The Council of Trustees is honored to present to you information about the three candidates for election as the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. In this publication, biographical information is presented for each candidate, along with their answers to five essay questions asked of them (pages 4-21). There also is information from the Search Committee, discerned during their months of work, describing nine characteristics that the diocese seeks in a bishop in this moment (pages 2-3). You’ll also find information about the responsibilities of a bishop (page 22). You may want to make special note of the times when members of the diocese can meet the candidates during the walkabouts in October (page 23), as well as the schedule for the election on the morning of Friday, Oct. 19, in Grace Cathedral, Topeka (page 24). As we near the end of our search process and look toward the election of the 10th bishop of our diocese, I can’t help but be aware that our election is taking place in the midst of national mid-term elections. Talk about a study in contrast. These processes could hardly be more different; however, at their best what they have in common is lively discourse and the exchange of opinions. Lively discourse and the exchange of opinions is what I encourage the entire diocese to fully engage in. Begin by reading, reflecting and discussing the contents of this publication. Plan a forum in your church to brainstorm questions that you would like the candidates to respond to during the walkabouts.
Make an effort to attend the walkabout in your convocation, arrange carpools or vanpools to ensure everyone in your congregation has the opportunity to participate. Then tell your delegates and alternates what you think. By September 21 make sure your delegates are registered for convention; in fact, encourage your alternates to be registered, too, so that no vote is lost because of an absence. For those who cannot attend convention, start planning your convention watching party now. If you have the ability to watch streaming video on a large screen, invite others to join you, make an event of it! By October 19 the politicking is done, and the holy work of listening to the Spirit begins as the delegates and clergy gather to discern whom God has called as the 10th bishop. In closing, I offer once again the theological statement that has guided the Council of Trustees since we assumed ecclesiastical oversight of the diocese on February 1, 2017: We, the Council of Trustees, believe in and trust the God-given gifts that abide in the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. During this season of transition, we will not be fearful. Directed by the Spirit, together we joyfully walk with Jesus the road ahead. The Very Reverend Foster Mays President of the Council of Trustees
Information for the election of the 10th bishop of the diocese Candidates for bishop
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The Reverend Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, D.Min. Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy Waldorf University, Forest City, Iowa
10
The Reverend Martha N. Macgill
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The Reverend Helen Svoboda-Barber, D.Min.
Rector, Emmanuel Episcopal Church Cumberland, Maryland
Rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Durham, North Carolina
Other information
2
The bishop we seek
The work of the Search Committee discerned nine characteristics that describe the hopes, dreams and expectations of the people of this diocese for the next bishop.
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Describing the ministry of a bishop
23
Candidate walkabouts schedule
24
Bishop election schedule
While impossible to provide a position description for any given bishop, there are some responsibilities that are universal throughout the episcopate.
The candidates for bishop will make stops in each of the diocese’s four convocations, with an opportunity for people to hear from them in question-and-answer sessions. The proposed schedule for the election of the next bishop, which will take place on Friday, Oct. 19 in Grace Cathedral, Topeka.
Produced by the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas Office of Communications 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688 (785) 235-9255 | (800) 473-3563 www.episcopal-ks.org
Send address changes to The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688
ON THE COVER: The diocesan crozier, symbol of the office of the bishop, stands in front of the cathedra, or bishop’s chair, at Grace Cathedral, Topeka. | Photo by Melodie Woerman
Table of contents • Candidates for 10th bishop of Kansas | 1
The bishop we seek
O
ver the course of four months, the Search Committee listened to a variety of voices across the diocese: congregation members, lay leaders, diocesan leaders, active and retired clergy, and staff.
From their survey and listening sessions came three areas that need attention: Providing better support to our congregations to help them become vital and effective. Giving adequate attention to different approaches when decisions need to be made. Helping each member of the diocese understand what role they play within our system and making that work meaningful. In distilling the pages of data before them, nine key characteristics rose to the top in terms of the hopes, dreams and expectations of the people of the diocese for the next episcopacy.
We seek a bishop who…
1. Loves Jesus and articulates a deep and obvious spirituality Whether leading a meeting, preaching and celebrating the Eucharist, or meeting one-on-one with individuals, the people of Kansas want a spiritual and administrative leader who is passionate for the gospel and hopeful about the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Kansas. We want a bishop who actively tends to their own interior life and is “lit up enough” for all to see it and be changed by it.
2. Will lead the Diocese of Kansas into a shared mission, vision and direction
The cathedra, or bishop’s chair, at Grace Cathedral, Topeka
We dream of a diocese that reflects the diversity of God’s people in Kansas: gender, age, economics, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We seek a visionary, action-oriented leader who, after getting to know the people, structures and culture of this diocese, is prepared to help articulate and activate a set of gospel-centered priorities for the coming years — priorities that fully embrace our Baptismal Covenant.
2 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The bishop we seek
3. Equips congregations of all sizes for evangelism and mission Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s call for evangelism as part of the Jesus Movement excites the people of the Diocese of Kansas, but many of us are unsure about how to channel that excitement into action. Amid uncertainty about what the church will look like in this post-Christendom age, we seek a bishop who brings an entrepreneurial spirit and encourages holy risk-taking to help equip congregations for confident, creative evangelism and mission in the communities we serve.
4. Demonstrates a collaborative leadership style Clergy and lay people, adults and children alike, gladly bring an abundance of gifts, talents, perspectives and energy to the work they do for their churches and for the diocese. Our bishop will recognize that we all have strengths that build up the body, and they will actively listen as we make decisions together. When decisions must rest with the bishop, we will have confidence that they will make decisions with wisdom and clarity.
5. Builds and maintains meaningful relationships with clergy, staff and diocesan leaders Our bishop will see how much relationships matter to us at all levels of the diocese and how connected we are to one another (despite the miles between us). We seek a humble, pastorally minded individual who will take the time to get to know people, pay attention and be present. In particular, the clergy seek a bishop who provides them pastoral care, models a healthy lifestyle and exercises self-care. The bishop will help strengthen and further the collegial relationships that exist among clergy, including between priests and deacons. The youth also clearly articulated their desire for a bishop who actively participates in events and takes the time to know them.
6. Fully supports the life and ministry of small congregations
recognizes that “small and mighty” churches have as much to offer as the “large and powerful” ones. We need a bishop who champions the vitality of small congregations and empowers lay people for ministry.
7. Works outside conventional structures and boundaries The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry was repeatedly cited throughout the listening sessions as one of the greatest achievements in the diocese during the last episcopate. This school demonstrates the power of collaboration across diocesan boundaries and even denominational lines, with the increasing involvement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Central States Synod. We seek a bishop who reconsiders conventional, traditional structures and boundaries at the local, convocation, diocesan and denominational levels, and seeks ways that we, the church, can be stronger together.
8. Courageously engages in healthy conflict resolution We know conflict is a normal aspect of human interactions and provides opportunity for growth. However, our recent history suggests a pattern of conflict avoidance. We seek a leader who provides a non-anxious presence and who can facilitate difficult situations and conflict in healthy, creative and constructive ways. We believe this ability requires both a steady presence and a prophetic voice.
9. Makes Kansas home It should come as no surprise that we Kansans love Kansas, and that we take pride in where we live. In fact, there are a great many reasons to love Kansas that we are eager to share with candidates — from the arts, culture and food scenes in any number of our communities, to the stunning beauty of open skies, Konza Prairie and Flint Hills, to the rhythms of small towns and an agrarian lifestyle. We seek a bishop who is excited about living in this part of the country, putting down roots and living into the unique culture of Kansas.
In this 44-parish diocese, more than half of our churches are served by part-time, non-stipendiary or supply clergy. We seek a bishop who does not see a small congregation as a problem to be solved and who The bishop we seek • Candidates for 10th bishop of Kansas | 3
The Reverend Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, D.Min. Current position
Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Waldorf University Forest City, Iowa
Education
Bachelor of Arts, University of Kansas, 1984 Master of Divinity, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, 1990 Master of Arts, University of Exeter, England, 1991 Doctor of Ministry, Iliff School of Theology, 2005 Master of Fine Arts, Iowa State University, 2017
Family
Spouse: Tim Bascom Children: Conrad, 25; Luke, 21
Biography The Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom grew up in Denver, Colo. She earned a B.A. in English with distinction from the University of Kansas in 1984 and an M.A. in Modern Literature from Exeter University (UK) in 1991. She earned her M.Div. at SeaburyWestern in 1990 and a D.Min. in Preaching from Iliff School of Theology in Denver in 2005. In 2017 she completed an MFA in Creative Writing and Environment at Iowa State University. Cathleen had a faith experience that was nurtured at the Canterbury House and Trinity Church in Lawrence, where she explored a call to ordination. After seminary she served as curate for three years at St. Gregory’s in Deerfield, Ill. She then returned to Kansas to help replant campus ministry at K-State, Washburn and Wichita State from 1993-2001, where she initiated the purchase of the St. Francis Canterbury House in Manhattan.
Cathleen then served from 2001-2007 as rector of St. Stephen’s, Newton, Iowa. From 2007-2014 she served as dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines. As well as healing internal divisions, she and the cathedral were named Urban Stewards of the Year by Polk County for the installation of an urban prairie green-space. She currently is Assistant Professor of Religion at Waldorf University, a liberal arts college with Lutheran roots. She teaches biblical studies and was voted Professor of the Year for 2017. She is supply priest and team coach at Trinity, Emmetsburg, and oversees Iowa Creation Stewards, helping parishes plant postage stamp prairies and organize around environmental concerns. She is married to Tim Bascom, and they have two sons, Conrad, age 25, and Luke, age 21. Cathleen likes to garden, cross country ski, travel, and enjoy the blessings of family and friends.
4 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, D.Min.
Personal statement Jesus said to his followers, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.” (Luke 12:22,27) Moving our way into the 21st century, it can be hard not to worry — about our world, about the relevance and the vibrancy of the church. Of course, those first followers to whom Jesus spoke peace had plenty of worries. Most were people of modest means living in a country occupied by a seemingly invincible and sometimes oppressive foreign power. Some of their religious leaders were corrupt, others were unforgivingly legalistic, and almost everyone was stressed because so much was changing. Jesus said to anxious people: consider the birds of the air…consider the lilies of field (probably flowering anemones). My call to explore ordained ministry was first “planted” and affirmed in the Diocese of Kansas. After earning further academic degrees in England and
Illinois and serving as a curate in the suburbs of Chicago, I returned here. In those years, much about my priestly identity was formed. The prayer dedicated for the election of your next bishop asks for “a faithful pastor who will nurture your people and cultivate the myriad gifts that abide in the people of this diocese.” In my years as campus missioner based at K-State, I also became devoted to tallgrass prairie. What looks so monochromatic from a car window is actually a riotous diversity of beautiful species — small and tall, colorful and muted — like the people, places and congregations you describe in your profile. I have served faith communities of almost every shape and size: a team-led church of 25 souls, a midsize town parish, a large suburban congregation and a busy downtown cathedral. Each has had beauty and power for mission, as your prayer says: a myriad of gifts. I am in prayer and blessed to explore with you whom God will empower to help you cultivate your myriad of gifts.
Essay question 1: How do you share your joy of being a Child of God with others? Some people might accuse me of being wired for joy. Exuberance and enthusiasm are important colors in my palette. However, such personality traits can dry up quickly. Beneath them, like the Ogallala aquifer coursing beneath the plains, is the relational offer of a life with God. Prayer, time spent in the natural world, the Eucharist and creating sermons are irrigation lines that open me to God’s flowing love. Through such things, even in difficult times, I have found the joy of being companioned by God, especially in the person of Jesus.
How do I share it? Verbal encouragement of others is a primary way. When rooted in God’s love, I am often illuminated and able to see clearly that all around me are Children of God. I share my joy by reflecting the gifts and talents I see in them. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians there is this amazing sentence, particularly spectacular in the Greek: “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more…” (Philippians 1:9) It is harder to see in the English, but there is a combo of active verbs in this phrase that captures the
dynamic, flowing, movement of love that begins with God. When we tap it, both as individuals and as communities, it fills us up and tends to overflow. Studying the Biblical narratives, and sacred texts even of other faith traditions, also opens me to this relationship with the divine. Then, the opportunity to preach — as Barbara Lundblad says, connecting the Biblical text to the community text — is like turning on the tap. Preaching and writing are central ways I try to share this joy. — continued on page 6
The Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, D.Min. • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 5
At first, I wondered if I like “Child of God” or prefer “Beloved of God”…but then I realized how so often one of the greatest gifts we can offer the church is to retain a sense of humor. Like children, laughing and crying together are great means of expressing the joy we gain from God.
Lastly, I ask: who is a Child of God? I believe that the time is ripe for Jesus’ followers to engage wholeheartedly in this question. In this century, we must commence with the complex task of interfaith understanding and cooperation. To take it even further, we must be clear that the earth and its waters,
plants and creatures are all children of God, along with humanity. Our actions in these two areas must reveal our joy. May Jesus’ followers in Kansas grow in the spiritual practices that open us to God’s presence, and may the joy from it percolate, bubble up and overflow in surprising ways.
Essay question 2: How and why is the Holy Spirit calling you to lead the Diocese of Kansas? The Episcopate, A shift occurred, not unlike my unlikely call to the priesthood 25 years ago. I had served in four different parish contexts and was in a harmonious, fruitful period as cathedral dean. I will confess that I was tired, and that seven to eight years is often my ministry “shelf life.” But this was different. Staying in a hermitage at a Franciscan center, I experienced a spiritual change. Back at the cathedral, celebrating the Eucharist, it presented almost like the “absence of something,” and I knew it was time to move on. During my retreat, I had asked myself, “Who is priest of the prairie grasses? Who is giving voice to the goldfinch?” Since then I have read English liberation theologian Mary Grey who writes that “the earth and its creatures are the new poor,” and I have come to embrace a calling on behalf of the earth. A position on the religion faculty of a small liberal arts college came my way, and I was accepted
into a creative writing and environment MFA. The bishop also asked me to assist a very small parish and support their emerging Ministry Development Team. As I have driven across hundreds of miles these last four years — past green, green cornfields and Siberian-like snow piles — as well as a creation calling, I have come to sense a regional calling. My focus has expanded, and I have become aware that the new call might be episcopal. Kansas. I was driving through the Loess Hills of Iowa — reminiscent of northeast Kansas — when I learned that Kansas would be searching for a new bishop. My heart took flight, and I sensed that I would probably apply. However, when the first round came for applications, for various reasons the timing was just not right. Being approached as a petition candidate, things are better aligned for me to now explore.
If the episcopacy is my new calling, Kansas appeals for numerous reasons. I actually grew up in Denver, Colo., but my mother’s people were citizens of Kansas City since the 1860s, and my father’s people followed the wheat from where they had farmed in Connecticut since 1639 to Kansas by 1871. The size of this diocese and the mix of its parish contexts appeal to me. With my love of prairies, to be bishop of the Flint Hills would be a privilege. In the profile, elements from the listening sessions resonate: a spirituality, energy and sense of connectivity as strengths, and the desire to evangelize, learn healthy conflict and increase diversity. The prayer at the front of the profile articulates a bishop I might be suited and strive to be: “…the faithful pastor who will nurture your people and cultivate the myriad gifts that abide in the people of this diocese.”
6 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, D.Min.
Essay question 3: What does being “chief pastor of a diocese” mean to you, and how do you see yourself exercising this part of episcopal ministry? Chief. While I was staring at the picture of the Diocese of Kansas’ four convocations, the image of a jigsaw puzzle came to mind. With each town and Episcopal shield exists a different piece of what our loving God wants to do in Kansas. These small pieces fit together into larger regional pieces. There is no hiding the fact that our task is challenging. The Christendom of the 20th century is ephemeral if not vanishing. We are not quite sure what God will make of us! It is hard to put the pieces together when the image is new and unfamiliar. But the life of faith is like that sometimes. We must remind ourselves that the very first followers of Jesus had the same experience — exponentially. The Spirit of the Risen One was making them into something unrecognizable to both Jewish and Greek people of their time.
The bishop is charged with oversight — quite literally, taking an aerial view in space and a long view in terms of time. I have always enjoyed the visionary and problemsolving side of leadership. “Chief ” means to me collaborative oversight of the whole. In my 27 years as a priest, I have served almost every shape and size of parish in the Midwest context: North Shore Chicago suburban (Average Sunday Attendance 400-500); renewing/planting campus ministry (Kansas State University) and peer ministry at Wichita State and Washburn; mid-size town, mid-size parish (ASA 80); downtown cathedral (ASA 150); very small missionteam-led church (ASA 15). I believe that this varied experience can help me to understand the unique parishes and places engaged in mission in Kansas.
I also believe that by stepping slightly aside to teach at the college for the last four years, I have some new perspective on the church, see it from some new angles. I understand better how less-churched people and those of other traditions view us. I pray that perspective can help me guide mission. Pastor. While engaged in oversight, a bishop also needs to spend real time on the ground with all the congregations of the diocese. A bishop can only figure out how the pieces fit together if he/she comes close enough to learn the needs and resources of each place and its people. Tapping that moving, overflowing love named in Philippians, a bishop should care for diocesan leaders — clergy and lay — for the love and care of leaders radiates outward into each parish.
Essay question 4: How have you led the people of God in speaking out about and taking action on social justice issues? “Who cares.” We are seminarians exiting an ethics class in Chicago circa 1985. “What do you mean who cares?” I say. “Who cares?” my friend responds. “…if we load the Great Lakes with chemicals so nothing lives but
the lampreys? Pollute the air so no one can see the mountains? Trash everything held sacred in Genesis 1? Maybe God cares!” “God cares more about the poor. Love your neighbor as yourself. I don’t hear ‘Love the trees’ in Jesus’ top two, or even Moses’ big ten.”
“No trees, and people can’t breathe.” We turn up our collars and ascend toward the El train. Lonnie is from the Rust Belt and I’m from the Rockies. — continued on page 8
The Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, D.Min. • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 7
“In Youngstown, 1,400 people lost their jobs in one day. Environmental regs were a factor. 14 percent unemployment. Depression. Alcoholism. God cares about them.” He flicks his cigarette as the train comes. “Enviro-types …white, wealthy…don’t give a damn about the people in the margins.” We get on the train but choose different sides of the aisle. No common ground. By 2008, working with flood victims in Des Moines, the aisle had closed. At the General Convention that followed, discussing climate disasters with people from around the globe, it became clear that those who care about the earth and those who stand with people in the margins are now on common ground. In my urban ministry training we spoke of “upstream” and “downstream” social ministry. During Iowa flood events, those who suf-
fered most were of modest means, with homes and jobs in vulnerable areas. Members of the cathedral (wellplaced on “High Street”) helped to rebuild homes. We offered legal and insurance counsel. I was a member of our COAD — civic leaders devoted to disaster relief. One gentleman, whose home we helped to rebuild, died of floodrelated breathing complications. In both local Episcopal News Service publications, I asked the uncomfortable question of how the same levee could remain weak ever since the 1993 Des Moines flood, appalled that it might have served as an escape hatch for greater assets downtown. Downstream ministry. Prairie and wetland restoration is upstream ministry. One reason those living in the flood plains are vulnerable is that Iowa has lost all but 1/1000 of its original landscape.
Short-rooted corn and soybeans, and impermeable cement and asphalt, replace the deep-rooted plants that once soaked up our abundant water and held earth in place. The cathedral tore off its parking lot and installed a system of rain gardens and permeable pavers that capture 12 swimming pools of water a year. I now direct Iowa Creation Stewards and am happy to report that Iowa now has six Postage Stamp Prairies, with three more in the exploratory stage. We also discuss local and state partnerships and legislative efforts. I have completed an autobiographical novel Of Green Stuff Woven, which I hope to publish. While being a good read, I hope the book may raise awareness of disappearing prairie species and expose some of the power dynamics around floods.
Essay question 5: Tell us about an experience where you, and those you have led, demonstrated adaptability in order to pursue the mission of the church? The bishop of Iowa sat in my living room. He had traveled two hours north both to see my new environs and to ask me a question. The last part was what was making me nervous. “I’m wondering if you’ll companion Trinity, Emmetsburg? The congregation is quite small but lively. They are forming a new Ministry Development Team. I know you are teaching full-time, but you could
celebrate and preach a Sunday or two a month and be their coach.” I had to get out a map to find Emmetsburg and to visit first. But I said yes. It’s hard to say no to a bishop in your living room. I was on the threshold of trying something new. Although I had been in Episcopal churches of many shapes and sizes, I had never worked with a church of fewer than 50 members, nor been directly part
of the innovative MDT work Iowa has helped to pilot. After planning and presiding at cathedral liturgies with acolytes, organ and choir, I found myself celebrating with eight to 12 folks most Sundays. Although intrigued by the proposition and convinced of the 21st century need of new models, massaging my paradigm
8 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, D.Min.
— continued on page 9
of how church might be ordered and shared has been an intellectual, ecclesiastical challenge. Of course, the six lovely people whom the parish asked to join this team were also on the threshold of trying something new. While with part-time priests for many years they had always done much and done it well, their paradigm was also the older model of clergy who ran things. While willing, they have had to grow in comfort with assuming roles they once perceived as the province of those ordained. Engagement with the diocese can be a bit confusing as well.
While I do “meat and potatoes” courses with them, like scripture and Prayer Book study, they have another coach from the bishop’s staff with whom they connect through video meetings. We two coaches try to be on the same page but undoubtedly pull the team in different directions at times. Moreover, as we edge toward the possible ordination of at least one member, it seems to me that this new ministry model is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, because the ordination process springs from and serves longstanding models of ministry.
Sometimes it can feel like the team and I are on God’s “Tilt-aWhirl” at an amusement park. We are having fun and then it gets all dizzying and confusing, almost to the point of nausea. But I see new life springing forth at Trinity, Emmetsburg. Last year there were four baptisms, and three of the four are in worship every Sunday. This MDT approach needs refining, but I am sure it has great applicability for faithful communities of our era.
And just for fun... What books are you currently reading?
For my own writing: Terry Tempest Williams’ Refuge, Graham Greene’s Monsignor Quixote, Annie Dillard’s American Childhood and Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine. For teaching: The Complete Gospel Parallels (2012, Dewey & Miller. Included are fragments of Thomas, Peter, and reconstructed Q gospels) and Darrell Jadock’s work on Lutheran Theology and Religious Diversity. For fun and my book club: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.
What is your favorite food?
Indian: Saag Paneer, Chicken Korma, Prawn Curry
Do you have any pets?
Three cats: Morello, Miles and Kilometer
What is your favorite vacation spot? Wilcove and the south coast of Cornwall, England
Are you a fan of a particular sports team? If so, which one and why? K-State Wildcats. Our family lived in Manhattan early in Coach Snyder’s time. Though graduates devoted to KU academics, my husband and I found the Cats’ football turn-around was so incredible we had to become fans. Our sons, who were little boys then, still bleed purple.
The Rev. Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, D.Min. • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 9
The Reverend Martha N. Macgill Current position
Rector, Emmanuel Episcopal Church Cumberland, Maryland
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Davidson College, North Carolina, 1980 Juris Doctor, University of Virginia School of Law, 1984 Master of Laws, New York University School of Law, 1986 Master of Divinity, Virginia Theological Seminary, 1995
Family
Spouse: Bryan Kelleher Children: Jack, 29; Anna, 26
Biography The Rev. Martha N. Macgill was baptized and confirmed at Christ Church, Alexandria, Va., where she sang for several years in the junior choir. She attended St. Agnes Episcopal School in Alexandria for 12 years, where she graduated in 1976 as valedictorian. She attended Davidson College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude. After attending University of Virginia Law School (J.D.) and New York University Law School (L.LM. in Taxation), she practiced law in Connecticut and as a clerk at the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C. Martha entered the ordination process in the Diocese of Virginia from St. Paul’s, Alexandria, in 1990. She attended Virginia Theological Seminary, where she graduated with honors in 1995. She was ordained to the diaconate in June 1995 by the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee at All Saints, Richmond.
She served as an assistant rector at St. Stephen’s, Richmond, where she was ordained to the priesthood in January 1996. In 1997, she and her family moved to the Diocese of Christ the King, South Africa, where she became priest-in-charge of St. Francis, Walkerville. In August 2000, she returned to the United States to become rector of Memorial Church in Baltimore, Md., until May of 2014. In the Diocese of Maryland, she has served as chair of the Commission on Ministry. She was a mentor to the new Episcopal Service Corps of young adults and served as a deputy to General Convention in Indianapolis in 2012. Martha now serves as rector of Emmanuel Parish in Cumberland, Md. Martha is married to Bryan Kelleher. Martha and Bryan have two children: Jack, age 29, and Anna, age 26. Martha’s interests include swimming, tennis, golf, gardening and reading.
10 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Martha N. Macgill
Personal statement As an Episcopal priest and rector for over 20 years, I have served congregations in Virginia, South Africa and Maryland. When my family and I were called to St. Francis Anglican Church in South Africa, I asked my bishop, the Rt. Rev Peter John Lee, what belongings we should bring with us from the States. In answer, he quoted this passage from Matthew: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) He then gave me another piece of advice: “Remember that you can’t live in an ivory tower all your life. The world calls for ministers of the gospel.” Both of these bits of wisdom have remained with me and informed my ministry ever since. As followers of the Way, we live as our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry says, by the gospel of Love. This gospel of Love teaches us that love and suffering are our greatest teachers.
As we move through the world, we begin to forget these great teachers and gather possessions and worldly success around us. Soon these things crowd out our ability to honor diversity, live in equality and take compassionate action by standing in solidarity with those in need. We remain isolated in our ivory towers. Yet, at some point in life, whether it be illness or tragedy or heartache, we realize that all material possessions or worldly success can be taken away. What abides is the love of God in community. Our treasure is one another. I believe that the people of God of the Diocese of Kansas know the treasure that is one another in Christ. A vision that treasures the dignity of every human being. A vision where we walk with one another through celebration and sorrow. A vision that is open and free as the Kansas plains. I would be blessed to walk deeper into this treasure of God’s Kingdom with the people of God in Kansas — across the plains and beyond.
Essay question 1: How do you share your joy of being a Child of God with others? In the farewell discourses in the gospel of John, Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so I love you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love….I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15: 9-11) Sharing the joy of being a child of God is first and foremost abiding in the love of Christ. I believe that abiding in Christ’s love encompasses all areas of our lives. In fact, the love of Christ is the foundation of our lives that integrates all our different
roles and responsibilities. Each moment of every day is an opportunity to choose to abide in Christ’s love and share that love with the world. As a preacher, a teacher and a pastor, I share the joy of Christ in story, scripture and prayer. I find great joy in the simple and essential pastoral visit where sometimes words of comfort are expressed but often a silent presence is the only answer. My preaching is full of everyday stories of the joys of life abiding in Christ’s love. My teaching is filled with the spiritual tradition of the
mystics and saints who reflect the joy of life in Christ, particularly in times of testing and challenge. The life of a priest is full of opportunities each and every day to share the joy of being a Child of God with the parish community and beyond. However, my joy is not complete unless I also share that joy in my interactions with my family, friends, God’s creation and the greater world. The joy of living a life as a Child of God abiding in Christ’s love is that the way is prepared for — continued on page 12
The Rev. Martha N. Macgill • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 11
us to integrate all the different parts of our lives into that love — much as the different branches of a vine make up the whole plant. God calls us to be good husbands and wives, parents, friends, neighbors, community members and world citizens in addition to being priests of the church. I some-
times find the greatest joy of my day when I share a good joke with a friend or have an unexpected but important conversation with a shopkeeper or a grocery clerk. And sometimes joy comes in the seemingly darkest moment of grief and tragedy, when the light of Christ
begins to shine in a moment of reconciliation or hope. Part of my call as a Child of God is to identify those moments of joy and share them with others. As Franciscan Richard Rohr says, “Everything belongs” and is brimming with possibilities of joy.
Essay question 2: How and why is the Holy Spirit calling you to lead the Diocese of Kansas? I am a cradle Episcopalian who sang in the junior choir of my childhood parish and who values deeply the spiritual tradition of the liturgy, teaching and structure of the Episcopal Church. Throughout my life in Christ, I have found that learning to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit is crucial. My own vocational journey has led me through the practice of law to the ordained ministry. Within that ordained ministry, I have served corporate/program congregations, pastoral-sized congregations and small congregations. In my 20-plus years of ordained ministry, I have been called to serve congregations in large cities, rural towns, suburban communities and abroad in an Anglican parish in South Africa. Through my service in the broader church, I have been brought again and again to the sense that I am called to offer myself in episcopal processes as part of the Jesus Movement of the Episcopal Church. The profile of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas touched my soul in several ways. For the past two years, I have been a student in the two-year Living School that is part of the
vision of the great spiritual teacher Richard Rohr based at his Center for Action and Contemplation in New Mexico. As part of this two-year program, I have joined with a broadly ecumenical body of fellow seekers from across the country and world to dive deeply into the ancient contemplative Christian tradition and to live that tradition out into the world. With our core teachers of Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgault and Jim Finley, we came together twice a year in Albuquerque, N.M., for teaching and group discernment. During the rest of the year, we studied ancient and contemporary texts online. Of the approximately 200 members of our class, there were very few ordained ministers and even fewer Episcopal clergy. I believe that this broad cross-section of students made for a vision of what the Christian community is called toward in this 21st century, and it gave me a sense of how the Jesus Movement of the Episcopal Church might integrate into this ancient yet renewed movement of bringing Christ’s love to our broken world. I am impressed in
12 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Martha N. Macgill
your profile that you are looking for a way for the Diocese of Kansas to embrace Bishop Curry’s Jesus Movement. Given my background, as your bishop, I would center the life of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas in prayer. We would worship together as well as build community in the study of scripture, our Episcopal tradition and our experience of Christ in our lives. The Bishop Kemper School is a profound gift to not only the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas but to the greater Episcopal Church, and I would seek to uphold its vision in this regard. Second, in partnership with this spiritual grounding, your diocesan profile illustrates that the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is dedicated to action in the world. Working with our communities across ecumenical and interfaith lines is essential for the Jesus Movement of the Episcopal Church to be relevant in our complex world. A diocesan bishop is called to be that relational fulcrum that connects God and tradition to the lives of the members of the Episcopal Church and their lives to the world.
Essay question 3: What does being “chief pastor of a diocese” mean to you, and how do you see yourself exercising this part of episcopal ministry? As my bishop in Africa said of his ministry as bishop, “Every day I travel to another area of the diocese, show up and see what God has in store!” I believe that the most critical and essential quality of a bishop is presence among the people of the diocese to which he or she is called. This pastoral presence is the cornerstone of a diocesan bishop. First, a bishop is called to be chief pastor and priest to the clergy of the diocese. Clergy in a diocese must have the sense that they are able to communicate directly with their bishop. As a long-time rector, I have appreciated the presence and connectivity that I have had with my bishops. In times of illness, death or tragedy, it is vitally important that clergy hear from their bishop. In times of parish conflict or challenge, the bishop and the
bishop’s staff must be available. And in times when celebration is called for, the bishop should be there to celebrate. Second, a bishop and diocesan staff are called to build relationships and resources within the diocese to support each and every parish of the diocese. The bishop is the model of this form of collegial, relational, bridge-building way of Jesus. This way of diocesan ministry not only provides teaching resources as the Bishop Kemper School and youth programs that bring community to smaller youth groups, but also allows for ecumenical, interfaith and community partnerships. Both of these pastoral areas require that the bishop be visible all over the diocese as well as be reachable through modern communication tools.
Inevitably, a bishop may not always be able to be at the bedside of an ill diocesan clergy member or lay leader, but a phone call from one’s bishop, in my own experience, can be a spiritual lifeline. Moreover, the office of bishop can be one of overwhelming expectations and demands. In my busy life as a rector and parish priest, I find that the way to come back to the heart of my ministry in Christ is to make a pastoral visit. I believe this to be true of a bishop’s life and ministry as well. One of my deepest gifts to the Body of Christ is this quality of pastoral presence. In my life in the Episcopal Church, I understand the profound importance of this responsibility as bishop and would live it out as a priority of my ministry among you.
Essay question 4: How have you led the people of God in speaking out about and taking action on social justice issues? My life and ministry in the world has circled around the issue of reconciliation and my call to serve God’s people — wherever I have been — has always had reconciliation as a major component. In each community of faith that I have served, reconciliation has been an important piece of social justice ministry.
My first parish that I served as an assistant was rocked by the death of a white young adult at the hands of an African-American young man. My next call was situated in the country of South Africa, where my parish was transitioning from a historically white congregation to a multi-cultural community. Next, my long rectorship in an
urban parish required the skills to be in conversation and ministry with the large and influential African-American parishes, ecumenical congregations and synagogues. Finally, my current parish has required even deeper reconciliation skills. My predecessor died — continued on page 14
The Rev. Martha N. Macgill • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 13
suddenly at Annual Meeting in the midst of a parish conflict. This most recent issue of reconciliation was most complex, as I was asked to be a pastoral presence to a grieving and traumatized congregation. In all of these instances, and particularly in the latest event, three methods of leadership have served the communities well. First, listening deeply and carefully was an important first step. In the first few months, in each circumstance, my call was to listen individually and in groups to those in the parish (as well as the town community). Part of my role was to encourage individuals or groups to stay connected to the body of
Christ, to keep worshipping in community and showing up. Second, as the facts surrounding each event slowly came to light (and there was a great need of some to “just move on”), I saw that the light of the resurrection and hope for the future began to dawn. New ideas began to surface. As with any reconciliation, the ability to pace the remembering and storytelling of the conflict, tragedy or situation with the readiness to move forward is one that requires prayer and discernment in community. Finally, the need to forgive and move to a new place of reconciliation eventually emerges. This moment took place in my current call in large part when one of the
leaders of the opposition to the rector died, and the funeral was a moment of reconciliation for all in a mysterious but palpable way. This movement of being a listening presence, to managing the movement of the community’s heart and soul through to the closure of forgiveness and new life, is one that a bishop often oversees in the light of parish conflict and tragedy, but also in community conflict and conversation. Keeping constant in relationship over the long haul is a critical. For as Gandhi said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Having faith in Christ that this is so is essential.
Essay question 5: Tell us about an experience where you, and those you have led, demonstrated adaptability in order to pursue the mission of the church? For many congregations, the challenge of Christian formation for our young people is vexing. From the smallest community of faith to the largest program parish, the dwindling numbers of Sunday school and youth programs have been frustrating. Every parish that I have served has struggled with this cultural phenomenon of the 21st century mainline denominations. My experience has been that new ways of thinking about formation of our young people is the key. Many have seen enthusiasm for the Episcopal Service Corps program for young adults in their
20s who live in community with a Rule of Life and serve in social outreach programs for a year. In my own experience, being part of a group that brought the Episcopal Service Corps to my diocese, this group can be an energizing element of any diocese. My current position as Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at an area college has shown me the inquiring minds of our young adults preparing to address the significant issues of our world. The Episcopal Church should be a welcoming place of intellectual and moral inquiry for our young adults. The Diocese of Kansas has shown a commitment to youth and young
14 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Martha N. Macgill
adults that I believe is one of the keys to the renewal of the Episcopal Church. In this regard, my most energizing experience of building community in a time of changing contexts and limited resources was my experience of the intergenerational theatre ministry at the urban parish I served for 14 years. Parents and teenagers worked alongside single folks to bring together a musical. On Sunday after worship, an intergenerational crew would stay in the church and eat lunch visiting. Then, the magic would begin to happen, and — continued on page 15
different groups would rehearse music, learn dance steps, and begin to build and paint sets. Soon, the community beyond the church became involved as members from neighboring churches, synagogues and schools began to appear. As the casts and offerings grew, a suggestion was made to move the theatre group to a larger, secular
space. There was a strong objection from the families in particular who felt that this was a ministry of the church and that it was important to spend time as a family within the church walls — not only preparing but presenting the show to the audiences that came from beyond our church walls. Over the years, there were many discussions about
how to exist as a sacred worship space as well as a theatre part of the year — particularly around the Lenten and Easter seasons. I believe that the ability to be flexible and open to new opportunities for Christ in community led to a vibrant new ministry for a parish looking for ways to involve its youth and young people.
And just for fun... What books are you currently reading?
I often am grazing through history, fiction, topical issues and spirituality at any one time. Here’s a sampling at the top of the pile: Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct by P.M. Forni; Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson (reviewing Kansas history around statehood); Odyssey: a Father, a Son and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohn; Nobel Prize Winner Nadine Gordimer’s Selected Short Stories; Falling Upwards by Richard Rohr. Best book just finished: Our Towns: A 100,000 Mile Journey into the Heart of America by James Fallows and Deborah Fallows (journalist couple fly in a small plane around the country).
What is your favorite food?
Every season has a few favorite foods — local corn on the cob and raspberry cobbler in the summer, a great stew in the winter, apple pie in the fall, asparagus in the spring. I love to eat local cuisine wherever I find myself — fresh seafood when at the beach, crab cakes in Baltimore, red and green chile in New Mexico, barbecue in Kansas. Favorite food of the moment: homemade pesto drizzled over tomatoes and zucchini from my garden.
Do you have any pets? Pet Number One is Sirius Black, our rescue dog who is now 8 years old. He is a gentle black shepherd/ lab mix. Brody, our son’s cat, replaced our beloved Mr Kitty, who died last year at 19 years old. Brody is an orange-white tabby who is an excellent mouser and rules the roost.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Our favorite vacation involves being anywhere with our children and now grandchildren. A perfect vacation day would involve the day outside — hiking, biking, skiing, swimming — with a nap and then a great dinner and games in the evening. Recent highlight locations include the Outer Banks, the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa, Bandalier National Park in New Mexico and our son’s wedding in Provence, France.
Are you a fan of a particular sports team? If so, which one and why? We are huge sports fans. I grew up attending Washington Redskins football games and listening to the Washington Senators on the radio. We root for the local teams wherever we live. We currently are big fans of teams that have tangled with Kansas teams in the recent past: the Baltimore Orioles (we were at the ALCS game vs. the Kansas City Royals in 2014) and Davidson College Wildcats (Kansas stopped Steph Curry and the Cats’ road to the Final Four in 2008). We also are big fans of major tournaments in the golf and tennis worlds.
The Rev. Martha N. Macgill • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 15
The Reverend Helen Svoboda-Barber, D.Min. Current position
Rector, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Durham, North Carolina
Education
Bachelor of Arts, University of Kansas, 1991 Master of Divinity, Seminary of the Southwest, 1998 Doctor of Ministry, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2017
Family
Spouse: Shawn Svoboda-Barber Children: Charlie, 14; Luke, 11
Biography The Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber grew up in Chapman, Kan., and graduated with degrees in psychology and human development from the University of Kansas. Her Master of Divinity is from the Seminary of the Southwest, and her Doctor of Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, both in Austin, Texas. Before going to seminary, Helen was a researcher at the Center for the Influences of Television on Children and was a registered representative at Twentieth Century Mutual Funds (now American Century). Helen spent three years as curate then canon at Grace Cathedral, Topeka; three years as assistant pastor at Holy Cross ELCA in Overland Park; 10 years as rector of Harcourt Parish in Gambier, Ohio; and has been rector of St. Luke’s in Durham, N.C., since 2014.
She is active in all levels of the church, including as convocation president (Kansas), diocesan Christian Education Chair (Ohio), Credentials Committee (North Carolina), Council of Advice for the President of the House of Deputies and several-time deputy to General Convention. She has been on the Executive Committees of the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice (Kansas), Interchurch Social Services (Ohio) and Latino Education Achievement Program (North Carolina). She and her husband, Shawn, are parents to Charlie, 14, and Luke, 11. Helen enjoys board games, reading, weaving and needlework, and she loves time spent with her family.
16 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber, D.Min.
Personal statement It is a joy and delight to be a candidate for the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Kansas. My root understanding of God comes from growing up in the pews of Church of the Covenant in Junction City and from being in the intensity of a thunderstorm on High Y Hill at Camp Wood. When I read that the ninth quality you were looking for in a bishop was someone who would make Kansas home, I heard God calling me into this process with you. Core values are central to who I am. They have shaped my life and leadership within parishes, dioceses, the wider church and ecumenically. My core values are joy, humor, balance, simplicity, conviction, beauty and fidelity. I am continually learning, enjoy challenges and have a wide range of
tools for working with conflict. I encourage boldness and believe that it is okay to fail. In fact, we often learn more from failure than we do from success. The Bible passages that speak most deeply to my life are (my paraphrases): “You are blessed to be a blessing.” (Genesis 12); “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46); and Jesus’ sending his disciples to do the work of evangelism by finding out the needs of the community, offering their gifts and saying that God has come near (Luke 10). I have been praying for the Diocese of Kansas and your future bishop for nearly two years. I continue to hold this process in prayer and look forward to meeting or reconnecting with many of you at the walkabouts in October.
Essay question 1: How do you share your joy of being a Child of God with others? Joy is the first of my personal values. Sometimes joy is an outward and visible sign. At other times, it is more subtle. My joy stems from a deep and abiding knowledge that I am a beloved child of God — and that you are, too. This theme is repeated often in my sermons: “Know that you are a beloved child of God.” When we really believe this to the depth of our souls, then we live with a freedom and generosity towards others and towards God’s creation. I cherish Jesus telling his followers, “...that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) I share my joy at being God’s beloved child by talking about it, modeling it and tending it. I talk about experiences of belovedness and joyfulness in my preaching and
in my social media posts, in my pastoral care, and in my conversations in a check-out line. I model a life of joy by noticing beauty and humor in the world, appreciating the belovedness of others and inviting others to notice, too. I tend to my joy by making time for regular refreshment and connection with those I love and allowing myself to be cared for and loved. Every three months, I take time to review my life to consider how I’m doing with each of my core values, and then create a plan for the next three months that allows for attention to the areas that have been lacking. In this way, I ensure that I am attending to joy in my life, and my joy deepens as I continue to be shaped and formed into a unique, beloved child of God.
A number of years ago, I attended a CREDO conference for clergy. One of the activities during the 10-day event was creating our own personal list of values. We worked on this for days, trying out different words, changing the order, replacing one with another. I finally came to the just-right order for me: “Joy, Humor, Balance, Simplicity, Conviction, Beauty, Fidelity.” These are the exact words that described the unique creation God made in me. Every three months, I take time to review my life to consider how I’m doing with each of these values, and then create a plan for the next three months that allows for attention to the areas that have been lacking. In this way, I ensure that I am attending to joy in my life.
The Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber, D.Min. • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 17
Essay question 2: How and why is the Holy Spirit calling you to lead the Diocese of Kansas? The nine attributes your profile lists as qualities for the next bishop of Kansas are characteristics that match my gifts well. When I shared this list with my bishop, the bishop responded immediately, “I see all of these qualities in you.” I lead from a place of passion and deep connection with God. I am comfortable with ambiguity and enjoy the challenge of working “outside of the box.” I can be effective in the midst of conflict and prefer to work together to get through conflict rather than ignore or avoid it. I encourage those I lead to try new things because either their efforts will flourish, or they will learn from a failure. Both outcomes can be success in their own way. I rejoice in the possibility of working with the people of the Diocese of Kansas to seek out God
and join in the godly work that is already happening, and the ministry which is yet to be. As I read your profile, I resonate with a sense of possibility and a commitment to the future. The diocesan Alleluia Grant Fund, the collaboration around the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry and many of the highlighted congregational ministries are signs to me that the people of the Diocese of Kansas understand that “church” as we know it is changing. These are signs that the Diocese of Kansas is proactively preparing for the future not by giving up or wringing your hands, but by investing in new ministries as well as supporting and encouraging deeper Christian formation beyond what is available in the congregation. As a leader, I look for signs of energy and health, then encourage growth in those areas.
Your profile tells a story of a diocese that has good structure and bones, and is now ready to discover the next chapter in its story. I am excited when I read about your desire for shared mission and vision, and for meaningful collaboration crossing all sorts of boundaries. Having worked in an ELCA congregation and having a degree from a Presbyterian school gives me insight into interdenominational work. I have a gift and a desire to support and strengthen excellent leadership of both ordained and lay members of the diocese, so that their gifts are more fully shared both within congregations and outside of the church’s walls. I firmly believe that God is at work in congregations and towns of all sizes in the Diocese of Kansas — the Spirit has stirred up curiosity in me to find out more and to share the good news.
Essay question 3: What does being “chief pastor of a diocese” mean to you, and how do you see yourself exercising this part of episcopal ministry? Chief Pastor is a “both/and” role — one that understands the big picture and also is present in the lives of the faithful. If the Spirit leads us into ministry together, I will take seriously my responsibility to tend to the larger diocesan system by clarifying and holding boundaries, supporting health
and calling all into mutual responsibility. I also take seriously the chief pastor vows “to nurture and support the baptized, to nourish them, to pray without ceasing, and to celebrate...” (Book of Common Prayer, page 518).
If called as your bishop, nurture and support for members of the diocese will happen through encouraging collaborations across congregations, denominational lines and geography.
18 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber, D.Min.
— continued on page 19
I will not just show up one Sunday every year or two. I will be with you midweek and participate in your ministries. I will go to Laundry Love, talk to a family who received a Red Box and spend an afternoon sorting clothes with you at the Encore Shop. I will find out what God is up to in your midst, call attention to it and support your ministries. A chief pastor is called to nourish God’s people. As your bishop, I will provide this nourishment both formally (e.g. diocesan Bible study) and informally (e.g. sharing a moment of beauty and grace on social media). By extension, this work continues through the diocesan staff as the Youth Missioner nurtures our teens, our Canon to the Ordinary supports our new clergy, and our Director of Communications
highlights activities that build enthusiasm and excitement in our ministry. The third task of a chief pastor is to pray without ceasing. This is what God has cultivated in my life. I would guess that I have between 300 and 600 moments of prayer most days. I am grateful for this sense of ongoing intimacy with God. I keep prayer lists and use prayer apps to give a small bit of definition to my prayer. I also pray out loud for a person in their presence. Hearing someone speak to God on your behalf is powerful, intimate and valuable. We don’t do this nearly enough with one another, and I encourage the practice. And finally, chief pastors are called to celebrate with you. Amen! The Eucharist is our central act of worship together. We come
to the table to be nourished and refreshed, to share our concerns and our need, and then to be sent forth empowered to continue our work. As your bishop, I will be humbled to ask us all to “lift up our hearts,” and I will rejoice when our deacons send us out into the world together, “rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.” A chief pastor loves the people, and shows that love in a variety of ways. If the Spirit calls us into ministry together, I vow to love fiercely and deeply. I will expect us to take our spiritual lives seriously and connect with one another throughout the diocese. I will pray for you, and beg that you pray for me. And we will celebrate God’s presence with us, both in joy and in heartbreak; in the sanctuary and in the world.
Essay question 4: How have you led the people of God in speaking out about and taking action on social justice issues? If called as your bishop, I will use scripture, theology and prayer to ground my words and actions around social justice. I will share this model so that members of the diocese can come to their own conclusions about social justice issues based on their understanding of scripture, theology and prayer. My goal will not be for every one of us to come to the same conclusion — but rather that each of us can articulate the scriptural and theological basis for why we stand where we stand. And from that
grounding, we each take action to improve the world. My style of leading social justice is to lead from behind — to empower and encourage individuals to act on their beliefs and understanding of God’s desire for the world. For example, shortly after arriving at a new congregation, a member took me out for coffee and told me how deeply affected she had been after attending a recent Racial Equity Institute. I listened to her story and reflected the new call that seemed to be forming for her
from this work. We then worked together to help her plan next steps both for her individual work in this area, and the ways she would invite participation from our congregation. I supported and encouraged her creation of book groups, adult forums, a support group and requesting Vestry participation in antiracism work. As others joined her work, I encouraged them also by walking the path with them and by sharing my own stories and growth. — continued on page 20
The Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber, D.Min. • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 19
Social justice work sometimes begins by shedding light onto issues that once were hidden. When several members confided in me separately their struggles and loneliness dealing with anxiety and depression, I continued to pray about mental health and our congregation. Our deacon shared that he was also feeling drawn to issues of mental health. We created a team for a National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) walk, and almost a dozen attended. These walkers became our emerging Mental Health Work Group.
Our preaching team has begun mentioning mental health in our sermons, and a parishioner/ therapist has spoken with our youth about anxiety, depression and self-harm. We now have a monthly Anxiety Related Group for anyone affected by anxiety. This slow development of support, advocacy and companionship is a full-bodied model of taking action on social justice issues. Sometimes I do feel called to take a stand. When I do, that calling always has its root in my
prayer life, in my understanding of scripture, and in my understanding of God and God’s desire for this world. When it is time for me to lead from the front on social justice issues, I explain how I got there. I do not expect everyone to agree with me — in fact, I deeply respect those who end up in a different place but who are also able to “show their work” theologically and scripturally about how they got to where they are.
Essay question 5: Tell us about an experience where you, and those you have led, demonstrated adaptability in order to pursue the mission of the church? Many congregations are finding ways to adapt to new budgetary realities. I firmly believe Ephesians 4:12, that God does… “equip the saints for the work of ministry and for the building up of the body of Christ.” Sometimes, we must do hard work to discover and share the resources we have. One congregation I led came to the realization that we were no longer going to be able to fund our ministry exclusively by pledges from the members. We did not expect any significant numerical growth in the coming years but still felt very called to ministry as a vibrant congregation in the midst of a community that valued our work. Seeking ways to increase our income, the leadership team and
I began with prayer and creating criteria with which to evaluate all ideas. Our successful initiative would: 1. Support the vision and values of our congregation. 2. Offer something needed to the community. 3. Use the gifts and skills of our members. 4. Be effective and efficient — earning a high rate of return for hours of service. We spent several months brainstorming and soliciting ideas — both from church members and others. We identified a dozen possible ideas, including bake sales, art parties, donation requests to the wider community, rental property,
tutoring, dog biscuits, gift baskets and much more. The leadership team carefully and prayerfully reviewed these ideas and brought the ones that best fit our criteria to the Vestry for their review. From these, the Vestry chose not just one but two new ministries to help fund our operating budget. Drawing from a close relationship with the local college, we were able to initiate a feeding ministry. The congregation provided meals for student athletes staying on campus when the food service was closed. The college athletic department was happy to pay for meals,
20 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • The Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber, D.Min.
— continued on page 21
students were happy for homecooked food, and the parish was happy to make connections with students. As our parish budget grew, so did affection between students and church. The second ministry was a parish homestay arrangement, similar to what we now know as Airbnb. Members with extra rooms in their home offered them to
parents and families visiting the college, and payment supported the parish budget. Many families returned year after year and grew close with their host families, creating another ministry of connection. Not only are these fundraisers ministries, they are also evangelism. Your diocesan profile shared that there are some in the diocese who are interested in joining Presiding
Bishop Michael Curry in becoming evangelists for the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement in the Diocese of Kansas, but aren’t sure how that can be done. I look forward to bringing my experience in linking ministry and evangelism to the Diocese of Kansas and exploring with you what evangelism means in your context.
And just for fun... What books are you currently reading?
I love cozy mysteries! I’ve read most of the sub-genres of “dog mysteries” and “handiwork mysteries” and have just finished the Nevada Barr series about park ranger Anna Pigeon. In audio books, I’m listening to The Walk and The Bible Experience: New Testament (as well as many podcasts) as I drive and walk. I’ve also just completed the Blue Book of reports and resolutions for General Convention, and got some great tips from I Know How She Does It by Laura Vanderkam.
What is your favorite food? A really good, juicy, fresh peach.
Do you have any pets?
Right now, we have one dog, Izzie. She is a 7-year-old Clumber Spaniel we adopted a year ago. We’ve had a variety of other dogs, cats, chickens and reptiles, but right now Izzie is our only animal.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere with family and friends. We had a Lilly-funded sabbatical in 2011 and particularly enjoyed our time in France. Mostly, though, our vacations have been to visit family and friends who are spread out around the U.S.
Are you a fan of a particular sports team? If so, which one and why? What a dangerous question! These days, I don’t follow sports. I did have season tickets all four years of undergrad at KU (including the 1988 championship). However, if called to be your bishop, I will strive to support all teams within the Diocese of Kansas.
The Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber, D.Min. • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 21
Describing the ministry of a bishop By the Search Committee Last fall, after pouring over focus group feedback (listening sessions, clergy gatherings, staff meetings) and the survey data from the Holy Cow! firm, the Search Committee developed a list of nine primary characteristics and abilities the diocese desired in its next bishop. You can read about these characteristics and abilities in “The bishop we seek,” printed on pages 2 and 3 of this guide. Words like “collaboration,” “spirituality,” “vision,” “healthy conflict management” and “relationshipbuilding” top the list. This document was central to the Search Committee’s discernment; it was always present and frequently referenced as the committee discerned which candidates were to move forward in the process. However, the “bishop we seek” document does not describe the work a bishop does from day to day, week to week and month to month.
A position description for a bishop
The actual position description for the bishop of the Diocese of Kansas is long and varied, as it is for any diocesan bishop. A diocese must call a person with an equally varied set of skills to perform the many functions of the office. A bishop supports all who minister in the church, including providing pastoral support to clergy and their families, to lay leaders, and to those who are called to Holy Orders. Additionally, a bishop provides leadership for congregational and clergy development, youth and college-age programs, and the vocational development of all baptized people.
A bishop is present throughout the diocese, visiting each one of our many parishes at least once every three years. A bishop also confirms and receives individuals into the Episcopal Church. The bishop is present at important annual and one-time events throughout the diocese, including ordaining people as deacons and priests. A bishop serves as chief administrator of the diocese as its ecclesiastical authority, head of diocesan staff, chair of the Council of Trustees and financial authority. A bishop participates in the councils of the church by attending twice-a-year House of Bishops meetings and participating in a three-year program for new bishops through the College for Bishops. Further, the bishop provides episcopal leadership for public witness throughout the diocese and participates in significant ecumenical events. What is sometimes easy to miss is that none of this happens in its own vacuum. There are no silos or solo players in diocesan life; things move fast; priorities shift. Many important things compete for a bishop’s attention. The ability to maintain a stable, good-humored and deeply spiritual presence over a period of many years is the key to successful ministry in this position. An inner gaze firmly fixed on Jesus Christ brings all aspects of that ministry together at once and provides a singular focal point.
A bishop serves as chief pastor of the diocese, charged with guarding the faith and unity of the church, proclaiming the gospel, and conforming to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church. Essentially, the bishop sets the tone and upholds the rules for worship, church and diocesan governance, and Christian behavior.
22 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • Describing the ministry of a bishop
Schedule of bishop candidate walkabouts People of the diocese will have the chance to hear from all three bishop candidates when they spend time in the diocese in October. The Transition Committee has planned events in each of the four convocations, including a lunch with area clergy, time with youth and college students, and a question-and-answer time open to all who want to attend. Here is the schedule:
Tuesday, October 2: Northeast Convocation
Noon – 2 p.m.: Lunch with clergy; St. Paul’s, 1300 North 18th St., Kansas City (prior registration required; check with the convocation dean) 5 – 6 p.m.: Dinner with college students and youth; St. Michael and All Angels, 6630 Nall Ave., Mission (prior registration required; https://edokyouth.wordpress.com/) 7 – 8:30 p.m.: Question and Answer session; St. Thomas’, 12251 Antioch Rd., Overland Park. This session is open to everyone.
Wednesday, October 3: Southeast Convocation
Noon – 2 p.m.: Lunch with clergy; St. John’s, 1801 Corning, Parsons (prior registration required; check with the convocation dean) 7 – 8:30 p.m.: Question and Answer session; Epiphany, 400 East Maple, Independence. This session is open to everyone.
Thursday, October 4: Southwest Convocation
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Lunch with clergy; Episcopal Social Services, 1010 North Main, Wichita (prior registration required; check with the convocation dean) 5 – 6 p.m.: Dinner with college students and youth; St. James’, 3750 East Douglas, Wichita (prior registration required; https://edokyouth.wordpress.com/) 7 – 8:30 p.m.: Question and Answer session; St. Stephen’s, 7404 East Killarney, Wichita. This session is open to everyone.
Friday, October 5: Northwest Convocation
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Lunch with clergy; St. Paul’s, 601 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan (prior registration required; check with the convocation dean) 6 – 7 p.m.: Dinner with college students and youth; Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave., Topeka (prior registration required; https://edokyouth.wordpress.com/) 7:15 – 8:45 p.m.: Question and Answer session; Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave., Topeka. This session is open to everyone.
Want to submit a question?
The Transition Committee offers members of the diocese the chance to submit questions for possible inclusion in one or more of the evening question-and-answer sessions. A submission form is online at www.kansasbishopsearch.org/ under the WALKABOUTS tab. The deadline to submit questions is Wednesday, Sept. 19.
Schedule for the walkabouts • Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas | 23
Schedule for the election of the 10th bishop The election of the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas will take place on Friday, Oct. 19, the first day of the 159th Annual Diocesan Convention, in the nave of Grace Cathedral in Topeka. Before the election can begin, the convention must get organized and undertake some preliminary business. Here is the schedule for the election portion of Diocesan Convention:
Friday, October 19, Grace Cathedral
7:30 – 9 a.m.: check-in and election registration 9 a.m.: All delegates and clergy must have their voting credentials and be seated 9 a.m.: Convention opening and Morning Prayer, Grace Cathedral 10:30 a.m. (approximately): Balloting begins to elect the 10th bishop of Kansas 11:45 a.m.: Noonday prayers and lunch 1:30 p.m.: Election balloting continues (if needed) Because of limited seating these are the people who can be present at the cathedral: Lay parish delegates Clergy who are canonically resident Lay ex officio office holders entitled to vote Officers of Convention Lay parish alternates who have registered for convention Others who have registered and paid for convention Members of the Search Committee and Transition Committee Those invited to be present to support the work of the convention
Plans call for the election to be broadcast live online. Check the diocesan website, www.episcopal-ks.org, for the link. Results of each ballot will be posted on the diocesan website, as well as on the three diocesan social media accounts: Facebook — EpiscopalDioceseofKansas Twitter — @EpiscoKs Instagram — @EpiscoKs If you share the results on social media, please be sure to use these hashtags: #EpiscoKsBp10 #KsDioCon
24 | Candidates for the 10th bishop of Kansas • Schedule for the election
The first nine bishops of Kansas Thomas Hubbard Vail 1864 – 1888
Founded 70 churches traveling across the prairie Oversaw the College of the Sisters of Bethany Helped start Topeka’s first hospital
Frank R. Millspaugh 1895 – 1916
Built 36 churches, including Grace Cathedral, Topeka, and 21 rectories Helped oversee creation of a new diocese to serve Western Kansas
Goodrich R. Fenner 1939 – 1959
Oversaw expansion in postWWII churches, with 1,000 confirmations several years Created Church Extension Fund for building loans Started ministries at KU, KSU
Richard F. Grein 1981 – 1988
Oversaw revitalization of the diaconate in the diocese Urged churches to merge or move for greater mission Began the Gathering of Presbyters and Chrism Mass
Dean E. Wolfe 2004 – 2017
Oversaw capital campaign that raised $4 million Helped create the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry Expanded campus ministries
Elisha Smith Thomas 1889 – 1895
Founded Kansas Theological School and St. John’s Military Academy Kept churches afloat during a nationwide economic panic
James Wise 1916 – 1939
Guided the diocese during two World Wars and the Great Depression Started a diocesanwide “Every Member Canvass” to raise funds for ministry
Edward C. Turner 1959 – 1981
Saw 11 new churches started Oversaw a major revision of the diocesan constitution and canons Engaged in social ministries
William E. Smalley 1989 – 2003
Created the Kansas School of Ministry Oversaw merger of groups into Council of Trustees Helped the diocese explore issues of human sexuality
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas 835 S.W. Polk Street Topeka, KS 66612-1688 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED