will be done on iPads purpose, guidance, and chalings or legislative sessions will rented for the convention. The lenges to the Church in our take place until about 1:00 cost savings on labor, copytime. Our commitment is to p.m. A lunch break can be ing, and paper is expected to execute faithfully this charge taken from 1:00 p.m. until 2:15 exceed the cost of renting the in our prayers and in our p.m. Legislative sessions will iPads for the 800+ deputies actions. While agreement in resume at 2:15 and run until and over 150 bishops in atten- every matter is not expected, 6:30. A meal break takes place dance. nor should it be, what we hope at 6:30 p.m., with committee Of the several items that we for is a realization of the reality meetings resuming at 7:30 know are coming to General of the sacrament of the Body p.m. and running as late as Convention 2015, two of the and Blood of Christ; that is, in necessary. Two nights are set most eagerly awaited are the a world of brokenness seekaside for special gatherings by report of the Joint Nominating ing to shatter the vestiges of province, diocese, or seminary. Committee for the Election of holiness to which we cling, we The evening of July 1 is set the Presiding Bishop and the want to be in holy community, aside for a special evening with report of the Task Force for one with another, faithful the host diocese, the Diocese Re-imagining the Episcopal even in our differences to the of Utah. There is almost no Church (TREC). A link to the call to be the Body of Christ. time set aside during General TREC final report is given at I pray we have the wisdom to Convention for anything but the start of this article. We understand God’s challenge doing the business of the do not expect to hear a final to us and the patience to hear Episcopal Church. Those who nominations list from the Joint God’s voice in the noisiness of serve on committees will regu- Nominating Committee until General Convention. larly put in 12-14 hour days May. The deputation from the We look forward to hearwhile at General Convention.

Diocese of West Missouri will ing your insights, questions, Those who are assigned to be spending a considerable and concerns, before General follow resolutions will find amount of time studying the Convention, and we look forthemselves running from com- TREC report. We want to be ward to reporting to you upon mittee to committee to make sure we understand the report our return. The links we’ve sure they are keeping up with thoroughly and appreciate provided should help you find the rapidly evolving status of the various consequences of information in the run up to things. General Convention is the proposals, intended and our convention marathon. + an all-consuming experience. otherwise, and their impact on Fr. Stan is the rector of St. Paul’s Of interest to some, the our understandings of being Episcopal Church, Kansas City. In addition to an odd penchant for church Episcopal Church will attempt the Body of Christ here in structure and governance, Stan prefers to make the 2015 General West Missouri. Not unexpect- Imperial Stouts (aged in bourbon barrels, if you please).

Convention as paperless as edly, we are interested in the nominees for next Presiding

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Telling, Rehearsing, and Living the Easter Story Easter is both a story and a practice for our daily paths.

Vern Barnet

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ou can argue about Easter if you want. There are lots of historical and theological issues to debate. And ordinarily I enjoy exploring the various sides of religious controversies.

But for me Easter is not In 1984, I studied at a time for disputation. It is a Enryaku-ji, a Tendai Buddhist time for awe. I want to celcomplex of temples on Mount ebrate the astounding manifes- Hiei, near Kyoto. It is the tation of love’s power... home of the famous “marathon monks” whose spiritual 1. Telling the story training involves running for weeks at a time up to 52 miles The Great Vigil of Easter each day, and, in the fifth year, begins in darkness, for me doiri, a period confined to a recalling those bleak, brushelter for seven and a half tal eras of history and grim, days without eating, drinking, estranged periods in my own life. Yet somehow a light flares or sleeping, which brings the monk face-to-face with death. forth, and the story of salvation unrolls and reveals God’s In fact, some practitioners have died. work of love.

One day I was following The story begins with crethe monks on the mountain ation. Yes, I embrace the latest path.

I thought I was in good scientific cosmology which shape because I had been says the universe began 13.8 swimming regularly. But they billion years ago with a bang. were swift.

Suddenly I lost And, yes, I know that the sight of them ahead of me, the Genesis account is based on clear sky became like night, the earlier Babylonian text, the and a deluge ensued.

The path Enuma Elish. And the theory was narrow and now slippery, of evolution makes sense out and to my left was a sheer, of the massive accumulation of frightening, drop. One misevidence. step...

I don’t want to argue. The Why am I searching for beauty of the Genesis story lies the sacred in Japan? Surely not in facticity but in its magthe sacred could be found in isterial meaning. The words Kansas City, I thought, as I point beyond themselves to froze in terror for a time. Well, the Mystery we cannot underhere I am on this Buddhist stand but which we must come mountain.

Why don’t I call on to trust. the Buddha?

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I had this playful thought in the midst of my distress because I am in part a skeptic.

Suddenly the rain stopped, the sun reappeared, and a butterfly arrived in front of me and then flew ahead as if beckoning me to continue up the path.

Later I had a chance to visit with T. Utsumi, one of the monks who had completed the training, including doiri.

No one I have ever met could more justly be called a holy man. His presence was unforgettable. (His photograph appears in The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei by John Stevens.)

Now safe, my rescue from danger when I thought of the Buddha seemed a charming coincidence. But I wondered what he would say about it.

Would he dismiss it? Would he interpret it superstitiously?

Would he chastise me for thinking of myself when so many other people are suffering?

Utsumi cleansed my mind of unnecessary and troublesome ratiocination. With profound attention, he simply responded, “I have heard many such stories.”

In our Christian tradition, we tell sacred stories: Creation, the Flood, Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, Israel’s deliverance

at the Red Sea, the valley of dry bones, and all the others.

They are stories of ineffable grace, prefiguring the rescue of humanity by the power of resurrected love, the pivot of history and the heart of meaningful living. We call that story Easter.

2. Rehearsing the story The Easter liturgy offers us not the deliberations of science or the speculations of history but a performance of the divine narrative by which we are redeemed from the death of the spirit. After humiliation, suffering, betrayal, and death, the power of Jesus’s love is manifested beyond the grip of darkness and sin.

We rehearse, we practice Easter in the two great sacraments of the Church. In baptism “we are buried with Christ in his death” and “share in his resurrection.” In the Eucharist, we remember his death and proclaim his resurrection. As we accept the Sacrament of his Body and Blood, we are assured that “we are living members of the Body” of Christ.

Sometimes looking at other faiths can help us see our own more deeply. The marathon monks seek the death of the ego so they may serve others

world; but even in his troubles, he offered thanks to God. Worship exercises our spiritual muscles to run the good course of life even on mountainous trails.

Photograph: Gary Allman

3. Living the story

Worshiping at the 2014 Easter Vigil

perfectly. Their years of training could be considered a kind of Lent. The doiri, in its ferocious self-denial, may not exactly parallel Luther’s ‘Christ lag in Todes Banden’, (‘Christ lay in the bonds of death’) which Bach used for an Easter chorale cantata, but the extremity of purpose is clear.

And the myths of ancient Greece, India, and elsewhere, the novels and movies and maybe even some video games

of today may all have value; but the regular blessings of the liturgy present for us the paradigm of meaningful life, the life of sacrifice and service, the way of love, as we imitate Christ.

In entering, greeting, standing, bowing, singing, praying, listening, kneeling, eating and drinking, we form habits of attention, sharing, fellowship, and service as we offer praise for the gift of life

and the Light of the world, a Light the world often obscures and we often forget, but which is always and everywhere available.

With this Light I am trying to replace grumbling about the little trials of life with thanksgiving. In every situation, if I can remember to offer thanks and praise at Holy Communion, I am strengthened in gratitude. Jesus was not naïve about evil in the

The rigors of the Buddhist monks challenge the intensity and scope of my Christian commitment. But the Gospel story is even more of an undertaking. All around us are thousands of distractions.

It is easy to see the shadows in the news, in the incomplete and imperfect relationships we have with one another, and even in the fragile world of nature.

Easter joy becomes the pattern for living only after we take up our cross. Easter does not solve our problems; it is a pathway for living with, through, and beyond them.

In this life we are saved from alienation and despair by Christ’s love, revealed in the Resurrection.

As Reinhold Niebuhr once wrote of the human situation, “Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore, we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love.”

When the path is drenched in darkness, Easter’s eternal saving Light is ready to appear to each soul. And as we serve others, there is no debate about the Mystery of God’s love. + Vern Barnet, founder of the Kansas Interfaith Council, wrote the weekly “Faith and Beliefs” column for The Kansas City Star for eighteen years.

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Emergency Planning A Ready Church “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Matthew 24:44

CONTACT  bryan.england@sbcglobal.net

The Rev. Bryan England

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n Sunday, May 22, 2011, a massive tornado cut a wide swath of destruction through Joplin, Missouri, destroying homes and businesses and killing 116 people, making it the most devastating tornado in sixty years. If that event taught us anything, it is that disasters, too, usually come at an unexpected hour. What would have happened had it cut through a church, during a service? How would the people have prepared themselves; how would they have responded?

If we as the Church are to Bishop Marty has estabbe stewards of the lives and lished a diocesan emerproperty entrusted to us, we gency planning committee, need to be ready to meet any currently consisting of eventuality—as a diocese, a Deacon Bryan England, a deanery, a congregation, and retired employee of the US as individual households, Department of Homeland with little or no warning. To Security; Fr. David Lynch, be effective stewards, our the rector of St. Mary organized response to emerMagdalene in the Village gency situations needs to be of Loch Lloyd and a previin place and practiced before ous trainer of Emergency it is needed.

Medical Technicians; Anne With this in mind, the Meredith Kyle, an employee Diocese of West Missouri of the State Emergency is undertaking an initiaManagement Agency; and tive to establish a structure Gary Allman, the diocesan to respond to a wide range director of communications of emergency situations, and diocesan coordinator whether a medical emergency for Episcopal Relief and during a church service, or Development. In the near a disaster similar to the one future, the committee will that struck Joplin. be expanded to include one 10 SPIRIT | April 2015

LINKS House of Worship Emergency Planning:  www.goo.gl/HeuW01 Family Emergency Planning:  www.ready.gov/make-a-plan/ Ready in 3:  www.health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3/

representative from each of the three deaneries.

The committee’s first duty was to write the diocese’s emergency response plan, which establishes a structure for coordinating the diocese’s response to local emergencies. If the situation warrants it, Bishop Marty can activate an incident command center to coordinate donations and volunteers to meet the needs of parishes and congregations impacted by a disaster.

The committee will establish a training program for local emergency coordinators, oversee the development of emergency plans for each parish, congregation, and activity of the diocese, and consolidate the purchasing of emergency equipment for activities, such as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), when advantageous. The committee will also exercise the emergency plan to identify needed improvements, and revise the plan accordingly.

Deanery representatives on the emergency planning committee will coordinate the development of plans within each parish and congregation in the deanery and also act as emergency points of contact for the deanery.

It is hoped that each parish, congregation, and agency of the diocese will appoint an emergency planner and develop and exercise its own emergency plan considering its unique facilities and circumstances.

Central to emergency planning is a threat assessment, which varies from site to site. While fire is a hazard common to all facilities, the possibility of flooding can be greater for one and less for another. In the event of an intruder, how will people be notified of the threat, and how should they respond?

If church buildings must be evacuated, where do families reunite with children, who may have been in another portion of the building?

Photograph: Melodie Woerman

Aftermath of the 2011 Joplin tornado

For parishes, congregations and families wishing to get a jump on the planning process, links to guides for developing an emergency response plan are given at the beginning of this article. + Bryan England is a semi-retired deacon. He spent one month with FEMA in New York City in the wake of Super Storm Sandy.

Photograph: Melodie Woerman

All of these questions require unique answers based on the capabilities of the parish or congregation.

Finally, all agencies of the diocese should be encouraging each household to develop emergency plans and kits based on their unique situations.

The American Red Cross responds to residential fires more than any other disaster.

For those involved, the loss is just as great as that from a tornado or earthquake, and can be just as deadly.

Does your household have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Are they working? In the event of a fire, how should you evacuate the house, where should you reunite? Do those in your family know this? Have you practiced it? Where will you shelter in the event of a tornado? How will you communicate with family members when you are separated during an emergency?

SPIRIT | April 2015 11

How to Change 125 Lives One response to the Diocese of West Missouri’s 125th Anniversary Challenge.

CONTACT gracechurch1869@outlook.com   www.gracechurch.diowestmo.org

The Rev. Steve Wilson

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n summer 2014, a group of ladies met, as they have for a couple of years, in the basement gathering room at Grace Church in Carthage for weekly rounds of tai chi, followed by a cup of tea and fellowship. Only half of them are parishioners, but they’re all fast friends. In the course of their morning, they began to discuss a forlorn clutch of battered wooden armchairs, used hard by generations of youth group members and piled in a corner, waiting for someone to work up the energy to smash them up and toss the broken parts. And an idea began forming. Claudia Mundell suggested that her husband might enjoy tightening up the joints and replacing broken slats, and then said it might be fun to paint the chairs “like those cows in Kansas City.” If only there were a reason, a purpose, to which to dedicate them.

Over tea, the group asked chemo chairs, or had a family the rector about a potential member who had, and the use for the chairs, if they ever thought that these derelict got painted. Coincidence, the furnishings could help raise a Holy Spirit’s favorite course of little money for such a good action, took over. He had just cause was appealing. After all, come from a meeting of the while the Joplin hospitals are McCune Brooks Foundation, only twenty-five minutes away, a private foundation dedicated an hour of round trip drive to the health of the Carthage when you’re getting ready to community, many of whose be, or coping with, chemo board members are parishnausea can seem like an eter-

Coincidence, the Holy Spirit’s favorite course of action, took over. ioners at Grace Church. For months, that foundation had been working on a collaborative project to put a new state-of-the-art infusion unit into the existing building of Mercy Hospital in Carthage, expanding services to allow chemotherapy. Almost everyone in the group had sat in 12 SPIRIT | April 2015

nity. It would be fun to paint a few chairs, talk to a few friends who were artists.

And so an idea was born.

A committee from within the group, Fran Cahoon, Diann Hays, Shirley Pace, Judy Webb and Libby Wilson (only three of whom are Episcopalians, and none of whom are, despite

the local paper’s best efforts to claim otherwise, the rector’s mother!) set about finding local artists, building a float in the fall parade to advertise the event, lining up a venue and auctioneers for the auction, and blanketing the county with posters. The vestry of Grace Church agreed to dedicate half the Christmas offering to the project (the other half went to a school in the Philippines destroyed in last year’s typhoon).

Everyone knew the February 6 auction for “Come Sit a Spell” was going to be great fun, but there was enormous anxiety about whether it would be a benefit worthy of the need. With some conversation and prayer, the committee agreed that the purchase of a single chemo chair would be a success. The

director of McCune Brooks Foundation, Beth Simmons (a parishioner of Grace Church) was planning on purchasing nine chairs, each costing some $3,500. These are amazing chairs, extra-wide, with heating and massage capability.

Each part unfolds so that everything can be swabbed down quickly and thoroughly.

They’ll all face a view of a local lake, with a private television set, a guest chair and a moveable screen made of melted ivory buttons to provide privacy if desired. Chalaine Bell, the director of the new unit, assured the ladies they’re the most comfortable and most state-of-the-art chairs now available. Not that anyone wants to ever sit in them, but if you have to, the best is the way to go. (Chalaine, by the way, is a member of Grace Church,

The first chair, a children’s chair painted with scenes from Dr Seuss’ “The Lorax,” went to parishioner Doris Sample in spirited bidding.

The highest price paid was for parishioner Pat Brown’s

itself. It will be the focal point of the donor board/art display of the new hospital unit. It was a fantastic evening enjoyed by the whole community, with most chairs flowing from the paintbrushes of Episcopalian

gone on a surprise sale.

After adding in the parish’s Christmas offering, the friends who hang out every Thursday over tai chi and tea are able to say that every single one of the nine new infusion chairs has been funded by their parish and their artistic friends.

It’s hard to say how many lives this one crazy idea will change—but nine chairs, five days a week, a patient in the morning and another in the afternoon, offers a significant impact in the lives of hundreds of members of the Carthage community and the rural areas around us. All because a group of ladies thought that even a battered armchair can, with God’s grace, have a life more abundant… +

The 21 art chairs, ranging from children’s literature themes to recreations of masterpieces by Monet and Frida Kahlo...brought in over $20,000.

“Carthage Courthouse,” at $3,200. And the final chair of the evening, a children’s chair with gold and silver paint on the theme “come unto me, all ye who travail and are heavy laden,” by parishioner Becky Edds, was bought by the McCune Brooks Foundation

artists into the homes of Methodist, Baptist and nondenominational neighbors.

And as the Holy Spirit often does, a coincidence occurred at month’s end, as the chairs were ordered. The McCune Brooks Foundation learned that the chairs had

Fr. Steve Wilson is rector at Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage.

Photographs: Melinda Wilson

the wife of Deacon Jeff Bell.)

Surely, the committee thought, we can raise enough to buy one chair. That’s just an average of $160 apiece. Nervous tai chi ladies started thinking about how many chairs they might have to wind up owning.

The 21 art chairs, ranging from children’s literature themes to recreations of masterpieces by Monet and Frida Kahlo, from local landmarks like the famous Carthage Courthouse to a chair covered with shells and jewels (real jewels, including a strand of natural pearls) brought in over $20,000. Not $160 apiece, but $950. Bidding was spirited.

A good-natured competition broke out over several items, as the auctioneers worked the room to a fevered pitch.

SPIRIT | April 2015 13

Institutions & Ordinations Welcome to our most recently installed priests and ordinands to the diaconate.

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here have been several additions to the clergy of the diocese over the last few months, starting with five ordinations at the Diocesan Convention last November, when The Rev. Laura Hughes and The Rev. Paula Lively were ordained into the priesthood.

Mothers Laura and Paula introduced themselves to the diocese at the time of their ordination to the diaconate last spring (see Spirit Volume 6 Issue 3). Three deacons were ordained at convention, and we’ve invited them to introduce themselves here.

In December 2014 The Rev. Patrick Perkins was

Installations: Father David Angus

I currently work as a manager with multiple teams of super heroes in children’s mental health at PACES, INC., Kansas City, Kansas. Together we help kids, empower families and create life-giving hope.

Along the way, at the back of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, sitting high up in the choir loft and behind all the ordained and became priestfolks at church, I heard that voice, “Go see.” I argued, but God in-charge at St. Mary’s, Kansas won.

It’s surprising how all the doors open when it is the right City, and two other priests, time.

The Rev. David Angus and The The last three years have brought many people and many Rev. David Lynch have been blessings into my life across the diocese. St. Augustine’s Church installed at St Augustine’s, is currently my parish where I serve part time as priest while Kansas City and St. Mary still providing mental health services full-time. For the first Magdalene in the Village of time in many years, St. Augustine’s had three confirmations and Loch Lloyd respectively. a baptism! It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that all of this is possible. I can’t wait to see where the Spirit will take all of us next!

Father David Lynch My call to ministry started early in my life growing up in the Methodist Church and while attending Adrian College, a Methodist school. As a classical vocalist, my Sundays were spent singing as a paid section leader in various Episcopal and other churches and during my junior year in college I was won over by the liturgy of the Episcopal tradition. Not ready to seek ministry in The Episcopal Church, I had much to learn.

My wife Debbie and I moved to Kansas City in the middle 1970’s to complete our master’s degrees in music. Debbie received her Master’s in Organ through UMKC-Conservatory, while I (not inclined to sing opera), dropped out of the master’s program in voice and followed a dream to work in public service as an EMT and paramedic. During the 1980s we grew as a family with our adopted son, Christopher, and as members of St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, Kansas. Through EfM (Education for Ministry) at STMAA, and later through the program of the Kansas School for Ministry (now Bishop Kemper School for Ministry), I formally answered God’s nudges to seek

The installation of The Rev. David Angus

The installation of The Rev. David Lynch

Photographs: Donna Field

My parents, Carol and Bill Angus, can attest that I was that child that was too interested in church from an early age. My sisters and I would sing the Kyrie and the Sanctus from the Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena, the go-to music of the 1970’s, when mom was hostage in the car. James Hill, my partner, is now the audience for all my errant tunes of joy.

I found myself hungering to serve at the altar at a young age and became an acolyte at age 7 or 8. I would never turn down an opportunity to help on Sunday. In college, this shifted to being a lector and Stephen Minister at Grace Church, Holland, Michigan.

Service at the altar broadened to service to my neighbor through a deepening of my understanding of baptismal vows.

Right out of college I ended up working with Hospice to care for men coping with AIDS. This flowed into serving in a crisis shelter, becoming a social worker, providing therapy to men returning from prison, and becoming an in-home family therapist.

14 SPIRIT | April 2015

Father Patrick Perkins

Ordinands to the Diaconate: Deacon Bruce Bower Living as newlyweds in our first home in the Brookside area of Kansas City 35 years ago, my wife (Joy) and I decided to do the responsible young adult thing and search for a church where we might meld our disparate religious backgrounds. One of our first stops was at nearby St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

We both loved the liturgy, the freedom to “think”, the incarnational tone of worship, and the wonderful people there. We have been members ever since. I admit that in my early days as an Episcopalian, I often attempted to negotiate with God…. my faith and involvement in the church was a bit “conditional”.

I remember thinking and praying that I wanted God in my life, but I didn’t want to be one of those “church guys” who came every week and who had to be on all those committees. Over the years, God patiently wore me down and helped to strip away all those “conditions” and the parts of me that weren’t authentic. I finally surrendered myself to Him and became involved in prison ministry at Leavenworth Penitentiary, went through Cursillo, and completed the EfM class. Several years ago, I received the hint of a call (from within the congregation) to pursue ordination and to help lead others into active (unconditional!) faith and into living out the Gospel by serving others. The process was scary, exciting, and incredibly fulfilling. The discernment process and the classes and training at Bishop Kemper School for Ministry were wonderful and

Photograph: Donna Field

The late, great John Lennon once observed, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” I could say the same thing about my vocation to the Episcopal priesthood. I grew up in small-town Mississippi, where Christian fundamentalism was the standard fare and the only creed I ever knew was “We don’t smoke or drink or chew, and we don’t go with those who do!”

By the time I reached college, life circumstances had already caused me to begin questioning certain aspects of my inherited faith. I had black friends: Why weren’t they welcomed at my church? I had gay friends (I was a music major, after all!): Why were they treated like red-headed stepchildren? I had Catholic friends: Why weren’t they considered “Christians”? I had friends of other faiths: Why was my church so quick to consign them to hell? These and many other questions drove me to the Bible and to the great theologians, and I began a journey of faith that would ultimately lead me to the Episcopal Church. But…I had absolutely no desire to be a minister of any sort! (Those folks were wierd!) I wanted to be the next Leonard Bernstein, so I directed all my energies into becoming a professional conductor. I took a church music job to help me pay the bills, but I determined not to remain in church work for any longer than possible. (For many professional musicians who “moonlight” in the church, church music is akin to Temple prostitution – an unpleasant means to a financial end!) As my career in classical music was slowly developing, I found myself having to become involved (often against my will) in all sorts of church stuff that had nothing to do with music: visitation, administration, committee work, and even Christian Education. All the while, my

theological appetites grew as I sought satisfying answers to the questions about the Church that troubled me. At the end of the day, I fell in love with Ministry while I was courting her sexier, big sister, Music. I backed into the Christian ministry as a vocation, and I’m so very glad I did! It took me several more years to discern where in the Church I would live, move, and have my being, but I am happy to have found a home in the Episcopal Church and in the Diocese of West Missouri.

I discovered the Episcopal Church through the Bible and through traditional theology, and not in spite of these. One of my personal ministry goals is to help others – particularly those who, like me, were reared in Fundamentalism – to discover that the Episcopal Church provides a Christian way in which liberality arises naturally from reading the traditional texts conservatively. If you want to know more about what I mean, I’m available for coffee or dinner – your treat!

Photograph: Gary Zumwalt

ministry and holy orders. I finished KSM in 2003 and more intently discerned that to which God might be calling me.

Upon retirement from the EMS field, I entered seminary at Virginia Theological Seminary in 2009 and graduated in May of 2012. My first cure was served at St. James in Wichita, Kansas, and I am grateful and very excited to now be called as the second rector of St. Mary Magdalene in the Village of Loch Lloyd.

St. Mary Magdalene is not only a wonderful parish of great people; it is also a wonderful place that is welcoming and willing to teach a new priest as a new rector. I am also grateful to be part of the diocesan family in West Missouri, where I look forward to sharing and serving together in ministry.

The installation of The Rev. Patrick Perkins

L-R Deacon Donna Stanford, Deacon Bruce Bower and Deacon Chas Marks, ordained at the 125th Diocesan Convention, November, 7 2014

SPIRIT | April 2015 15

truly formational, as was my chaplaincy training at St. Luke’s Hospital. Now that I’m ordained as a vocational deacon, and now that I’ve been assigned to serve as deacon at St. Andrew’s, my goal and intent is to help lead others into the kind of great joy that I’ve found as a servant of Christ.

Deacon Donna Stanford

Ordinations to the diaconate, November 7, 2014

Ordained into the priesthood (L-R): Mother Laura Hughes and Mother Paula Lively. November 7, 2014

Photographs: Donna Field

I was born and raised in the Presbyterian Church. Outside my family, my pastor was probably the person who most encouraged my growth in faith and service in and through the local and larger church. He recognized my gifts and encouraged me to use them. My congregation called me out to serve, Deacon Chas Marks and I was elected an Elder at age 21 and later a Deacon (as that I was very young when I first sensed that God might be call- is understood in the Presbyterian Church). When I was given ing me to the ordained ministry. Through many twists and turns preaching opportunities, members of the congregation encourin life and a few challenges, that call developed and persisted. aged me to consider becoming a minister of word and sacraAfter college, I studied theology in a Roman Catholic seminary ment, which was the only ordained vocational position in the for several years and worked as a lay pastoral associate in two Presbyterian Church. I knew that was not my calling. parishes.

About seventeen years ago, I was confirmed in the Episcopal I have been working in the field of social work for most of Church. In 2010, our Deacon at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in the last fifteen years. For the last nine years, I have worked with Kansas City, Missouri, Linda Yeager, identified my call to the runaway and homeless youth. I manage the Street Outreach and diaconate and encouraged me to follow it. It took me about a Drop-In Center programs for Synergy Services. year of prayer and study before I submitted to God’s call and While living in Memphis, Tennessee, a friend invited me to entered the discernment process. I have never looked back. attend his Episcopal parish, and I quickly discovered that the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry was an excellent venue Episcopal Church was the church home I had been seeking. for theological education and formation, and a place where I was received at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Memphis in 2001. enduring friendships were formed. I was blessed to have experiI’ve lived in Kansas City for the last twelve years and have been ence in clinical pastoral care at St. Luke’s South Hospital and a very active member of St. Mary’s in downtown KC. The call I Bishop Spencer Place, and to have experience in the practihad initially sensed became more and more clear, and after quite cal aspects of diaconal ministry during my internship at St. a lot of discernment, I officially entered the process to become a Michael’s Episcopal Church in Independence. priest. I spent two years studying at the Bishop Kemper School Personally, I am blessed with a wonderful son and daughterfor Ministry in Topeka and am currently completing Clinical in-law. Professionally, I am an attorney and currently serve as Pastoral Education at St. Luke’s Hospital on the Plaza and at a law clerk to the Hon. Mark D. Pfeiffer, one of the judges on Crittenton Children’s Center. the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. Vocationally, I live in Midtown Kansas City with my husband, Barry Nipp. Bishop Field has assigned me to St. Peter & All Saints Episcopal I was ordained a deacon at Convention in November, and God Church in south Kansas City, where I am looking forward to willing, I’ll be ordained a priest sometime later this year. I conliving into my ordination vows. + tinue to serve with the wonderful people at St. Mary’s as deacon while I’m completing my CPE. Please remember me in your prayers.

16 SPIRIT | April 2015

Only a Wet Baby Likes Change A new series about adaptations in the Diocese of West Missouri Deanery Realignment CONTACT bishopmarty@ediowestmo.org   www.diowestmo.org  (816) 471-6161

The Rt. Rev Martin S. Field

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he title above suggests a truism that I have found to be pretty consistently correct. Most folks don’t like change. It makes everything so . . . different! Nevertheless, change is certain.

Another way to speak of deaneries. They will be the change is to speak of adaptaMetro-Northern Deanery, tion. Sometimes aspects of the Central Deanery, and our lives (or our lives together) the Southern Deanery. The need to adapt to allow for roster of parishes and conmore efficiency, greater focus, gregations in the Southern and increased effectiveness. If Deanery remains unchanged. the goal is effectively to carry Most of the old Northern out the mission of one’s group Deanery (Good Shepherd, KC; – say one’s church – there Redeemer, KC; Grace, Liberty; are times when adaptation is St. Paul’s, Maryville; Christ, St. essential.

Joseph; St. Mary’s, Savannah; In the Diocese of West and St. Oswald’s, Skidmore) Missouri, we have come to joins the roster of the new that point, and after much Metro-Northern Deanery. A discussion among diocesan couple congregations (Grace, leadership, a reworking of Chillicothe and St. Luke’s, some aspects of our shared life Excelsior Springs) will join the will allow all of us to serve and Central Deanery. be served better, to fulfill our In adopting this change, responsibilities to one another the Diocesan Council also more adroitly and completely, directed that each Deanery and to be more competent Council take a greater role in as a diocese and as leaders. I the diocese’s total ministry. spoke of this initiative during Each deanery now is tasked to my Address to Convention last pursue: November in Springfield.

1. a missional purpose, To that end, a couple of 2. a governance purpose, and decisions have been made to initiate changes in our com3. a collaborative purpose. mon life.

Each Deanery Council will First, for a long time we’ve build ministries that spread had four deaneries in this the Good News and “restore diocese: Northern, Southern, all people to unity with God Central, and Metropolitan and each other in Christ” Deaneries. Recent popula(BCP, p. 855). Such ministion shifts and changing tries will be collaborative and societal norms about church will directly aid the deanery’s attendance have caused a reparishes and congregations examination of the 4-deanery as well as the diocese. To do structure which has resulted this, each Deanery Council in a decision to reduce to three

may request support from the Diocesan Council and may submit requests for support from the diocese’s annual Plan for Ministry (aka the budget).

The governance purpose is to act as part of the total governance of the diocese by assisting the Convention and the Diocesan Council.

Deanery Councils may submit resolutions to convention and shall assist with preparing the Plan for Ministry and with nominations for diocesan offices.

The collaborative purpose calls each Council to build, develop, and maintain collaboration, common purpose, and communication between their constituent members and the diocese.

These three purposes effectively expand the functions previously performed

by Deanery Councils, which focused mostly on participating in diocesan governance.

This re-structuring and expanded purpose for deaneries follows the organizational concept of “subsidiarity”.

Subsidiarity is the adaptive idea that the work of an organization should find its way to the right level in the organization – the place where the work most naturally belongs – which is then empowered to do the work. Subsidiarity means

least centralized competent authority; 2. principal leadership should perform only those tasks which cannot be performed effectively at a more immediate or local level; and 3. those at one level of authority are obligated to respect the competence of those at other levels of authority.

The over-arching goal of this initiative is to allow entrepreneurial efforts to flourish in this diocese. Those who have a sense that they ought to be doing something for the good of God’s Mission need to be empowered and resourced to take and pursue initiatives of their choosing.

The changes outlined above allow deaneries (and other sub-groupings or partnerships) to be agile, to practice self-determination, and more quickly to conceive, attempt, evaluate, and (if proper) build upon and strengthen ministries, or (if necessary) to jettison under-performing efforts and quickly start anew.

I thought you’d want to know and to join me in prayer for our common ministry and life as we transition into this realignment. May God’s blessings be with us all. + The Rt. Rev. Martin S. Field is the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of West Missouri.

1. matters should be handled by the smallest, lowest, or

SPIRIT | April 2015 17

WEMO Youth at General Convention 2015 General Convention is a great opportunity for youth to learn about the workings of the Church.

CONTACT  diowemoyouth@gmail.com www.wemoyouth.com

Kim Snodgrass

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tatistics have shown that the more intrinsically involved young people are with their church, the more likely they are to stay involved as they age. (The Exemplary Youth Ministry Study was a national study of congregations in seven denominations funded by the Lilly Foundation and completed in 2003.)

At General Convention, we on the Episcopal Church than will have a wonderful opportu- many people might want to nity to show young people the know! We will examine resoinner workings of the Church lutions that will appear before – the abundant faith and love. Resolutions Committees and We learn about doctrine listen as they deliberate in vs. dogma, the Anglican their meetings.

Communion, the legislative We will visit both the process and more information House of Deputies and House

of Bishops to follow their discussions and votes.

Attending General Convention is an exciting, once-in-every-three-years opportunity for youth (grades 9-12) to see the “who, what, when, where, and why” behind the Episcopal Church’s selfgoverning process. And, for those youth who have ever been curious about how the Episcopal Church works, attending General Convention

will be an educational opportunity to learn first-hand! + Kim Snodgrass is the Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Diocese of West Missouri

Youth and Deputies with Bishop Marty at the 2012 General Convention

English & Scottish Adventure for St. Luke’s & Friends Diane Montague

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his inclusive tour is customized for our Episcopal community and includes Sung Liturgy at Canterbury Cathedral on Sunday, September 13; a personal tour of Canterbury Center; and a special visit to the community of Blenchingly, Surrey—the “sister” church of St. Luke’s, Excelsior Springs. The connection between the two churches begins with a Dr. W. A. J. Bell, a physician in the mineral water clinics in Excelsior Springs, who owned the land, upon which the historic, local landmark church of St. Luke’s stands in Excelsior Springs. Dr. Bell’s home church, St. Mary the Virgin in Benchingly, donated the corner stone from its 10th century building to St. Luke’s.

We will present a token Cathedral, London, and from St. Luke’s to the comthe ruins of St. Andrew’s munity of Blenchingly while Cathedral in Scotland. Local there, or tour participants have fun and adventure includes the option of a day on their the Beatles Story in Liverpool, own to explore London. a stroll down to the Cavern Also on the itinerary are Club, where they played in the magnificent St. Paul’s 1961, a Scottish evening in 18 SPIRIT | April 2015

Edinburgh, and a dinner cruise on Loch Lomond. Also included are visits to Loch Ness (of course), Edinburgh Castle, St. Andrew’s Golf Course, and more.

Provided are 8 full breakfasts, 5 dinners, an exclusive luxury motor coach for our group, 4 and 5 star hotels, a professional tour director and local drivers for the entire tour. We’ll be surrounded by the local flavor of England and Scotland. + Diane Montague is a member at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Excelsior Springs

Photographs: Gary Allman

CONTACT  diane@montaguetourdesign.com  (816) 616-2336

Join the Tour! September 11-19, 2015.

| DIRECTORY

Diocese of West Missouri Diocese of West Missouri:  (816) 471-6161 | ď„ƒ www.diowestmo.org All Saints' Episcopal Church, Nevada 417-667-2607 www.allsaintsnevadamo.org

All Saints' Episcopal Church, West Plains 417-256-2215 www.allsaintswestplains.com

Calvary Episcopal Church, Sedalia 660-826-4873 www.calvarye.org

Christ Episcopal Church, Boonville

660-882-6444 www.nermwestmo.org/christ_church_boonville_0. aspx

Christ Episcopal Church, Lexington

660-259-3605 www.nermwestmo.org/christ_church_lexington0. aspx

Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield 417-866-5133 www.christepiscopalchurch.com

Christ Episcopal Church, St Joseph

816-279-6351 www.episcopalstjosephmo.org

St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Bolivar 417-777-2233 www.stalbansozarks.org

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Kansas City 816-523-1602 www.standrewkc.org

St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Lee's Summit 816-524-5552 www.saintannesls.org

St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Kansas City 816-921-8534

St. George Episcopal Church, Camdenton 573-346-4686 www.saintge.diowestmo.org

St. James Episcopal Church, Springfield 417-881-3073 www.stjamesspringfield.net

St. John's Episcopal Church, Neosho 417-451-3644 www.stjohnsneosho.org

St. John's Episcopal Church, Springfield 417-869-6351 www.stjohnsepiscopalmo.org

Christ Episcopal Church, Warrensburg

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Excelsior Springs

Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Kimberling City

660-429-1133 www.christepiscopalwarrensburg.org

816-452-0745 www.goodshepherdkc.org

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Kansas City 816-741-1136 www.redeemerkc.org

Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Blue Springs 816-228-4220 www.episcopal-bluesprings.org

Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Mountain Grove 417-926-5217

Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City 816-474-8260 www.kccathedral.org

Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage 417-358-4631 www.gracecarthage.org

Grace Episcopal Church, Chillicothe 660-646-4288 www.graceepiscopal-chillicothe.org

Grace Episcopal Church, Liberty 816-781-6262 www.graceepiscopalliberty.org

Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, Branson 417-334-3968 www.shepherdofthehillsepiscopal.org

816-476-2932 www.esepiscopal.org 417-739-2460 www.stmrks.org

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, Village of Loch Lloyd 816-331-2222 www.marymag.com

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Kansas City 816-931-2850 www.stpaulskcmo.org

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Lee's Summit 816-524-3651 www.stpaulsls.org

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Maryville 660-582-5832 www.stpaulsmaryville.org

St. Peter and All Saints Episcopal Church, Kansas City 816-942-1066 www.stpetersepiscopal.net

St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Harrisonville 816-884-4025 www.stpetersharrisonville.diowestmo.org

St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Joplin 417-623-6893 www.stphilipsjoplin.com

St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Trenton St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Monett 417-235-3330 www.ststephensmo.org

St. Thomas a Becket Episcopal Church, Cassville 417-846-2155 www.saintthomasabecket.org

Trinity Episcopal Church, Independence 816-254-3644 www.trinityindependence.org

Trinity Episcopal Church, Lebanon

St. Mary's Church, Fayette

417-532-3433 www.facebook.com/pages/Trinity-EpiscopalChurch-in-Lebanon-Missouri/510154842396985

St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Kansas City

Campus Ministry

www.nermwestmo.org/st_marys_fayette0.aspx 816-842-0975 www.stmaryskc.org

St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Savannah St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Ozark 417-581-1350 www.stmattsozark.com

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Raytown 816-353-4592 www.stmatthewsraytown.org

St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Independence 816-373-5333 www.stmichaelschurch.org

St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church, Noel

Beth Marshall 660-728-1140 www.dcm.diowestmo.org

WEMO Youth Kim Snodgrass 417-793-0780 www.youth.diowestmo.org

eSpirit Newsletter www.diowmo.org/espirit/espirit-newsletter.html

Spirit Magazine Online www.diowmo.org/spirit/spirit-magazine.html

417-475-3852 www.stnicholasnoel.webgarden.es

St. Oswald's in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Skidmore www.stoswaldinthefields.diowestmo.org

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Clinton 660-885-8008 www.orgsites.com/mo/stpaulsepisc

For the most up-to-date information about events in the diocese, church resources, news, church & clergy directories, and more, visit the diocesan website. www.diowestmo.org

SPIRIT | April 2015 19

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage

Spirit Diocese of West Missouri 420 West 14th Street Kansas City, MO 64105

PAID

Permit #668 Kansas City, MO

An Exceptional Place in the Heart of it All. Respect. Hospitality. stewaRdsHip. These core

values reflect our faith-based mission, which lies at the heart of who we are.

In affiliation with The Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri and Saint Luke’s Health System, we are an active retirement community of passionate, friendly people who truly care about one another. We would love to share how we could be a good fit for your retirement future. Call 816.595.5878 to schedule a time to come see us.

www.BishopSpencerPlace.org 4301 Madison Ave., Kansas City, Missouri 64111