The Harvest, Winter 2016

Winter 2016 | The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas

4 | The Rev. Betty Glover is new campus missioner 8 | Information about Bishop Wolfe’s new call 12 | Photos from Bishop Wolfe’s 13-year tenure 14 | Diocesan Convention awards and elections

Celebrating the episcopacy of Bishop Dean E. Wolfe

FROM THE BISHOP | THE RIGHT REVEREND DEAN E. WOLFE

A look back at 13 years of being your bishop

DEAR FRIENDS, It doesn’t seem possible that this is my final Harvest letter as your bishop. It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve you during the past 13 years, which have included some of the most turbulent events in recent church history. In my 14th year as the Bishop of Kansas, I believe it’s helpful to look back and, for a brief moment, remember what we have accomplished together.

We have sailed with great grace through the unsettled waters leading us to the full inclusion of gay, lesbian and transgender persons in the life of our communities of faith, and to the expansion of sacred marriage to include same-sex couples. It is no small thing indeed, and I would observe we are never more Christlike than when we take genuine risks to do the extraordinary things we believe God is calling us to do.

We raised $4 million to build a new diocesan leadership center (we will break ground on that building in the next few weeks) and created the innovative Bishop Kemper School for Ministry (along with three other dioceses) to train lay leaders, deacons and priests for missional leadership throughout the region.

We won dozens of grants from various entities for innovative ministries and started two parish-based Spanish-speaking ministries. We raised nearly $2 million for campus ministries and recreated our campus ministry program to include a peer ministry component and the additions of resident interns for ministry.

We maintained a vital youth ministries program, creating new programs for youth and re-creating old programs like Miqra and MegaCamp to better meet our needs.

We were able to facilitate more than 50 clergy transitions, start a refugee resettlement program and initiate the Kansas to Kenya program, a multi-million dollar mission and outreach ministry that connects us to our Anglican brothers and

sisters in the Anglican Diocese of Nakuru and with Kenyans from a variety of other faith traditions and other parts of the country.

I sat on the boards of Episcopal Social Services and Episcopal Community Services as they changed, evolved and ultimately thrived.

We instituted safe-church and anti-racism training for diocesan staff and clergy. We supported the Bishop Seabury Academy, a parochial school in Lawrence for students in grades 6-12 that recently was named “the best private school in Kansas.”

We helped raise up a new generation of clergy in the diocese, mediated dozens of disputes between vestries and clergy, and made the shift from print to web-based communications. We initiated the “road show” to educate our Convocation Boards on the financial decisions we made, and we endured the greatest financial downturn since the Great Depression while keeping diocesan budgets in the black and our endowment intact.

We offered careful pastoral care to clergy and their families as we baptized children, cared for the sick and buried the dead. And over the years, we buried some of our most dearly beloved clergy colleagues, praying that they may “Rest in peace and rise in glory.”

In my judgement, one of the most important things we accomplished was to grow in our ability to work collaboratively together across theopolitical differences.

Continued on page 16

In This Issue

2 4 5 6 8 12 14 16

Around the diocese

Churches share news of their recent activities, including information about a motorcycle run in Coffeyville that helped provide warm coats to people this winter.

New campus missioner named

On Jan. 15 the Rev. Betty Glover will assume the post that leads the ministry to students on campuses across the diocese.

Clay Center church reaches out

St. Paul’s hosted a service of Evening Prayer, plus a festive meal, to welcome members of the Latino community who recently have moved into the area.

WINTER 2016 | VOL. 104 | NO. 2 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 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

Raising awareness of poverty

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

Celebrating Bishop Wolfe’s ministry

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

Episcopal Social Services of Wichita and Episcopal Community Services of Kansas have a plan to help churches learn more about poverty in Kansas.

Read about Bishop Wolfe’s call to serve a church in New York City, plans for farewell celebrations, a word from the Council of Trustees and a look at his legacy.

Bishop Wolfe’s episcopacy in photos

It’s hard to sum up 13 years in a handful of images, but a few help illustrate the breadth of the bishop’s work in the diocese and the Episcopal Church.

The 157th Diocesan Convention

This year’s Annual Convention of the diocese featured elections, awards and time to get to know members of the Diocese of Western Kansas.

Delegates to UN women’s commission

The Diocese of Kansas will send two of the 17 Episcopal Church delegates to the 2017 meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

ON THE COVER: Bishop Dean Wolfe pauses during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at St. James’, Wichita, during the first Women’s Summit in April 2013. | Photo by Melodie Woerman

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 Publisher The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, Bishop 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: Spring 2017 issue: Feb. 15, 2017 Summer 2017 issue: May 15, 2017 Postmaster: Send address changes to Episcopal Diocese of Kansas 835 Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688

The Harvest | Winter 2016 | 1

AROUND THE DIOCESE

News and notes from congregations St. John’s, Abilene offered a “Blue Christmas” service on Dec. 21, designed for those for whom the holiday season isn’t cheery but is filled with struggle or sadness. The reflective service offered acceptance to worshippers.

St. Mark’s, Blue Rapids member Joe Warders portrayed former priest the Rev. Ed Skinner, who served the church from 1931 to 1947, during a program in October sponsored by the Blue Rapids Historical Society St. Paul’s, Clay Center hosted a communitywide workshop, “Bridges out of Poverty,” on Nov. 5, presented

by Dr. Barbara Andres, executive director of Episcopal Social Services in Wichita. She offered ideas on ways to help people in need.

St. Paul’s, Coffeyville offered a special rosary service every Sunday during Advent, designed as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations.

St. Andrew’s, Derby in December collected hats and gloves for first grade students at a nearby elementary school, as well as gifts for residents of a long-term care facility for the elderly, many of whom don’t have family to visit them.

St. Martin’s, Edwardsville observed its patronal festival in November with a special potluck lunch after church.

Trinity, El Dorado Episcopal Church Women sponsored their 23rd annual Cookie Fair on Dec. 3, with parishioners providing homebaked cookies and other treats for

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SUBMITTED PHOTO

Coffeyville church’s coat run helps area kids More than 100 motorcycle riders took part in the 10th annual “Coats for Kids” ride in Coffeyville on Oct. 15, sponsored by St. Paul’s Church and the local American Legion post. The event collected donated winter coats for children and adults in need, as well as monetary contributions. Riders and other supporters donated 200 coats and $1,000 to buy more.

After the run, which included 60 motorcycles along with a few old cars, everyone was invited to a chili lunch at the church.

Parishioner Rogene Schille created the event as a memorial to her late husband Ed, and she continues as the event’s coordinator. sale to friends and members of the community.

Dec. 4. Refreshments followed the afternoon service.

St. Mary’s, Galena Sunday school class got some hands-on experience after its study of foods in the Bible this fall by trying their hand at cooking some replicas.

Covenant, Junction City invited members of the community to a spaghetti supper Nov. 15, to raise money for the church’s Wheels of Hope ministry of food outreach to people in need.

Epiphany, Independence again hosted members from churches of the Southeast Convocation for a service of Advent Lessons and Music on

St. Paul’s, Kansas City is in the final phase of a major project to repair and replace damaged roofs on the

Wichita cross now hangs in Grace Cathedral

issues. It was created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Grace Cathedral, Topeka, has provided a new home for the large cross that hung above the altar at the former St. Christopher’s in Wichita, which closed in September 2015. The 10-foot wooden cross now hangs near the door that leads from the church’s new Common Room into the cathedral. Parishioners Norm Nellis and Phil Dittmer helped with transportation and installation. Many of the liturgical items were part of St. Christopher’s 60-year service found new homes in churches around the diocese.

Grace, Ottawa saw the baptism of three girls on Nov. 13, all of them nieces of the Rev. Charles Everson of St. Luke’s, Shawnee, who assisted with the service. A festive lunch followed the service.

St. Francis’, Overland Park welcomed diocesan Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach on Nov. 6 to learn more about youth programs and to offer space in the church for future events.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

church and parish hall. Costs come from donations as well as a grant from the Kansas Heritage Trust Foundation.

St. Margaret’s, Lawrence rector the Rev. Matt Zimmermann again dished up his famous French toast for an all-parish breakfast after services on Dec. 11. Sausage, orange juice and real maple syrup rounded out the menu.

Trinity, Lawrence on Nov. 16 hosted Marla Schmidt from Episcopal Migrations Ministries of Wichita for a presentation on the current worldwide refugee crisis. She also spoke to students at the Canterbury House at the University of Kansas.

St. Paul’s, Leavenworth enjoyed its annual chili-and-soup supper on Nov. 7, accompanied by delicious homemade desserts.

St. Paul’s, Manhattan spent Sundays in Advent exploring how ministry is incarnated in its community.

The adult class heard from a representative from one of four local agencies each week.

St. Paul’s, Marysville is offering English classes for those who speak other languages every Wednesday evening. Invitations to attend have been distributed throughout the community.

St. Michael’s, Mission set a goal of collecting 2,000 pairs of socks for its Uplift ministry to people who are homeless, with a collection from parishioners taking place on Dec. 4.

St. Matthew’s, Newton offered a free 12-week program during the fall to help family members and caregivers better understand and support people with serious mental health

St. Thomas’, Overland Park offered special service days for youngsters from third grade through high school during schools’ winter break.

Younger children served at Mission Hope Thrift; high schoolers served at the Kansas City Community Kitchen. Fun activities filled the afternoons.

St. John’s, Parsons studied the book Not a Silent Night on Monday evenings during Advent to help explore Jesus’ coming at Christmas and at his final return.

Epiphany, Sedan members enjoyed a festive Christmas dinner accompanied by favorite Christmas carols on Dec. 18.

St. Luke’s, Shawnee marked the end of the church’s pledge drive in November with a sing-along led by the Village Musicians, a group that features American music from the 1800s played on period instruments.

Grace Cathedral, Topeka in January will install stained glass windows in niches above the Common Room door leading to the cathedral.

They depict the seals of the cathedral Continued on page 4

The Harvest | Winter 2016 | 3

Continued from page 3 and the Diocese of Kansas and were provided as memorials.

St. Luke’s, Wamego hosted the city’s community Thanksgiving dinner at noon on Nov. 25. The church provided turkey, dressing and mashed potatoes, with other area churches providing side dishes.

Good Shepherd, Wichita has begun an adult formation study, “With Open Hands and Open Hearts,” that will run through Epiphany season. It will explore prayer and how members can deepen their prayer life St. Bartholomew’s, Wichita is in the middle of an extended study of the Old Testament,which takes place during adult Sunday school.

St. James’, Wichita is reorganizing the curriculum for its after school program, which provides students in at-risk schools with arts-based enrichment. Volunteers are being recruited to help with the new plan courses.

St. John’s, Wichita is offering those who eat at the weekly Sandwich Saturdays some food for their mind through a book cart that provides a variety of books and magazines at no cost.

St. Stephen’s, Wichita has finished its fall Book Club study of Pope Joan and in January will start discussing Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky.

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The Rev. Betty Glover is named the diocese’s new campus missioner THE REV. BETTY

Glover has accepted the call to serve as campus missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, beginning Jan. 15.

In making the announcement in late October, Bishop Dean Wolfe said, “Mother Glover brings tremendous gifts to an important and extremely demanding position. Her abilities to manage administrative detail, preach, teach and offer pastoral care will serve her well in her new position.

I’m pleased to have Betty on the diocesan staff, and I am confident she will make substantial contributions to an already outstanding team.”

Glover has been serving as interim rector at St. David’s, Topeka, since June 2015. She was ordained to the diaconate in this diocese in 1997, where she was assigned to St. David’s.

After discerning a call to the priesthood, she studied at Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained a priest in 2007.

She then served as rector of Trinity, Arkansas City, and Grace, Winfield.

She went on to serve as an interim at two churches in North Carolina before returning to Kansas.

Campus connections are crucial

Glover said of her new call, “I am so grateful to Bishop Wolfe for the invitation to work with the excellent diocesan staff, alongside the campus interns, peer ministers, and the rectors and deacons who support campus ministry, and I am very excited to begin this new chapter of my ministry.”

She added, “I have long felt that maintaining connection with our youth and college-aged members is

The Rev. Betty Glover a crucial element in their spiritual growth, and ours. I look forward to learning more about what is already happening, in terms of campus ministry in our Canterbury Houses, and in campuses and parishes throughout this diocese.

“I am especially excited and interested in hearing from our collegeaged members as we continue this important work.”

As campus missioner, Glover will work with existing peer ministers and adult supporters who already are in place, and with parishes that want to help provide an Episcopal presence on every campus in the diocese.

She will be supported in this work by members of the Campus Ministry Council.

She will be based in Topeka.

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Clay Center church reaches out to neighbors

By Ginny Beck

Karen is one of the guests at a Spanish service and dinner at St. Paul’s, Clay Center, on Oct. 16.

The congregation reached out to Hispanic employees of nearby dairies and farm workers to offer them hospitality and a church service in their native Spanish.

LIKE MANY

congregations across the diocese, St. Paul’s, Clay Center, mostly represents no ethnic or racial diversity. But that didn’t stop members from reaching out to a growing number of Hispanic families in the area for a special service and meal at the church on Oct. 16.

Last year church members underwent education, and some deep soul searching, after learning details of the life of Mai DeKonza, an African-American woman who was a member from 1900 to 1959 and was poorly treated because of her race.

This experience led to a service of repentance and racial reconciliation, in which members offered a public apology for what was done to DeKonza by their church.

That experience left them eager to see who in their community today might be experiencing prejudice and discrimination, and to reach out to them. They didn’t want others to experience the alienation and separation that Mai DeKonza did.

PHOTOS BY JIM BECK

Parishioners caught the spirit and learned some Spanish phrases, decorated the fellowship hall, made and served food, hosted tables, and held babies.

Offering a church home

That led them to a growing group of farm workers and employees of nearby dairies, many of whom are from Mexico, who have become valued workers but have not found a welcoming church home.

Working through the local English as a Second Language teacher, members distributed invitations in Spanish for a Sunday afternoon service of Evening Prayer, followed by a meal and piñata for the children.

The Rev. Don Compier leads a Spanish language service at St. Paul’s, Clay Center, on Oct. 16.

The Rev. Don Compier from St. Paul’s, Kansas City, led the service and guided the congregation throughout the months of planning, helping in its quest to be culturally sensitive.

Guests arrived in a caravan of vehicles, their arrival delayed beyond the announced starting time because of work schedules.

Father Compier preached from Jeremiah and spoke of the exile of the Jews. He then sang of the exile of Mexicans from their beloved homeland and invited the guests from Mexico to join him in singing the familiar ballad in Spanish.

Over dinner several people expressed interest in continuing to get together. They asked for a Christmas Eve service in Spanish, which the church will offer that day at 4:30 p.m.

Ginny Beck is a member of St. Paul’s, Clay Center, and helped organize the outreach effort.

The Harvest | Winter 2016 | 5

DIOCESAN LIFE

Agencies join to raise awareness of poverty

By Melodie Woerman

THE DIOCESE’S TWO SOCIAL

service agencies — Episcopal Community Services of Kansas City and Episcopal Social Services of Wichita — are working together to help congregations learn more about poverty and how it affects people in their communities.

In January they will send a copy of the book What Every Church Member Should Know about Poverty by Bill Ehlig and Ruby K. Payne to everyone in charge of a congregation in the diocese, along with additional Dr. Barbara Andres materials to aid conversations.

The goal is to encourage Lenten discussions about how churches can better serve people who live in poverty, according to ESS’s director Dr. Barbara Andres and ECS’s CEO Beau Heyen.

This is the first time the agencies have coordinated efforts on a single Beau Heyen topic.

Deacon Fran Wheeler, chair of the diocesan Mission and Outreach Committee, is an enthusiastic supporter of the effort. “I am very excited they are doing this,” she said.

Going beyond a hand-out

Andres said she and Heyen know that many congregations already are doing things to help people in need in their communities. “Churches are very compassionate,” she said, and members help other people “because it’s what God has called us to do.” But, she says, that doesn’t go far enough.

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“We need to better understand diversity regarding money,” she said. “The perspective of someone in poverty is very different from that of those of us in the middle class.”

Heyen said the book helps readers understand that difference by exploring cultural norms and understandings of people in three groups: Poverty Middle class Wealthy He added, “People in poverty don’t have the tools to navigate outside what they know. This book examines that.”

Andres said by better understanding how people in each group look at their circumstances, churches can

POVERTY IN KANSAS 13.O percent 16.8 percent 13.6 percent 11.4 percent 26.1 percent 22.2 percent 21.2 percent 15.8 percent 11.2 percent

All Kansans Children Working-age women Working-age men African-Americans Latinos Native-Americans Asian-Americans Caucasians

$24,250 Poverty level for a family

of 4 people 2015 statistics, TalkPoverty.org

better serve the needs of those in poverty. “We are trying to equalize the playing field to help people get out of poverty,” she said.

Heyen said the first step is to better understand what poverty means in the lives of people beyond just a lack of money. And then it’s to see what role churches can play in making their lives better.

He said churches have moved from a mind set of doing ministry for people to a sense of doing ministry with people. But in each case, it is the church that is taking the lead. “We know what’s right, and we have the answers,” he said.

Relationships are the key

A more helpful model, Heyen said, is to be in conversation with people and have them invite us to ministry.

“We then are the servants.”

Andres said what makes that new model work is relationships. “Relationships help people succeed,” she said.

Heyen said the key is for the church to ask people they serve what they need, instead of assuming that answer.

That is just a matter of respecting their dignity, he said.

Andres said that providing food is a good thing for churches to do, but that should be the pathway to serving deeper needs. “When people come into our food pantries, the best thing we can do is engage them in conversation about what will improve their lives,” she said.

“Maybe it’s to invite them to come to church. All people have spiritual needs. Is feeding people a tool to get us to what God wants us to do?”

But beyond helping people in poverty, Andres said this new approach will help congregations. Exploring these questions and engaging in conversations with others, she said, will help congregations be more vibrant.

“They will be doing more than just giving,” she said. “Individuals members will have a greater sense of satisfaction and will feel purposeful.”

Bridges Out of Poverty

Andres said she and Heyen hope that a further outcome would be offering an expanded version of this concept, a program called “Bridges Out of Poverty,” to churches across the diocese.

Wheeler said she first learned about Bridges Out of Poverty from Andres a few years ago and knew it was something that could benefit ministry groups across the diocese. “We need to understand where people are on the social and economic level,” she said. “That’s an important piece in helping people to be self-sufficient.”

Andres said she and Heyen are available to talk to any church about these programs. “We are here to shepherd people through this and provide a support system,” she said.

Those wanting more information can contact Andres at the ESS office in Wichita at (316) 269-4160 or barbara. andres@esswichita.org. Heyen can be reached at the ECS office in Kansas City, Mo., at (816) 561-8920 or bheyen@ episcopalcommunity.org.

Clergy news Congratulations go to Ellen and the Rev. Steven King, St. Thomas’, Overland Park, on the birth of their first child, John Joseph, on Dec. 17.

The Rev. Matthew Cobb, rector of St. Luke’s, Wamego, has accepted

a call to become director of the Episcopal House of Prayer, a retreat facility in Collegeville, Minn. His last day at St. Luke’s was Dec. 25.

The Very Rev. Tom Wilson, rector of St. Andrew’s, Derby, and dean

of the Southeast Convocation, has accepted a call to become chaplain at Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community in Charleston, S.C. His last Sunday at St. Andrew’s was Jan. 1.

The Harvest | Winter 2016 | 7

From Topeka to Bishop Dean E. Wolfe will step down to become rector of St. Bartholomew’s, NYC

By Melodie Woerman

will assume all episcopal responsibilities within the diocese, other than liturgical actions reserved for bishops BISHOP DEAN E. WOLFE announced such as confirmations and ordinations. on Nov. 13 that he has accepted a call to become recThe Very Rev. Foster Mays, who is rector of Epiphany, tor of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York Sedan, and dean of the Southeast Convocation, is presiCity, beginning on Feb. 5, 2017, and will dent of the Council. step down as the ninth bishop of Kansas The Council met by video conference at that time. on Nov. 30 with Bishop Clay Matthews, St. Bartholomew’s is a church of about the member of the Presiding Bishop’s staff 3,000 members located in midtown Manwho is responsible for bishop transitions, hattan. to discuss their new role and how duties In a message sent to clergy and lay that normally fall to a bishop might be leaders that also was posted on the diocehandled, either within the Council or san website, Bishop Wolfe said that he anwith the assistance of an outside bishop. swered this call because of a sense that his Council members are continuing with ministry as bishop had reached a point, weekly video conferences to discuss the after 13 years, when leaving seemed to be work that lies ahead, which includes orneither too early “to accomplish all that ganizing the search process for the 10th God intended” nor too late “to frustrate bishop of the diocese. the Spirit’s intentions.”

Bishop Matthews said that the diocese Bishop Dean E. Wolfe He also noted that this new position should count on about 18 months from will allow him again to focus on the work that first drew the start of a search process to the election of the next him into ordained ministry, including preaching and bishop, with another six months until that person is orteaching. dained and consecrated.

He said he is leaving a seasoned diocesan staff, outDean Elliott Wolfe was elected the ninth bishop of standing clergy who serve as deans of the diocese’s four Kansas on July 12, 2003, and was ordained and conseregional convocations, sound financial resources, and crated as bishop coadjutor on Nov. 8, 2003. He became committed lay and ordained leaders across the diocese. diocesan bishop on Jan. 1, 2004, upon the retirement of his predecessor, Bishop William E. Smalley.

Council of Trustees assumes responsibilities The full text of Bishop Wolfe’s announcement of his deOnce the bishop’s resignation is received, the parture is posted on the diocesan website, www.episcopalCouncil of Trustees, acting by canons as the Standing ks.org.

Committee, will become the Ecclesiastical Authority and

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o New York City A letter from the president Opportunities to say good-bye to the Wolfes of the Council of Trustees ALL MEMBERS OF THE

diocese are invited to three events in January that will mark the end of the episcopacy of Bishop Dean E. Wolfe and will give people the chance to greet the bishop and his wife, Ellen, before they head to New York City.

A final service on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Cathedral in Topeka will mark a ceremonial end to Bishop Wolfe’s 13-year episcopacy. The bishop will preside at the Holy Eucharist and will preach, and members of the diocesan staff will participate.

Because of construction at the cathedral, a reception that afternoon will take place in the Parish Hall at St. David’s in Topeka.

There also will be an afternoon reception on Saturday, Jan. 14, in the Guild Hall at St. James’, Wichita.

RSVPs are not needed for any of the events.

Saturday, Jan. 14 St. James’, 3750 East Douglas, Wichita 2 to 4 p.m.: Reception with light refreshments Sunday, Jan. 29 Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave., Topeka 10:30 a.m.: Service of farewell, with Bishop Wolfe preaching and presiding Sunday, Jan. 29 St. David’s, 3916 SW 17th St., Topeka 2 to 4 p.m.: Reception with light refreshments

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As I write this message, we are still in the midst of Advent — that wonderful and fecund season of anticipation, reflection and preparation for new life. This new life will soon be delivered at Christmas and followed in short order by the revelation of Epiphany.

Reflection on the transition among these holy seasons seems particularly appropriate as we — the Body of Christ in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas — find ourselves facing a transition in episcopal leadership.

In many respects, we have been preparing and formed for this transition over the past 13 years of Bishop Wolfe’s episcopacy. Among the joys of each cycle of the liturgical seasons, we have also faced and overcome challenges that have made us healthier and stronger because of Bishop Wolfe’s leadership. I look forward to celebrating his leadership with you all.

During this anticipatory season of Advent, the Council of Trustees — in its capacity as the Standing Committee of the Diocese — has already immersed itself in reflection and preparation for the transition that lies ahead.

Rather than burden this message with details, I invite you to stay tuned to the normal diocesan communications where the Council will be publishing details and updates.

In the meanwhile, I am …

Yours in expectancy, The Very Reverend Foster M. Mays President, Council of Trustees

The Harvest | Winter 2016 | 9

CELEBRATING THE MINISTRY OF BISHOP DEAN E. WOLFE

A look back at 13 years of Bishop Wolfe’s leadership

By Melodie Woerman

WHEN BISHOP Dean Wolfe concludes his

episcopacy of just over 13 years, he will leave behind a string of successes that will have long-lasting effects on the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, as well as some challenges that will leave an influence of their own.

The most visible accomplishment will be the construction of new space that will house the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry and offices for the bishop and staff, a project that is expected to begin in early January.

That, plus the top-to-bottom renovation of Upton Hall Conference Center in 2013, was the fruit of a fundraising campaign that began in 2010 and ultimately yielded about $4 million dollars for construction, along with $230,000 for diocesan outreach and $450,000 for an endowment to assist the diocese’s support of BKSM. Creation of the Bishop Kemper School itself will have long-term effects on the diocese, as it provides high-quality education for people studying for ordination as priests and deacons, usually in small congregations, which will open ordained ministry to people who wouldn’t be able to attend a traditional residential seminary. It also offers classes for lay people to enhance their ministries and those of their parishes.

BKSM grew out of the Kansas School for Ministry, which was started before Bishop Wolfe’s tenure, to educate local clergy. KSM ran out of money in 2006, but the bishop helped oversee its reorganization and it reopened a year later.

In 2012 it began to admit students from neighboring dioceses. This inter-diocesan cooperation led to the creation of BKSM in 2013, in conjunction with the Dioceses of Western Kansas, West Missouri and Nebraska.

Support for diocesan ministries

In his first few months in office, Bishop Wolfe reorganized the way campus ministry was delivered in the diocese. Rather than concentrate money and efforts in supporting chaplains on two major campuses, the focus shifted to a campus missioner who helps local congregations reach out to campuses in their community, with the goal of having an Episcopal presence on campuses across the diocese.

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PHOTO BY DIANA HARRINGTON

In addition to hosting Canterbury Houses at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, the campus ministry program has helped parishes serve students on other campuses, offering hospitality and care to young adults at a formative time in their lives.

Bishop Wolfe also has been a vocal supporter of youth ministry, highlighting it as a key service that the diocese offers to its congregations, many of which don’t have enough young people for their own youth group.

Besides providing for a full-time diocesan youth missioner, he has been a visual presence at many youth events, often leading classes or discussions, as well as spending time in residence at camp each summer.

Miqra, a Bible-themed weekend in which youth read the entire Bible out loud, now has spread to several other dioceses that are taking the Kansas model as inspiration.

He has been a major supporter of the Kansas to Kenya ministry, which was formed 10 years ago by members of the diocese and operates on its own budget.

Bishop Wolfe has made four trips to the East African nation himself, under the auspices of K2K. He also promoted the creation of a refugee resettlement agency within the diocese. What began in 2011 as Episcopal Wichita Area Refugee Ministries now is an affiliate of Episcopal Migration Ministries, and it has helped more than 200 people who fled the ravages of war and oppression start new lives of safety and peace in Wichita.

Presiding bishops and worldwide service

The bishop has welcomed two sitting Presiding Bishops to the diocese: Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold in 2006, and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in 2009 and 2013.

While Presiding Bishop Michael Curry hasn’t visited the diocese since his election in 2015, he was the keynote speaker at Diocesan Convention in 2010 when he was Bishop of North Carolina, wowing delegates and clergy with his powerful preaching.

Bishop Wolfe also has played a visible role within the Episcopal Church, being elected three times as vice president of the House of Bishops. He has represented the church in visits to 11 countries from Ecuador to South Korea, as well as in meetings in London with two Archbishops of Canterbury, Rowan Williams and Justin Welby.

He also helped steer the diocese through a middle course on the issue of the marriage of same-sex couples.

While personally supportive, he said he would wait until General Convention acted definitively on the matter before authorizing it in the diocese, a move aimed at helping all parishes move together on the subject, even if that was slower than some would have liked.

A variety of challenges

But there also have been challenges during Bishop Wolfe’s tenure, none greater than negotiations that peacefully ended the relationship between the diocese and Christ Church, a former parish in Overland Park that in 2005 voted to leave the Episcopal Church because of decisions allowing gay and lesbian people to be ordained.

Early discussions on the matter started within months of the bishop’s ordination and resulted in the

diocese’s then-largest congregation agreeing to purchase their building from the diocese. Members who wanted to stay in the Episcopal Church found welcoming homes in other area churches.

A hoped-for new congregation in the Kansas City area was started in 2009 and eventually bought a building in Spring Hill, but the congregation never grew large enough to sustain itself and closed in 2014.

Several small congregations have fallen victim to demographic forces that have resulted in shrinking membership, and five of them have closed or merged with another congregation in the past 13 years.

Other small congregations across the diocese, with their membership declining, are having difficulty recruiting priests to serve them. Most can pay only a modest stipend, and they are finding few clergy who are willing to take those jobs. Efforts are underway to find people within those parishes who have a call to ordained ministry. They can take their required courses for ordination at the Bishop Kemper School in Topeka, but discernment and studies don’t happen overnight. In the meantime, these congregations PHOTO BY BOB BASOW rely on supply clergy for services of Holy Eucharist when available, and lay-led services of Morning Prayer on other Sundays.

The impact of 13 years in the diocese

But beyond the programs supported or the challenges faced, perhaps Bishop Wolfe’s most lasting legacy lies with those who have experienced the day-to-day ministry of a bishop: people who have publicly professed their Christian faith in confirmation and reception; women and men who committed their lives to Christ’s service when they were ordained deacons and priests; clergy whose ministry was strengthened through the bishop’s support and encouragement; congregations that weathered rocky periods through guidance and advice.

Bishop Wolfe, in announcing his departure, said that he will leave behind many committed lay and clergy leaders, a strong Council of Trustees, a seasoned diocesan staff and sound financial resources.

All that, plus his work over 13 years as the diocese’s ninth bishop, paves the way for whoever becomes the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.

The Harvest | Winter 2016 | 11

CELEBRATING THE MINISTRY OF BISHOP DEAN E. WOLFE

Images of an episcopacy

Bishop Wolfe looks on as a youngster reads the Bible during Miqra in January 2005. Support for youth ministry has been one of the hallmarks of his episcopacy.

Ellen and William Wolfe join newly ordained and consecrated Bishop Dean Wolfe in Grace Cathedral, Topeka, on Nov. 8, 2003.

Bishop Wolfe meets with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in his offices in London. As Vice President of the House of Bishops, Bishop Wolfe has met with many leaders across the Anglican Communion.

PHOTOS BY MELODIE WOERMAN, DEACON BOB HIRST AND SUBMITTED

12 | The Harvest | Winter 2016

Ordaining new clergy, as in this service on June 11, 2016, is one of the duties of a bishop.

Ellen Wolfe organized two Women’s Summits, which brought together hundreds of women to learn about women’s empowerment and human trafficking.

BISHOP WOLFE’S TENURE,

BY THE NUMBERS 1,759 Confirmations 330 748 314

Bishop Wolfe welcomed Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in October 2013 for the dedication of the newly created Bishop Kemper School for Ministry. Then-dean the Rev. Andrew Grosso also participated.

Receptions Services of Holy Eucharist Confirmation services

26

Priests ordained

45

Deacons ordained

29

Celebration of new ministry

38

Funerals

9

Marriages

9

Secularizations of churches From Nov. 8, 2003, through Jan. 7, 2017

The Harvest | Winter 2016 | 13

DIOCESAN LIFE

ALL PHOTOS BY DEACON BOB HIRST

Participants during the Eucharist at the joint convention of the Dioceses of Kansas and Western Kansas include Western Kansas Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Phyllis Flory, Western Kansas Bishop Michael Milliken, Kansas Bishop Dean Wolfe and Kansas Archdeacon Charles Pearce.

Event brings together Kansas Episcopalians

By Melodie Woerman

FOR THE FIRST

time in more than 30 years, Episcopalians from the two dioceses that make up the state of Kansas met together for their annual conventions. The event took place Oct. 28-29 at the Hilton Double Tree Hotel near Wichita’s Eisenhower Airport.

While each diocese conducted its own business sessions, clergy and lay delegates shared joint worship services and ate meals together.

The highlight of the event was the Friday evening banquet, during 14 | The Harvest | Winter 2016

which each diocese presented its annual awards. (See photos of diocesan award winners on the next page.)

It also included awarding checks to the first-ever recipients of Alleluia Grants to benefit outreach ministries.

Winners were: St. Paul’s, Clay Center, “The Lift to Feed the Community,” $3,000 Good Shepherd, Wichita, “Laundry Love,” $1,000 St. Thomas’, Overland Park, “Thom’s Transport,” $3,000 St. James’, Wichita, “After School Program,” $2,980

Business session

Most of the diocese’s business session was devoted to voting for members of the Council of Trustees, as well as deputies and alternates to the 2018 General Convention.

Elected as at-large members of the Council of Trustees were Scott Howard (first term) and the Rev. Sharon Billman (second term).

Convention also affirmed representatives to the Council that had been elected earlier by the four Convocation Boards: Jack Dutra, Northeast Convocation

Deacon Fran Wheeler, St. Thomas’, Overland Park, reacts after receiving the Archdeacons’ Cross, given to a deacon for outstanding ministry.

Jennifer Allen, St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, enjoys the rocking chair given to her by Bishop Dean Wolfe as this year’s recipient of the Bishops’ Chair Award, given for outstanding ministry by a lay person.

Elizabeth Doll, Northwest Convocation Sue O’Connor, Southeast Convocation Tim Flynn, Southwest Convocation Elected as deputies to General Convention were: Mike Morrow, St. John’s, Wichita Ashley Mather, St. James’, Wichita Michael Funston, St. Paul’s, Manhattan

The Rev. Mary Siegmund, St. Luke’s, Shawnee, speaks after receiving the Canon’s Award given annually to a priest for outstanding ministry, as Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Torey Lightcap looks on.

Jennifer Allen, St. Michael and All Angels, Mission The Rev. Laurie Lewis, Trinity, Arkansas City and Grace, Winfield The Very Rev. Don Compier, dean of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry The Rev. Torey Lightcap, diocesan canon to the ordinary The Rev. Patrick Funston, St. Paul’s, Manhattan

General Convention alternates are Robert Skaggs, Tyler Kerr, Lyn Wattley, Brent Nearhood, the Rev. Steven King, the Rev. Andrew O’Connor, the Rev. Mary Korte and the Rev. Doreen Rice.

In addition, lay delegates and clergy also heard reports from a number of diocesan ministry group and approved a 2017 diocesan mission plan (budget) in the amount of $1,824,681.

The Harvest | Winter 2016 | 15

DIOCESAN LIFE

Two women named to United Nations commission KIRSTEN LEE AND JENNIFER

Allen have been named by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to the official Episcopal Church delegation to the 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which will meet in New York City March 13-24, 2017. Both women are members of St. Michael and All Angels in Mission.

They will be joined by 15 other women, including Angela Smith from the Diocese of Western Kansas. No other diocese has more than one person participating.

Allen also served as a delegate to the Commission’ earlier this year; it will be Lee’s first time to attend the meeting, which includes women from U.N. member states and entities, as well as non-governmental organizations from around of the world.

Both women have extensive experience in diocesan ministries. Allen is a newly elected deputy to General Convention in 2018, having been an alternate deputy in 2015. She has made several mission trips to Kenya through Kansas to Kenya and also serves on the program’s Steering Committee.

Lee, a senior at Blue Valley Southwest High School in

PHOTO BY DEACON BOB HIRST

Kirsten Lee (left) and Jennifer Allen have been named delegates from the Episcopal Church to the 2017 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Overland Park, has been active in diocesan youth ministry, including leading youth weekends, playing guitar in the “Mustard Seeds” band and serving on the Youth Commission. She has been part of three mission trips to Honduras and one to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

From the bishop Continued from front inside cover I served as Vice President of the House of Bishops at the invitation of two Presiding Bishops, and served on a wide variety of committees and task forces around the church. I have traveled across the world representing the wider church (including some intense conversations with the Archbishop of Canterbury and his staff) and was privileged to serve as the celebrant at a General Convention Eucharist.

In all the time I have served in Kansas, I never missed a parish 16 | The Harvest | Winter 2016

visitation due to weather or illness, and in my 14th year, I’m as enthusiastic and hopeful about this ministry as I was when I first began.

I believe the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas will be a great place for a good bishop to serve, and I pray the Lord will send you gentle and wise candidates to lead you in doing the work you are called to do. When you are the Ninth Bishop of Kansas, you know that someday there is going to be a Tenth!

I will continue to keep you in my heart and prayers. I have loved you and felt loved by you. What an extraordinary gift that is.

So, my dear friends, Go in safety, for you cannot go where God is not.

Go in love, for God’s love alone endures.

And go in peace, for that is God’s gift to those whose hearts and minds are in God’s son, Jesus.

And the blessing of God Almighty; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you this day, and remain with you forever.

Faithfully,

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE | THE MOST REVEREND MICHAEL B. CURRY

Make room for Jesus to change us For unto us a child is born,unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

THESE WORDS of Isaiah

are often seen as words that foretell and foreshadow the coming of Jesus of Nazareth, born of Mary. The truth is, these words befit him because this child changed the world. This child changes lives. This child changes us.

I remember when our oldest daughter was a baby. My wife and I were young. We were footloose and fancy-free. It was just the two of us newlyweds, so if we wanted to go out to eat dinner, we went out to eat dinner. If we decided to go to a movie at the last minute, we just went. We actually felt like we had money back then. And we did have a little bit of discretionary income.

We could pretty much do what we wanted to do, within reason, and we didn’t have to think too much about the consequences or impact of a spontaneous decision and what we had to do to make that happen.

And then, all of a sudden, this little, innocent human being, a little child, came into our lives and literally gained control over our entire world. Before we could do anything else we had to think about, “Who’s going to keep the baby?” or “Is this a good time for us to go without the baby?”

We soon learned that we were not in control of our lives anymore. Even our sleeping patterns became very different. We would stay awake when the baby was awake, and we went to sleep when the baby went to sleep.

Literally this child began to control our lives, and the child didn’t even know she was doing it. And then we had a second one; she did the exact same thing.

And I’ve since learned that that’s what babies do. When they arrive they take over! And their parents begin to develop their lives around this child, to mold their entire lives around this precious, needy baby.

Changing everything Isaiah wrote, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given … and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

This child who was born of Mary changes everything. This child born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, changes how we live. This child born to the sound of angels singing Gloria in excelcis Deo — this child to whom the wise ones came from afar bearing gifts — this child, changed the way the entire world works.

And this Jesus, born into a world torn by strife and hatred and division and pain and poverty, this child is born anew wherever men and women say, “I’ll follow him. I’ll follow him as my Savior. I’ll follow him as my Lord.”

When this child grew up, he said his reason for coming, again quoting Isaiah, from the 61st chapter, he said, The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, the recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty all those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

This child, when he grew up, came to show us the way to live lives of love, lives of compassion, lives of goodness, lives of kindness, lives of justice. This child came to show us how to change the world.

So this Christmas, make room for him to change us. This Christmas help us change the world. And make a new commitment, to go out from this day, to let this Christmas Day, be the first day of a new world.

God bless you. God keep you.

Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. And go on out and change the world!

The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas 835 S.W. Polk Street Topeka, KS 66612-1688 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED