Summer 2016 | The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
5 | Churches make a big impact in SE Kansas 8 | New construction plan is announced 12 | ‘Love heals’ highlights Women’s Summit 15 | Four deacons and one priest are ordained
FROM THE BISHOP | THE RIGHT REVEREND DEAN E. WOLFE
Being less fearful and more perfect in love
DEAR FRIENDS,
These are very strange times in which we are living. The U.S. presidential election process continues to hold a kind of surreal quality, and I can’t recall a recent time when political discourse has been so coarse or mean-spirited. Britain’s exit from the European Union feels like yet another reminder of the power that fear and mistrust hold in all transitional moments in history. Responding to terrorism The terrorist attack at the airport in Istanbul reminds us of the ongoing threats we face as citizens of the world. We also continue to remember those who were killed or injured in the shooting attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. That assault on the minority community was truly an assault on us all. The alarming frequency with which these events are taking place can, in no way, lessen the horror and pain we experience when they do.
I am especially grateful to everyone who worked so hard to quickly put together a Requiem Eucharist at Saint Michael and All Angels in Mission on the evening after the Orlando attack. That service provided people an opportunity to come together to grieve, cry, pray and celebrate young lives cut far-too short. In that liturgy, I believe, we became precisely what the Church is always intended to be. As the Church, we are at our best when we can respond to the deepest needs of the people of our community and stand with them in the midst of their pain. We offer no easy answers, but we can witness to the One whose love is boundless and who seeks healing and reconciliation for all of creation. You will read more on page 14 about the directive banning guns in church facilities across the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. Approved unanimously by the Council of Trustees, I am pleased Bishop Michael Milliken of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas has joined us in this decision, making this policy applicable to Episcopal churches statewide. The Sprint to the Finish Campaign On a happier note, I’m excited to tell you that our dream of new space for the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, as well as modern diocesan offices, will soon become a reality! We will break ground this fall on an innovative, cost-effective partnership that will provide much-needed space for BKSM, the diocese and Grace Cathedral. The cathedral will have a much larger, first-floor parish hall, with an expanded choir room for its dynamic music department. The diocese will be able to provide spacious, state-of-theart classrooms and offices for BKSM and other diocesan educational efforts in the existing lower-level parish hall.
Accessible offices and meeting space for members of the diocesan staff will be created near St. Mary’s Chapel and adjacent to the new parish hall. This has been made possible only through the hundreds of generous contributions to the Crossroads Campaign (and other fundraising initiatives) and because of the dozens of volunteers who have helped bring this project to fruition. You can read more about this on pages 8-11. The Alleluia Fund On page 14 you also can read about another legacy being made possible through the Crossroads Campaign: the Alleluia Fund, which will provide matching grants for outreach programs proposed by the parishes of the diocese. This fund will allow churches to engage in the very creative ministries needed in their local community affected by cutbacks or lack of funding. I urge every congregation to look closely at the needs of their community and see where their parishioners could make an impact. If that requires money that isn’t otherwise available, please consider applying for a grant from the Alleluia Fund. Awards will be announced at our annual Diocesan Convention in October. Even (or especially) in the strangest of times, Christians are called to remember who they are and to whom they finally belong. Jesus Christ is the same today, tomorrow and always. The author of 1st John wrote, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has to do with punishment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.” May we all become less and less fearful and more and more perfect in love. Faithfully,
In This Issue
2 5 6 8 12 14 15 16
SUMMER 2016 | VOL. 103 | NO. 4
Around the diocese
A publication of The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas 835 Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688 (785) 235-9255 (800) 473-3563 www.episcopal-ks.org
SE Kansas churches serve their towns
The Anglican Communion is a global community of 70 million Anglicans in 38 member churches/provinces in more than 160 countries. The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Churches share news of their recent activities; read also about a new home for a refugee, wearing orange for gun violence awareness and welcoming guests.
Ascension, Neodesha and Epiphany, Independence undertook special projects this spring to reach out to their communities.
MegaCamp explores Marks of Mission
A week of camp gave 200 students from elementary to high school the opportunity for learning, worship, community and fun.
New plan for construction announced
A partnership between the diocese, Grace Cathedral and the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry soon will provide much-needed space for all three groups.
The Episcopal Church is a community of 2 million members in 109 dioceses in 16 countries in the Americas and abroad. The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is a community of more than 10,000 members in 44 congregations, three diocesan institutions and one school in eastern Kansas. The Rt. Rev. Dean E. Wolfe, Bishop
The Women’s Summit highlighted the work of Thistle Farms and other groups aiding women who are victims of trafficking, prostitution and addiction.
The Harvest is published four times a year by the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. Member, Episcopal Communicators and Episcopal News Service
Bishops say no firearms in churches
Publisher The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, Bishop
Women’s Summit explores ‘love heals’
A pastoral directive from the bishops of both Episcopal dioceses in Kansas has prohibited firearms in church facilities, effective Aug. 1.
Five people ordained in June service
One priest, two transitional deacons and two deacons were ordained in a service at Grace Cathedral, Topeka June 11. All will serve churches in the diocese.
Convention deadlines, details announced Aug. 5 is the deadline for actions to come before the 157th annual Diocesan Convention, which will be a joint event with the Diocese of Western Kansas.
ON THE COVER: An elementary student at MegaCamp shows off a fish she caught in the lake at Camp Wood YMCA, near Elmdale. | Photo courtesy of the Youth Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
Editor Melodie Woerman For submissions, please contact the editor: mwoerman@episcopal-ks.org Need to change your mailing address? Harvest Address Changes 835 Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688 receptionist@episcopal-ks.org Upcoming deadlines: Fall 2016 issue: Aug. 15 Winter 2016 issue: Nov. 15 Postmaster: Send address changes to Episcopal Diocese of Kansas 835 Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688
The Harvest | Summer 2016 | 1
AROUND THE DIOCESE
News and notes from congregations St. John’s, Abilene offers a special potluck, accompanied by a time of “prayer and praise,” on the third Wednesday of every month. St. Mark’s, Blue Rapids Vestry contributed $100 to the after-prom party of the local high school, as well as $200 to an ecumenical Vacation Bible School. St. Paul’s, Clay Center members helped parishioner Carly Bloomfield with a “miscellaneous shower” after a fire at her home. Bathroom and kitchen items, clothing, bedding and gift cards were provided to help her get back on her feet. St. Paul’s, Coffeyville hosted a Ladies Tea on May 7, with the $2.50 per-person cost going to a special fund for emergency supply clergy. The church is without a resident priest and relies on supply clergy for Eucharistic celebrations. St. Andrew’s, Derby raised more than $2,000 from a parish barbecue and dessert auction on April 24 to help send the congregation’s youth to diocesan summer MegaCamp in June. St. Martin’s, Edwardsville ended the Sunday school year on May 21 with its annual overnight lock-in for students, followed the next morning by a special breakfast.
PHOTO BY KATHY LEFLER, WICHITA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Refugee family moves into Habitat house Jolie Uwizeye (far right), a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo whose story was featured in the Winter 2015 issue of The Harvest, joins her children in holding the key to their new house, which was constructed through Habitat for Humanity. The house was built in early June by 300 volunteers over the course of eight day as part of a Habitat “blitz build.” The structure was built on the site of the Wichita River Festival and then moved to its final location. The family came to Kansas through Episcopal Migration MinistriesWichita, which helped the family get established. Uwizeye is employed by Drury Inn, and her children are high school students.
Trinity, El Dorado makes the labyrinth on the church grounds, as well as the adjacent garden, available to anyone in the community who seeks a place of meditation and quiet.
off contest after church on Pentecost Sunday, May 15. Members were encouraged to bring a pot of chili for the contest, cornbread to serve as accompaniment, or a chocolate dessert to cool down the heat.
St. Andrew’s, Emporia again hosted a “Tongues of Fire” chili cook-
St. Mary’s, Galena hosted a fundraiser dinner in April for the local
2 | The Harvest | Summer 2016
cancer “Relay for Life” effort, and the Sunday school class made and delivered May baskets. Epiphany, Independence on May 25 started a group for people who like to knit or crochet, and for those who would like to learn.
Covenant, Junction City offers two special spiritual offerings at noon: a healing service every Wednesday and a time of centering prayer every Friday.
Clergy at Trinity, Lawrence, wear orange stoles on June 5 to stand against gun violence. They are (from left) rector the Very Rev. Rob Baldwin, Deacon Steve Segebrecht and assistant rector the Rev. Susan Terry.
St. Margaret’s, Lawrence joined with students at the KU Canterbury House and members of Trinity to collect winter coats for refugees who will be coming to Kansas later this year through Episcopal Migration Ministries-Wichita. Trinity, Lawrence has launched a new Sunday morning schedule for children’s ministry that provides Sunday school for all ages, including adults, before church begins; and a new Children’s Chapel during the first part of the service for preschool and elementary students. St. Paul’s, Leavenworth has a supply of medical equipment, including walkers, canes, crutches and bath chairs, that can be loaned to members when needed. St. Paul’s, Manhattan on Pentecost inducted member David Littrell as the parish verger to assist with worship services, following a period of preparation and his participation in a variety of parish liturgies, including weddings and funerals. St. Paul’s, Marysville reports that enough work was finished on construction of an accessible restroom at the cabin next door to the church that the parish was able to use it to host a graduation party on May 15. St. Michael and All Angels, Mission said a special thank-you to Penny Hoober on May 22 with a brunch marking her 30th anniversary of service to the church nurseries. Former nursery families were asked to send digital photos of Hoober’s now grown-up charges.
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‘Wear Orange’ takes liturgical bent Thousands of Episcopalians were among those who marked June 2 as “Wear Orange” day to take a stand against gun violence. Orange was chosen because it is the color hunters use to keep themselves and others safe. For some churches that idea was carried over to the following Sunday, June 5, with clergy donning orange vestments. One was Trinity, Lawrence, where the two priests and one deacon who served that day all wore orange stoles that had been made by Valerie McCord, wife of the parish’s rector, the Very Rev. Rob Baldwin. Baldwin said he has often spoken about the church’s need to take a stand against gun violence. The parish also has created a ministry, “Save Our Kids,” which is dedicated to promoting awareness of safe gun ownership and the availability of mental health resources in the Lawrence area. Ascension, Neodesha hosted the annual Ascension Day service for the Southeast Convocation on May 5, followed by a supper for all those attending. Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Torey Lightcap was the celebrant. St. Matthew’s, Newton asked members to sign special Easter cards for members who no longer can attend church, and for members of the Armed Forces connected with
the church, as a way of letting them know they are not forgotten. St. Aidan’s, Olathe welcomed the orchestra of Johnson County Community College for a concert May 1, under the direction of Dr. Mark Pretzel, conductor. Grace, Ottawa in May collected a variety of personal care items, snacks, clothing and books for the Continued on page 4 The Harvest | Summer 2016 | 3
Continued from page 3 veterans served by the VA Hospital in Leavenworth, with everything blessed during the May 29 service. St. Thomas’, Overland Park raised money through a May 14 silent auction for youth and adults from the parish who will spend a week this summer in Washington, D.C. doing service through a variety of organizations. St. John’s, Parsons provided $1,000 to the Ngeya School in Kenya to help them purchase firewood, a necessary element of life for the people of Maai Mahiu. The school and nearby church are involved with the diocese’s Kansas to Kenya ministry. Epiphany, Sedan Vestry members took a Spiritual Gifts Inventory, with discussion afterward about what they had learned from the process. St. Luke’s, Shawnee has a vegetable garden at the church that provides produce for use by the food pantry at St. Paul’s, Kansas City. Members gather to tend the garden every Tuesday evening. St. Francis’, Stilwell participated in the Stilwell Community garage sale on May 21, with women of the church hosting their second annual bake sale on the same day. Grace Cathedral, Topeka is hosting a free youth summer lunch program site from June 6 to July 22. Food is prepared off-site, and members help with greeting guests, serving meals and cleaning up. St. David’s, Topeka has marked a pickleball court on the parish hall floor for anyone who wants to learn the sport, described as tennis on a
4 | The Harvest | Summer 2016
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Church presents at major Texas conference (From left) The Rev. Steven King, Jean Adam, the Rev. Gar Demo, Sue Elliott and Gerry Miller, all of St. Thomas’, Overland Park, were invited to make presentations during the second Invite/Welcome/Connect Summit hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas in April at Camp Allen near Houston. Invite/Welcome/Connect is a project the Diocese of Texas developed for attracting newcomers by helping churches be purposeful in inviting people to church and connecting them with ministries after they attend. small scale. Member Steve Crowl also offered lessons to anyone who wanted to learn more. St. Luke’s, Wamego has expanded its monthly community breakfast to twice-a-month. Volunteers include parish members as well as people from the community. St. Bartholomew’s, Wichita asked for donations ranging from paper products to canned goods in support of the food ministry of Episcopal Social Services of Wichita. St. James’, Wichita invited members to bike to church on May 22 as part of National Bike Month. The
church reminded people to wear their helmet and ride safely. St. John’s, Wichita has a new group that combines learning, fellowship, creativity and ministry. “Knit with Knowledge” members make scarves for patrons of the church’s sandwich ministry, and the group also will use a video series for education on a variety of subjects, beginning with the Old Testament. St. Stephen’s, Wichita has renovated the playground at the church, including installing a new slide and hauling in and leveling new gravel. Many church members participated in the project.
AROUND THE DIOCESE
Two churches make an impact in SE Kansas By Melodie Woerman
TWO CHURCHES IN
PHOTO BY CAITLIN POSCH
Members of Church of the Ascension, Neodesha, staff a collection point to recycle electronic items on April 23. Pictured are (from left) seated: Gail Shepard Meadows and Billie Porter; standing: Floyd Bishop, Karen Bertels, Pattie Bailey, Clark Thompson, Fritz Porter, Karen Porter, Philip Porter and Mike Porter. Leslie Coder (far right), a member of Church of the Epiphany, Independence, hands a loaf of homemade bread to neighbor Keli Tuschman on April 30. PHOTO BY GARY MASON
southeast Kansas not only share a priest but also a commitment to serving their communities. Church of the Epiphany, Independence, and Church of the Ascension, Neodesha, recently participated in citywide events designed to help resident — but in two very different ways On April 23 Ascension joined others in the town of 2,500 in a recycling effort by serving as a special drop-off point for electronic items, designed to keep old cell phones, televisions and computer parts out of landfills. Ten members staffed a table downtown and helped collect more than 200 used items. The church paid the cost of disposing of the 47 tube-type televisions that were dropped off. The event was so successful that members plan to host another effort next year. On April 30 dozens of members from Epiphany participated in “Independence Love,” a day set aside to encourage residents to perform acts of kindness for others. The church committed to baking mini-loaves of bread to hand out to people who live near the church. Members made 47 loaves with flavors including zucchini, pumpkin, banana, strawberry, blueberry-oatmeal and orange-cranberry. They then fanned out in the neighborhood around the church, located near Main Street in the town of 9,000, giving out loaves and a warm greeting. The Harvest | Summer 2016 | 5
DIOCESAN MINISTRIES
MegaCampers explore Five Marks of Mission By Melodie Woerman
MEGACAMP THIS YEAR DREW
200 campers and more than 50 volunteer staff members for a week, living in a Christian community filled with worship, education and fun. Camp took place June 5-11 at Camp Wood YMCA, located southwest of Emporia. Campers were divided into three age groups — elementary, junior high and senior high — and each had its own area of the camp and its own schedule of activities. But during the Christian education portion of each day, all campers focused on a unified theme: the Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission: To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom To teach, baptize and nurture new believers To respond to human need by loving service To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth
PHOTO BY KANSAS YOUTH MINISTRIES
The Rev. Steven King (right) anoints a camper during a healing service for senior high youth, one of three such services offered for each of the age groups at camp. Led by clergy chaplains, campers looked at how they live out their Christian faith, using easy-to-remember shorthands for the Five Marks: tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure. Activities included watching movies and exploring faith messages in them, retelling gospel stories using only
PHOTO BY KANSAS YOUTH MINISTRIES
Bishop Dean Wolfe leads the all-camp MegaEucharist service on June 8, with campers, adult staff and area clergy. 6 | The Harvest | Summer 2016
annual cardboard boat race, in which a large cardboard box is covered in plastic and secured by duct tape.
Campers from 28 churches
The climbing tower is a popular way to spend time during activities that are led by the Camp Wood YMCA staff. PHOTO BY KANSAS YOUTH MINISTRIES
a series of emoji (small icons, such as smiley faces and hearts, used in text messages), and marking symbols on camper’s hands to remind them that they are marked as Christ’s own forever. A variety of worship services were a part of each day, and the entire camp came together on Wednesday evening for a MegaEucharist, which was celebrated by Bishop Dean Wolfe. He was assisted by Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Torey Lightcap, as well as clergy who were on the camp staff and some who came just for the service. Campers from all three age groups served as readers, ushers, chalice bearers, oblation bearers and musicians. But in addition to serious learning, campers also got to have fun and burn off some youthful energy. Supervised by the YMCA camp staff, activities included swimming,
canoeing, horseback riding, a hoisted swing, arts and crafts, a variety of team sports, fishing, bike riding, archery, and a ropes and tower course. Campers also engaged in the
Diocesan Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach said that campers came from 27 churches in the Diocese of Kansas and one church in the Diocese of Western Kansas. Fifteen campers were not identified as members of any Episcopal church. Donations from parishes, as well as some diocesan funding, provided 41 percent of the total cost of camp fees, with family contributions covering 59 percent. Out of 200 students who attended, 180 had some financial support from their parish. Many campers were able to attend at no cost to their family through a combination of parish and diocesan scholarships. The cost to attend MegaCamp was $420 per student. Camp staff came from 16 congregations, as well as Canterbury House at Kansas State University.
PHOTO BY KANSAS YOUTH MINISTRIES
MegaCampers annually make boats out of a cardboard box, plastic and duct tape. Some are fairly successful at getting their craft to float. The Harvest | Summer 2016 | 7
Building Bishop Kemper School for Ministry New space for the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry (shown in blue) will be constructed in what is now the cathedral’s lower-level parish hall. It will include classrooms, a library and offices. BKSM will have a dedicated exterior entrance that will feature a prominent sign directing people into the space.
Grace Cathedral parish hall and diocesan offices
Grace Cathedral will construct a new two-story parish hall (shown in yello Bethany Place. A new choir room will be built on the second floor (not shown New diocesan offices (shown in purple) will be built adjacent to the new pa meeting rooms, in addition to access to spaces that will be shared between the 8 | The Harvest | Summer 2016
s
for the future
A partnership between the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, Grace Cathedral and the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry soon will provide much-needed space for all three groups
By Melodie Woerman
A CREATIVE PLAN WILL al-
ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING BY JÜNK ARCHITECTS, KANSAS CITY, MO.
ow) off the back of its existing space, extending onto the grounds of n in this view). Existing cathedral space is shown in orange. arish hall. The office suite will have an exterior entrance as well as e diocese and the cathedral.
low the diocese, the cathedral and BKSM to break ground this fall. The diocese and cathedral will occupy new space just south of the cathedral, and BKSM will get classrooms through renovations to existing space. “This is very exciting news,” said Larry Bingham, chair of the diocese’s capital campaign fundraising efforts over the past eight years. “This innovative arrangement combines financial resources of the diocese and the cathedral, allowing us each to complete our plans for additional space.” The plan, which still may undergo further refinements, received the full support of the diocesan Council of Trustees at its April meeting. New construction will provide the cathedral with a much larger first-floor parish hall and Continued on page 10
The Harvest | Summer 2016 | 9
Continued from page 9 an expanded choir room, and the diocese will get accessible meeting and office space for members of the bishop’s staff. BKSM, which offers classes for lay leaders and those preparing for ordination from four dioceses, will have spacious, state-of-the-art classrooms and an office in what currently is the cathedral’s lower-level parish hall. Bingham said the cost of the joint project, projected to be about $5 million (but still awaiting final construction bids), will be shared equally between the diocese and the cathedral. New space for diocesan staff will replace existing offices in a building constructed in 1875 as a laundry for an Episcopal girls’ school that stood on the property from 1870 to 1928. The structure was converted to a home in 1930 and became the diocesan office in 1959. While loaded with character, the building poses difficulties with its lack of accessibility (steps lead into the building and to all upstairs offices) and challenges in installing 21st-century technology in a 19thcentury structure.
From Crossroads to construction
The diocese’s efforts to construct new space, envisioned as a standalone Leadership Center, began in 2010 with the Crossroads capital campaign. Over several years that effort raised about $3 million, the largest fundraising effort in the history of the diocese. While it wasn’t enough to construct the Leadership Center, Crossroads contributions did fund major renovations to Upton Hall, the diocese’s conference center on the diocesan grounds. It was expanding to provide sleep10 | The Harvest | Summer 2016
Standing on the site of the new cathedral parish hall and diocesan office center are (from left) Larry Bingham, capital campaign chair; Bishop Dean Wolfe; the Very Rev. Don Compier, dean of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry; and the Very Rev. Steve Lipscomb, dean of Grace Cathedral. PHOTO BY MELODIE WOERMAN
ing space for 22 people and one classroom. Since its completion in 2013, Upton Hall has been used monthly by BKSM students and faculty, as well as by other diocesan groups throughout the year. Crossroads also provided about $230,000 for diocesan outreach efforts and $450,000 for an endowment to assist the diocese’s support of BKSM. After the Crossroads campaign was concluded, some additional contributions were earmarked for the Leadership Center, but the cash on hand still wasn’t enough to begin construction. At the same time, Grace Cathedral had conducted its own capital campaign, which resulted in enough money to create a more spacious Common Room and updated rooms for acolytes and storage. But contributions were short of the amount needed to build their envisioned first-floor parish hall, which would connect to the south side of the cathedral’s center section
and extend onto diocesan grounds on Bethany Place. Like the diocese, the cathedral had resources on hand — just not enough to do what they needed to accomplish.
Decision to work together
That’s when the cathedral’s dean, the Very Rev. Steve Lipscomb, last fall posed a question. What if the diocese and cathedral combined their resources and envisioned the space each needed in a new way? What if they worked together, both on the space provided and the costs of construction? Bishop Dean Wolfe joined in the conversations, and new plans were drawn up to show how this might look. (The building outline on pages 8-9 reflects the current plan.) After discussions the proposal got the green light from the diocesan Council of Trustees and the cathedral Vestry. “This was a classic win/win situation,” Bingham said.
The only problem — and a big one — was that the cathedral and diocese each were short about $1 million. The cathedral raised its part through a pledge campaign in the spring; the diocese currently is working hard to raise the last of its portion. Bingham said the new collaboration is a clear example of exercising good stewardship. It will save about $1.8 million in construction costs over the Leadership Center envisioned by the initial Crossroads campaign. “That’s a savings of more than 40 percent,” he said. Lipscomb said it was important to finalize plans quickly, since estimates are that construction costs will go up between 10 and 15 percent next year.
“By locking in processes now and beginning construction,” he said, “we can maintain the current building costs throughout the project.” Bingham said that nearly 700 households have contributed to the diocese’s building efforts so far, but he welcomes donations from those who have not yet had the chance to participate. Contributions to the “Sprint to the Finish Fund” may be sent to the diocesan office, 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612, or by selecting “Sprint to the Finish” from the options under the “Donate Now” button on the diocesan website, www.episcopal-ks.org.
School offers new programs for lay ministries AS THE BISHOP KEMPER
School for Ministry enters its fourth year of providing theological formation and training for future deacons and priests, it is pleased to announce the expansion of its programs to include lay ministry certificates for catechist, preacher and pastoral leader. The Episcopal Church recognizes seven canonical lay ministries: pastoral leader, worship leader, preacher, Eucharistic minister, Eucharistic visitor, evangelist and catechist. Bishops regularly issue licenses for several of these ministries, while others are less utilized. For some time, BKSM has been exploring the idea of developing a schedule of courses for lay certificates. As requests for these courses have grown, BKSM leaders felt the time was right to launch these new programs.
Certificates empower ministry of lay leadership
The Rev. Dr. Bill Fasel, a course instructor and member of the BKSM board, said, “We are clearly moving away from the time when the clergy dominated the leadership and ministry of the church. These new programs will provide lay persons with the knowledge and skills to perform vital leadership roles. The church will need many more catechists, preachers and pastoral leaders as we move into the future.” The lay catechist organizes and coordinates the process of formation in a congregation, particularly preparation for baptism and confirmation. The lay preacher brings the Word of God into the daily lives of a congregation and symbolizes of the importance of lay leadership. The pastoral leader is authorized to exercise spiritual and/or
administrative leadership within a congregation under special circumstances. The catechist and preacher certificates consist of six courses that can be taken in one academic year. The pastoral leader certificate requires 10 courses, all available during the 2016-17 year, but they may be taken over two years, if necessary. Students must take classes for credit ($180 per class) and receive a passing grade. Tuition includes overnight accommodations as well as all meals during focus weekends, which take place the second weekend of the month. Course instruction begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday and ends at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday. After a student has completed the required coursework, BKSM will award a certificate of completion and forward the student’s transcript to his or her bishop. Students interested in pursuing a lay license certificate program may qualify for the $100 Jim Upton Scholarship. The Very Rev. Dr. Don Compier, BKSM dean, said he is pleased the school can launch these new programs. “As all the gifts of the body are fully deployed, the church will be able to carry out the great mission entrusted to it. BKSM is pleased to live more fully into its own mission of offering quality, affordable, accessible theological education to all.” For more information about programs, scholarships or other aspects of the school, visit the website at www.bishopkemperschool.org or contact Compier at bksmdean2@gmail.com. — The Rev. Casey Rohleder, for BKSM
The Harvest | Summer 2016 | 11
DIOCESAN MINISTRIES
Women’s Summit speaker says ‘love heals’ By Melodie Woerman
THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE
second diocesan Women’s Summit learned about some tough issues — human trafficking, prostitution, drug abuse — and about how one priest’s vision has helped change the lives of hundreds of women though the motto “love heals.” The event took place April 22-23 at St. Michael and All Angels in Mission, with 175 women attending. The keynote speaker was the Rev. Becca Stevens, who in 1997 founded Magdalen House, a two-year residential program in Nashville, Tenn., to help women trapped in lives of prostitution, sex abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction. She knew personally the pain of sexual abuse — as a child she was the victim of a lay leader in her church — and learned that most women in the sex industry also had been sexually abused, with many turning to drugs and alcohol to blunt the pain of their experience. Many also end up in jail or prison. Existing programs didn’t last long enough to give women the chance to not only get clean and sober but also to truly heal and begin to see themselves as people of worth.
A sanctuary of healing
Stevens created the program to be “a sanctuary of healing.” Of those in the program she said, “Your abuse doesn’t get the last word. Love is the end of the story.” She added, “Love is the most powerful force for social change.” The first group of four women in Magdalen House has grown to more than 700 each year served by five residential programs, as well as advocacy efforts and an inmate program, “Magdalen on the Inside.” It now operates under the name Thistle Farms, recalling the weed that grows through cracks in the streets in the area of Nashville that is marked by prostitution and addiction, and from which many of the first residents came. The program provides women with housing, medical care, therapy, education and job training, all at no cost to them. It is funded by donations as well as by products 12 | The Harvest | Summer 2016
PHOTOS BY KAREN SCHLABACH
The Rev. Becca Stevens, an Episcopal priest and founder of Thistle Farms, a program in Nashville, Tenn., to help women recover from prostitution and addiction, speaks to the 175 women attending the Women’s Summit at St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, April 22-23. made and sold by Thistle Farms, which employs residents and former residents to make a variety of natural bath and body care products, as well as candles, tote bags and other items for the home. There also is a coffee shop on site, the Thistle Café, as well as an international fair-trade marketplace that provides additional income for women survivors of addiction trafficking, violence and poverty in 10 countries. The success of Steven’s residential program — very few of those who graduate fall back into their old life — has led to the creation of local versions of Magdalen House in dozens of cities across the United States and Canada.
In recognition of Steven’s work with Thistle Farms, the news network CNN named her one of their “Heroes” for 2016, in which they recognize “everyday people doing extraordinary things to change the world.”
Lavishing love on each other
Regina Mullins, who graduated from the residential program in 1999, told the story of how Thistle Farms helped her change her life from one of incarceration and abuse into one of productivity and love. Like all who seek out the program, she came in her brokenness, she said, and left with her self back. She said that Stevens “offered me, me.” Echoing the program’s motto, Mullins said, “Love heals. We lavish it on each other, and that gets each woman stronger.” She added, “If we can partner with each other, and lift each other, then we can turn the lives of women around.”
Her success and those of other “Thistle Farmers,” she said, allow them to be “lights in the community to other women.”
Offering an outward focus
Ellen Wolfe, who co-chaired the Summit’s planning committee with Deacon Fran Wheeler, said that the first Women’s Summit in 2013 was more inwardly focused, looking at how participants experienced themselves as women of faith. “We felt pushed into an outward focus this year,” she said, following on the theme of the Episcopal Church Women Triennial meeting last summer in Salt Lake City: “Stirring of the Spirit.” Wolfe said she and Wheeler heard Stevens speak during that event, “and we were just on fire about Becca as a speaker.” That led the committee to take as its theme for this Summit, “As the Spirit Moves.” Wolfe said that in addition to Stevens and Mullins, attenders heard
from local resource leaders, who described how they provide help to women who are victims of abuse, prostitution or trafficking. That included the first safe house for women in Kenya, created with the help of the Kansas to Kenya ministry under the guidance of Nyokio Lake; area residential programs for women, similar to Thistle Farms; the work of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women; and efforts to combat trafficking in Nepal. Catherine Lillibridge of the Diocese of West Texas described her diocese’s work in supporting a local Magdalen House and other efforts to combat poverty. Wolfe said those who attended gave positive evaluations of the event, with many saying, “We had our eyes opened,” and “We had our thinking changed.” Also contributing to the report were Karen Schlabach and Ashley Mather.
Women gathered in small groups to discuss ideas that were presented during the Women’s Summit. The Harvest | Summer 2016 | 13
DIOCESAN LIFE
Kansas bishops ban firearms in churches ON JUNE 20 BISHOP
required signage is in place to notify the public. Dean Wolfe of the Episcopal DioEach bishop made available to cese of Kansas, and Bishop Michael each church a quantity of the sign Milliken of the Episcopal Diocese that is required by the Kansas Atof Western Kansas, issued a pastotorney General, operating under ral directive banning firearms from state law, to be posted on all public Episcopal churches in the state, efand non-public entrances to church fective Aug. 1, unless they are carfacilities. ried by designated law enforcement It features a black handgun surofficials in the line of duty. rounded by a red circle, with a red In a letter sent to all churches, the line through it. bishops said changes to state law in Bishop Wolfe also said every Diorecent years “has led to permission cese of Kansas church would add being given to carry firearms, openly another sign, below the one required or concealed, into churches and othby the state, that reads, in part, “Jesus er houses of worship. These changes said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ ” reverse long-standing law and pracThe bishops’ statement said that tice regarding firearms in our state.” The required signs are posted on the while the directive was designed to The bishops concluded that the front door of the diocesan office. meet the requirements of state law, changes allowing anyone to bring they hoped it served a greater purpose. “…we hope all guns into a church “unnecessarily endanger the citizens the more it will serve as a testament to the promised of our state and the members of our parishes.” They took this action through a provision in state future reign of Christ in which ‘no sword is drawn but gun laws that allows them as ecclesiastical authorities the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the to prohibit firearms in their jurisdiction, so long as the strength of love.’ ”
Alleluia Grants will aid new outreach projects A NEW PILOT
program will provide grants of up to $3,000 to congregations within the diocese to begin an outreach project. The Alleluia Grants are funded by money designated for mission and outreach through the diocesan Crossroads campaign and will match funds that the congregation commits to its proposed project. Deacon Fran Wheeler, chair of the diocesan Mission and Outreach Committee, said, “The committee 14 | The Harvest | Summer 2016
hopes this will spark new ideas in congregations about how they can serve people in their communities in new and innovative ways.” The grant application states that the committee seeks projects “that support the mission of enabling parishioners to fulfill their baptismal covenant to serve as Christ’s hands and feet in the world.” The application asks for basic information about the proposed project and must be accompanied by a
500-word narrative summary of the proposal and a detailed budget. The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 1, and grants will be presented during Diocesan Convention in October. The application is available on the diocesan website at www.episcopalks.org/life/Mission-and-Outreach. php A printed copy can be obtained by contacting the diocesan office, (785) 235-9255 or (800) 473-3563.
DIOCESAN LIFE
PHOTO BY MELODIE WOERMAN
(From left) Deacon Jim Cummins, the Rev. Charles Everson, the Rev. Doreen Rice, Bishop Dean Wolfe, Deacon Mary Becker and the Rev. Greg Doll, following the ordination service June 11 at Grace Cathedral, Topeka.
Four deacons, one priest ordained on June 11 By Melodie Woerman
A JUNE 11 SERVICE
saw the ordination of one new priest and four new deacons to serve the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. Bishop Dean Wolfe was celebrant and preacher for the service. All five are graduates of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, which prepares people for ordination and offers education for lay leaders and clergy in Kansas and three other dioceses. The Rev. Doreen Rice is the dio-
cese’s newest priest. She is a 2015 graduate of BKSM and served the past year as an intern at St. Michael and All Angels, Mission. She previously was a member of St. Aidan’s, Olathe. She recently accepted a call to become the vicar of St. Francis of Assisi in Overland Park, beginning July 1. The four new deacons are Jim Cummins and Charles Everson, who were members of St. Michael and All Angels, Mission; Mary Becker, of Grace Cathedral, Topeka; and Greg Doll, of St. Paul’s, Marysville.
Becker and Cummins are called to the diaconate as their vocation. Doll and Everson will serve as transitional deacons before their future planned ordination as priests. All four graduated from BKSM in May and will serve a one-year internship to gain hands-on experience in a parish setting. Becker has been assigned to St. David’s, Topeka; Cummins will serve at St. Paul’s, Kansas City; Doll has been assigned to St. Paul’s, Manhattan; and Everson will serve at St. Luke’s, Shawnee. The Harvest | Summer 2016 | 15
DIOCESAN LIFE
157th Annual Convention will be joint gathering with Western Kansas THE 157TH ANNUAL
convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas will take place Oct. 28-29 at the Hilton Double Tree Hotel at the Airport in Wichita and will be a joint gathering with the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas. Each diocese will conduct its business sessions separately, but all other events — workshops, meals and worship — will take place together. During its business session, the Diocese of Kansas will elect deputies and alternates to General Convention, as well as at-large members of the Council of Trustees. The convention also will ratify lay members of the Council who are elected by each of the four convocations at their meetings in September. General Convention elections will select four lay and four clergy deputies, as well as four lay and four clergy alternates. General Convention takes place July 5-13, 2018, in Austin, Texas.
Clergy news The Rev. Jimmy Leslie “Les” Jackson has been called as parttime rector of St. Matthew’s, Newton, beginning June 15. He most recently served at St. John’s Episcopal Church and School in Odessa, Texas. Bishop Wolfe has made these assignments for deacons who have 16 | The Harvest | Summer 2016
Deadlines are Aug. 5
The Council of Trustees is the governing body of the diocese between conventions. Seats to be filled at this convention are: At-large lay representative (three-year term). The incumbent, Larry Hannan, is eligible for re-election. At-large clergy representative (three-year-term). The incumbent, the Rev. Sharon Billman, is eligible for re-election.
Nominations: Send to The Rev. Laurie Lewis, 3705 Edgemont, Wichita, KS 67208 revdlaurie@gmail.com Amendments to canons or constitution: Send to Frank Taylor, 7450 W. 130th St., Suite 140, Overland Park, KS 66213 ftaylor@hrkklaw.com Debatable resolutions: Send to Gary Chubb, 1329 Grand Ave., Parsons, KS 67357-4256 g.chubbster@gmail.com
diocesan constitution or canons must be submitted to their respective committees. (See above for details.)
More information
Aug. 5 is the deadline by which nominations, debatable resolutions and proposed amendments to the
The diocesan website has a special page devoted to Diocesan Convention that includes a variety of information for lay delegates and clergy. It will be updated as new material is released. It is at www.episcopal-ks.org/life/ convention.php.
finished their internship year, effective July 1: Deacon Stevie Carter, to St. Michael and All Angels, Mission; Deacon Rob Schwaller to Trinity, Lawrence, and KU Canterbury; and Deacon Arland Wallace to St. John’s, Wichita. The Rev. Joe Alford was installed on May 25 as rector of St. Martin’s, Edwardsville. He had been serving the congregation as priest-incharge.
The Rev. Frank Cohoon, who served the diocese for nearly 55 years, as archdeacon and canon to the ordinary as well as rector of several parishes, died on May 25 in Topeka. He was 90. The Rev. Patrick Funston, rector of St. Paul’s, Manhattan, has been appointed to the Episcopal Church’s Advisory Council on the Stewardship of Creation, representing Province 7.
Deadlines announced
SHARING THE GOOD NEWS | THE REVEREND GEORGE PEJAKOVICH
We must not live in fear, or evil triumphs
J
esus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As Jesus stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Luke 8:26-28)
AFTER THE EVENTS
in Orlando early in the morning of June 12, much has been said by news commentators, pundits and politicians, trying to explain the whys and wherefores of the single greatest mass killing in American since the felling of the twin towers on 9/11. Not much of what has been said or written about the horror of that night seems helpful. What is clear, however, is that the level of fear in our nation has been ratcheted up to a new high. Regardless of your personal opinions on persons who identify as LGBT, they are irrelevant in the face of this horror. This is a time of weeping and mourning. The unspeakable terror of those who, believing they were in a place where they were accepted and safe, suddenly finding themselves being slaughtered by a madman, must call out to our spirits and make us weep in the depths of our souls. With our sorrow and prayers for those who were slaughtered and their families and friends, comes the fear: if such horror can happen in Orlando, home of the happiest Place on Earth, how can anyone be safe?
Fear is the purpose of terror Fear is the tool of evil, the chains that bind the possessed and the oppressed. The oppressed, who live in fear of the oppressor, like the Gerasenes under the Roman heel, like those who live under the control of ISIS, fear anything that might call the attention, and the wrath, of the oppressor to them. The people of Gerasa were so filled with fear that they asked Jesus to just go away. Fear is the purpose of terror — to make us live in such fear that we would prefer the lash of those who would rule us to what they might do to us if we resist. Resist evil wherever it is found Fear almost ends this gospel story, but it does not. The man healed by Jesus went back and proclaimed to everyone what Jesus had done for him. He saw in the person of Jesus the power and glory of God, and in recognizing that God and Jesus were one, he no longer was afraid. This is a time for weeping; a time for mourning those murdered by a madman infected by evil, as we should mourn for all who suffer and die by the bloody hands of terrorists or the insane.
We must not live in fear, because then evil triumphs. God has called you by name, and in Christ has made you his own forever. We must resist evil wherever we find it, and must work without fear to protect those who are innocent and defenseless. Knowing that we belong to the great and good father of all, who revealed himself in Christ Jesus, we can and must proclaim what God has done for all in Jesus, even in the face of unspeakable evil. (The Rev. George Pejakovich is a Lutheran pastor who serves as assistant to the dean at Grace Cathedral, Topeka. This is excerpted from a sermon he preached there on June 19.)
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