The Harvest, July-August 2014

Inside The Harvest

Mystery worshippersStudents from Tabor College attended services at St. James’, Wichita, recently, as part of a class on the development of Christian worship. What they experienced was a pleasant surprise. Page 2

Campus ministrySummer transitions bring a new campus intern at K-State, Ashley Petty, along with new adult volunteers on several important committees. Page 3

Youth help KC churchTeens from across the country developed some rehab skills this summer at St. Paul’s, Kansas City, as their service through Youthworks helped

prepare spaces at the church for a new program. Page 5

Property insurance policyThe Council of Trustees has adopted a policy that sets the minimum level of coverage for a variety of aspects of prop-erty insurance for all congregations in the diocese. Page 5

Refugee ministry expandsThe Episcopal Wichita Area Refugee Ministry has expand-ed its staff and scope so it can help refugees from more countries and help resettle them in more cities. Page 6

MegaCampAbout 240 campers in grades 3-12, plus volunteers, experienced the joys of a week of summer camp, with the program focused on learning about God’s grace. Page 7

Around the dioceseKansas churches aren’t expe-riencing any summer slump, with lots of activities happen-ing everywhere. Read about a traveling mouse from Topeka, a Fourth of July fl oat and much more. Page 8

Wichita award winnersTwo people from Good Shepherd, Wichita, recently received statewide awards that recognize the excellence they show in their jobs. Page 9

New clergyJune ordinations and a reception on Pen-tecost mean new clergy for the diocese, who are serving in a variety of roles and places. Page 9

Christians in IraqCanon Andrew White, vicar of St. George’s Church in Baghdad, reports on the plight of Christians in Iraq as they seek to escape from attacks by the Islamic State. Page 10

Episcopal Social Services receives grant for new computer equipment

New dean lauds the Bishop Kemper School

Laptops will help adult job seekers and at-risk youth By Melodie WoermanEditor, The Harvest

Episcopal Social Services of Wichita in June learned it had received one of 48 grants provided this year by the United Thank Offering. The agency will receive $9,645 for the purchase of computer equipment that will help adults who need a job and young people who have been referred for help after misdemeanor offenses.

Dr. Barbara Andres, the agency’s executive director, said the money will outfi t fi ve different classrooms with a laptop, a wire-less projector mounted on the ceiling and a retractable screen. Funds also will purchase a copy of the Microsoft Offi ce suite of software for each computer.

United Thank Offering received 83 applications for projects designed to address human needs and alleviate poverty. The 48 grants made totaled $1.525 million, given to a total of 36 dioceses in the U.S. and abroad.

Andres said the UTO grant will provide computers in classes devoted to employment and educational support. ESS currently has no computers available for use in rooms where the agency offers adult and youth classes, which limits teaching to verbal instructions and a chalkboard.

ESS PHOTO

Episcopal Social Services in Wichita has a computer lab, shown here, to help people seeking jobs, but they lack modern computers in classrooms to help with education. That soon will change, thanks to a grant from the United Thank Offering.(Please see Grant, page 3)

By Melodie WoermanEditor, The Harvest

The Rev. Don H. Compier took over the helm of the Bishop Kemper School of Ministry on July 1, when he became dean of the year-old school, a cooperative venture of the Dioceses of Kansas, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas.

Compier, who has a Ph.D. in Theo-logical Studies from Emory University in Atlanta, has spent more than a decade in administration and more than 20 years teaching in theological institutions, most recently as dean and professor at Grace-land University Seminary in Indepen-dence, Mo.

He was ordained a transitional deacon on June 7 and is assisting at his home par-ish, St. Michael and All Angels in Mission.

After he had been on the job a few weeks, The Harvest asked him to refl ect on the school and his vision for it in the future.

Tell me what you envision for the com-ing academic year. Will there be many changes from last year?

The previous dean, the Rev. Andrew Grosso, did a wonderful job of plan-ning the 2014-2015 academic year well in advance, so the course offerings will continue as before.

Students are pursuing three tracks:

priestly studies, diaconal studies and An-glican studies (for those who completed ministerial training at schools outside of the Episcopal tradition). Our experi-enced and able faculty will continue to offer excellent instruction.

One major change is that thanks to the careful planning of Dean Grosso and the Board of Directors, I can devote full-time attention to the school.

This will permit us to carefully re-view our existing programs and consider further development of our offerings in

support of the mission of the church in this part of the world.

What do you see as the greatest strength that the Bishop Kemper School brings to the Diocese of Kansas and the other three owning dioceses?

I know of no other regional collabo-ration like this. Pooling the resources of our four dioceses allows us to do so much more than any of us could do alone.

We bring together an amazing array of talents, experience and passion for many aspects of the church’s mission.

I thoroughly enjoy seeing students from the four dioceses form friendships that will uphold and support them in ministry for the rest of their lives.

In the past persons preparing to be deacons and persons in training to be-come priests usually were educated and formed separately. At BKSM we live out the reality that all ministry is done in teams; it is shared.

All prepare for their respective ordi-nations together and form relationships of trust. We demonstrate that the same degree of serious study is needed for all types of ministry.

Persons able to attend residential

(Please see Dean, page 3)

‘Second to none’

The Rev. Don H. Compier, dean of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry

2 • The Harvest • July/August 2014

Publisher: The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, BishopEditor: Melodie Woerman

A member of Episcopal News Service and Episcopal Communi-cators, The Harvest is published six times a year by the Offi ce of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas: February, April, June, August, October and December.

Stories, letters and photos are welcome. They will be used on a space-available basis and are subject to editing. Send all material (preferably in electronic format or by email) to:

Melodie Woerman, editorThe Harvest

835 SW Polk St.Topeka, KS 66612-1688phone: (800) 473-3563

fax: (785) [email protected]

Send address changes to:Receptionist

835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS [email protected]

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POSTMASTER:Send address changes to

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The Anglican CommunionA global community of 70 million Anglicans in 38 member churches/provinces in more than 160 countries.

Archbishop of CanterburyThe Most Reverend and Right Honorable Justin WelbyLambeth Palace, London WE1 7JU, United Kingdom

www.anglicancommunion.orgEpiscopal seat: Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England

The Episcopal ChurchA community of 2 million members in 109 dioceses in 16 countries in the Americas and abroad.

Presiding BishopThe Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori

815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017(800) 334-7626

www.episcopalchurch.orgEpiscopal seat: Washington National Cathedral,

Washington, D.C.

The Episcopal Diocese of KansasA community of more than 11,000 members in 45 congregations, two diocesan institutions and one school in eastern Kansas.

BishopThe Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe

835 SW Polk Street, Topeka, KS 66612-1688(785) 235-9255(800) 473-3563

www.episcopal-ks.orgEpiscopal seat: Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Topeka


The question of how young people view Episcopal liturgy got some interesting answers a few months ago, when students from Tabor College in Hillsboro, an institution founded by members of the Mennonite Brethren tradition, visited St. James’, Wichita, for a Sunday worship service.

Dr. Bradley Vogel, a professor of choral music at the college and a sometime member of the congrega-tion, asked the students to attend as part of a class he teaches that studies the development of Christian worship from its Old Testament sources through the New Testa-ment period and Reformation to the modern era.

None of them had ever at-tended St. James’ before, and most were unfamiliar with the style of Episcopal worship. Vogel said that while two students were Methodists, the others represented a mix of non-liturgical churches, including Independent Baptists, Quakers, Pentecostals and Non-denominational Free churches.

They happened to attend on Youth Sunday, when young people played the organ prelude and read the lessons.

Afterward, Vogel asked his students to evaluate the services according to “biblical elements that are essential,” as well as the “overall structure of revelation and our response,” which he called “the epitome of worship.”

Comments describe powerful worshipHe shared some of the students’ answers with the

congregation, and they were reprinted in the parish newsletter, “Seasons.”

They refl ect views of traditional worship that many might fi nd surprising coming from college-aged students.

“For some reason, despite my best efforts, I had the erroneous expectation that everything would be formal and somewhat intimidating, but the warmth of those who greeted us quickly erased those thoughts.”

“One interesting aspect of the service that stuck out to me was the time before the service began. Before services, I am used to people talking, laughing and children running amok. At St. James’, people sat in their seats and whispered before the service began. This may be because of the mind-set that Episcopalians have about worship space. The people probably understand that when they enter the sanctuary it is time to worship, not to chatter.”

“The role of the leaders served as a guide who comes alongside the worshippers, instead of the dominating fi gurehead and sole voice of the church. Therefore, the strength of their leadership style was in what appeared to me to be humility.”

“The sense that I was not just an individual wor-shipping God in a room full of people, but rather a part of a community, was the most refreshing part of this experience.”

“The entries service was rich with theology.

Students are surprised by their fi rst Episcopal service

Guests describe a warm welcome and meaningful worship

Scripture was used frequently. I especially appre-ciated the longer length of some of the passages read. If there was any doubt about whether the Christian faith was defi ned, the Nicene Creed pretty much took care of that.”

“Overall I was most impressed with the overall quality with which the service was done. I felt like the people, both leading the service and partici-pating in it, actually cared about what they were doing and really wanted to do a good job. Not only that, but they took the time to know what they were doing.”

“I found depth of content throughout the service accompanied by a sincere spirit in the people.”

“People in the congregation seemed apologetic that were visiting on Youth Sunday. Despite peoples’ misgivings, I thought the youth led the congregation well.”

“I thought the youth did a very nice job. I think this can really attest to the leadership that was happening at the church. If the youth are that way, it is probably because they had good leadership to teach them what to do.”

“I found the service to be rooted in biblical truth and conducive to leading people in worship. The way Eucharist was cel-ebrated was meaningful to me. Walking to the altar and receiving the wafer with the words, ‘The body of Christ, the bread of heaven’ was moving. The hymn that was sung after the Eucharist was also uplifting and edifying. Seeing the respect paid for the cross and the Word were eye-opening to me.”

From a student who attends an inner-city Pente-costal church: “As I visited St. James Episcopal Church for the fi rst time, I did not know what to expect. I was coming from more of a contempo-rary background so I defi nitely thought the Epis-copal style was out of date, considering the music along with the heavy use of hymns. I thought the service was going to be long and not engaging at all. My view was rocked and challenged. The service was powerful and engaging.”

What about a mega-church?Vogel wrote to St. James’ that after his students’

visit to the Episcopal church, they attended “a high-energy, TV-modeled service, fully ‘contemporary’ in style; a service that is ostensibly designed for people the students’ age.”

He said that they had barely left the door of the church’s theatre before students began “to express their dismay and disappointment. [It was] essentially no substance but lots of entertainment.”

During the discussions that followed that visit, Vogel said the African-American student from a Pentecostal church compared it to what he had ex-perienced at the Episcopal church.

“I didn’t like or believe the service was very strong,” the young man said, “but I wonder if I would have recognized it if I hadn’t gone to St. James’ fi rst and saw worship done as it ought to be done.”

Vogel said he offered this comment not so the church would be “puffed up with pride” but to “re-joice that 20-22 year-olds recognize the difference between richness and entertainment, and long for richness and meaning.

“There is research showing this, and churches that hold to a strong foundation in Word and prayer and Eucharist will be just fi ne!”

“Walking to the altar and

receiving the wafer with the

words, ‘The body of Christ, the

bread of heaven,’ was moving. The hymn that was sung after the Eucharist was

also uplifting and edifying.”

July/August 2014 • The Harvest • 3

Bishop Dean Wolfe has established a search advisory committee to assist him in fi nding a per-manent canon to the ordinary, following the completion of service on July 23 by Canon Interim the Rev. Meghan Froehlich.

The committee will be headed by Bob Skaggs of St. Michael and All An-gels, Mission, who is president of the Council of Trustees.

The committee will be assisted by Dave Seifert, dioc-esan missioner for transitions, who has been serving as a search consultant to parishes since Au-gust of last year. He is a member of St. Paul’s, Clay Center.

Until a canon is hired, Seifert will continue to help clergy and congrega-tions in transition, and he also is assisting the bishop with

diocesan staff coordination. Bishop Wolfe also an-

nounced that re-tired priest the Rev. George Wiley will assist him as canon pastor with special needs during this period.

When he an -nounced Froehlich’s departure, Bishop Wolfe said that she initially had agreed to stay for three months but had ex-tended that to nearly a full year.

He said that she “showed immediate competence in one of the most complex jobs in The Episco-pal Church,” and that the diocese put her many gifts to their fullest use.”

The canon to the ordinary in this dio-cese is a priest, ap-

pointed by the bishop with the consent of the Council of Trustees, who assists the bishop.

Bishop forms advisory group to help search for a canon to the ordinary

(Continued from page 1)

Laptops with current software will allow use of multimedia educational elements that not only will help present information in useful ways but also can help keep learners more interested, she said.

Until now, for instance, instructors haven’t been able to use basic PowerPoint presentations to illustrate the concepts they are teaching.

Andres said by purchasing laptops instead of desktop computers, they can be used to make presentations when she and other staff speak about ESS to outside groups in the community, helping to give a more complete and memorable picture of what the agency offers.

Help for unemployed adultsAndres said many of their classes center on helping

unemployed adults get a job, or to help those who may be employed fi nd better ones.

ESS not only helps job candidates learn how to write a resume and application letters but also teaches them the skills needed to complete a successful job interview. “We work to surround them with the support they need to get a job,” Andres said.

An existing computer lab gives adults the chance to learn how to use computers and helpful programs, as well as to complete job applications that increasingly are available only online. Staff and volunteers provide “lots of one-on-one help,” Andres said, as a way to help make the lives of adults in the community better through employment.

Youth will be aided, tooAndres said the new computer-enhanced classrooms

also will benefi t their programs at for at-risk youth, which serve those ages 12-17 who have been referred for misdemeanor-level conduct including theft, fi ghting, vandalism and underage drinking.

(Continued from page 1)

seminaries no doubt have a rich experience. But they may pay a high price for the privilege, often assuming a burden of debt.

As Presiding Bishop Katha-rine Jefferts Schori pointed out when she visited our diocese a couple of years ago, this means that the types of pastoral calls they can accept are limited, because those bills come due. We have seen many fi ne people raised up for ministry in our dioceses move into the service of other regions of the church.

BKSM is able to keep costs low so that we have a better chance of retaining the services of fi ne ministers “back home.”

BKSM makes theologi-cal education more accessible without sacrifi cing quality. Our instructors know how to prepare our students for the specifi c mis-sion of the church in this part of the United States.

They are involved in min-istry here themselves, so they pass on much more than general academic knowledge of various subjects.

Most of the students at the school currently are preparing for ordi-nation. How can the school aid lay members of parishes in the diocese?

This is the primary area in which I hope to grow BKSM further. The canons of the Epis-copal Church have called all of us to pay just as much attention to the formation of lay ministers

Dean: ‘This is your institution; it is our seminary’

as we do to that of ordained ministers.

Throughout the church we have been struggling to fi gure out how to fulfi ll this mandate. I believe that BKSM is on the cutting edge and will be a leader in this historic development.

Right now lay persons are very welcome to enroll in our classes. Many would greatly enjoy and benefi t from our of-ferings in Bible, church history, theology and other areas.

As I now have time for stra-tegic development, I have begun conversations about how BKSM can support and collaborate with Education for Ministry.

I think there is a pressing need to educate people who will be involved in the formation of our children, teenagers and

young adults. We have excel-lent leaders in these areas in our dioceses, and I plan to listen to them carefully.

Lay leaders often provide a great deal of pastoral care, and we have some exciting emerg-ing ideas about how to offer appropriate preparation for this vital ministry. Together we will discern what is needed, and fi nd ways to provide good education for all who serve the church.

What are some of your dreams for the school as you begin your tenure as dean?

I was born in this part of the world, and while I’ve been blessed to live in the Nether-lands, California and Mexico, I always found my way back here. I’ve now lived here 27 years,

much longer than any other place.

I believe in the Benedictine principle of stability, or what Kathleen Norris calls “geograph-ical vocation.”

I know that many others in our four dioceses share this sense of call to this time and this place. The heartland of the U.S. is a unique region, not quite like any other place on earth.

It is high time that we develop our own robust center for theological education. No one else will be able to better prepare our ministers for the part of God’s mission entrusted to us here.

Part of our reality is that our region is ever more culturally diverse. In particular, we wit-ness rising numbers of Hispanic neighbors.

How might BKSM help the church to be proactive in sharing the good news of God’s love with all?

This really is my dream job. BKSM’s foundations were laid very well, and now it is time to build on them. We will offer a theological education second to none, but our standard is: how do we best prepare people to faithfully fulfi ll God’s call here, today?

I think we will keep discern-ing, pressing to become the very best school for ministry in Nebraska, Kansas and West Missouri. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if other neighboring dioceses choose to partner with us also.

What can average people in the diocese do to support the school?

First of all, please pray for us! We can do nothing without God’s strength and the direc-tion of the Holy Spirit. I really appreciate daily intercessions for the work of BKSM.

Second, realize that this isn’t a school in Topeka with no rela-tionship to your congregation or your life. This is your institution; it is our seminary. It exists to help us all be more faithful in our lives of discipleship.

Claim it, be proud of it, and please share your ideas, your questions and your concerns.

People should consider taking a course with us, even if it’s as an auditor. If you know people who would benefi t from our pro-gram, encourage them to check out BKSM.

Please support our current students, and offer them your prayers and your encourage-ment. They have added rigorous, demanding study to all the other responsibilities they already carry. I have the highest respect for them.

Remember that BKSM receives its fi nancial support from the sponsoring dioceses. A part of our personal offerings is dedicated to the important work of ministerial formation.

We are very grateful for the generosity of so many people and what it makes possible. And who knows what will yet unfold? With God you just never can tell!

Bishop Kemper School for Ministry dean the Rev. Don Compier gestures during an orientation session for new students in July.Compier took over the helm of the school on July 1.

Photo by Bob Hirst

Dave Seifert

Grant: Classes soon will go multimedia

“We teach them to think before they react,” Andres said. “We offer them new coping skills.”Their youth program is so successful that 92 percent of participants have no further offenses, she said.

Episcopal Social Services, which opened in 1983, is an offi cial institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Kan-sas. Since its beginnings 31 year ago, it has become a broad-based social service agency to meet the needs of people in Wichita.

In addition to its adult employment and youth at-risk programs, the agency provides healthy food, assists individuals with disabilities in managing their money, supports people with mental health challenges through the Breakthrough Club community and provides an envi-ronment where people can volunteer and serve others.

KEY DRIVES ARE NEEDED

The United Thank Offering grant does not cover the needed purchase of 500 key drives for use by job-seeking clients.

Most of these clients do not own or have access to personal computers, so they rely on computers at the library or other public spaces to apply for jobs. They can keep resumes, letters of reference and other documents with them on the portable computer storage devices.

Episcopal Social Services welcomes donations toward the total purchase price of $1,615.

Send checks, marked with “Key drive” in the memo line to:

Episcopal Social Services, Inc.P.O. Box 607Wichita, KS 67201

The Rev. George Wiley

Bob Skaggs


Campus ministry sees summer transitionsThe summer months are a

time of transition in the dioc-esan campus ministry program, and Campus Missioner the Rev. Stephanie Jenkins reports that this year it includes both good-byes and hellos.

Caroline Howard, campus intern at the University of Kansas and a former campus peer min-ster, recently completed her year of service. During the years she was involved with the program, Jenkins said Howard participated in 207 Tuesday evening programs at KU’s Canterbury House.

Taylor Mather completed two years as the intern at Kansas State University, but he will remain on campus as a student, pursuing a Master’s degree.

Jenkins praised the two depart-ing interns, who live in the Canter-bury House at KU and K-State and help supervise the peer ministers who also live there.

She said, “I continue to be thankful for the ministry both of these wonderful young adults offered the peer ministers, the diocese, the wider church and me during their years of service.”

New KSU internJoining the ministry team this

fall is Ashley Petty, who will be the campus intern at K-State.

She was a peer minister for several years before graduating from Wichita State University, and she also is a postulant for ordination. She also was a long-time participant in diocesan youth programs.

Returning K-State peer min-isters Olivia Divish and Naomi Cunningham will be joined by

two new members, Sarah Haley and Molly Weaver.

Returning as peer ministers at KU are Ben Allman, John Olson, Tyler Kerr and Alex Kezar.

Jenkins said that during the past school year, “peer ministers offered a variety of conversa-tions, experiences and worship styles to their fellow students who

have come to rely on Canterbury programs throughout their week.”

She said that programs cen-tered on a variety of topics. “We explored different styles of prayer, shared interfaith discussions, engaged in service to others, deepened our own spirituality through thoughtful discussions on scripture and theology, and shared

many meals together. There are always ways to grow deeper in our relationship with God in Christ and with each other.”

She said that the campus min-istry program encourages students on campuses across the diocese to connect. She said, “We welcome all students with a curiosity about a life of faith to join us on that journey … it’s a journey that will forever change them. It’s full of ‘hellos’ and ‘good-byes,’ but also a constant reminder that we are always connected by virtue of a life lived in Christ.”

Jenkins, who became Campus Missioner in September 2013, said that the campus ministry program continues to refi ne and live into its mission and vision both at the congregational and diocesan level.

She said, “It’s exciting work to be a part of shaping a ministry that seeks to serve college students as they encounter their daily lives. We are always asking the ques-tion, ‘How is my faith and values lived out in the day-to-day?’ Anchoring our students in a life of faith as shown to us through the life of Christ is the founda-tion of these natural questions as one moves into full adulthood. It’s worthy work, and not always easy, but worthy and ultimately incredibly life giving.”

New adult leaders addedA number of new adult vol-

unteers have joined the ranks of those who help advise various parts of the campus ministry program.

The Bishop’s Advisory Com-mittee at K-State welcomed three members of St. Paul’s, Manhattan

in June — Tom Synder, Marian Fuller and Jayson Sullivan

The Campus Ministry Council, which is the advising council for campus ministry with equal rep-resentation from all convocations across the diocese, in June added several new members:

Betsy Barrett, St. Paul’s, Manhattan;

Donna Griffin, Trinity, Lawrence;

Tristan Holmberg, St . James’, Wichita;

Jan Moreland and the Rev. Foster Mays, Epiphany, Indepen-dence; and

John Olson, KU peer min-ister.

Jenkins said the campus min-istry program greatly appreciates the important role played by mem-bers of these advisory groups.

“Our ministry wouldn’t be possible without folks such as these stepping in and giving of their time and talents,” she said, “and I’m aware they represent the larger effort and ministry connected to campus ministry in a variety of ways.”

— Melodie Woerman

Interns and peer ministers from KU and K-State gather for a meal at the Lawrence Canterbury House during the past school year. Each fall brings changes as the campus ministry program says good-bye to those leaving and hello to newcomers on campus.

SUBMITTED PHOTO


Lay people interested in delving deeper into aspects of their Christian faith are invited to attend one of the upcom-ing classes at the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry as auditors.

The school’s dean, the Rev. Don Compier, said he wants the Diocese of Kansas to know that the school exists for all its members, “to help us all be more faithful in our lives of discipleship.”

Those who want to take any of the BKSM classes for personal enrichment and not because they are studying for ordination as a deacon or priest pay just $100 per weekend.

This fee covers tuition, overnight accommodations in Upton Hall, and four meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, breakfast on Sunday) while classes are in residence. The cost of books and other materials is not included.

Classes take place in Topeka at the diocese’s Upton Hall and in Grace Cathedral, located next door to the diocesan center, Bethany Place. Assignments are made a month before the class meets, and students have a few weeks afterward to complete class assignments.

For students studying for ordination, each weekend costs $180. It is suggested that the cost of tuition be shared be-tween the student, his or her parish, and her or his diocese.

The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry is a unique institution within the Episcopal Church with a mission to provide high quality theological education in a local setting.

It was formed in July 2013 as a partnership between the Episcopal Dioceses of Kansas, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas.

Students and faculty are drawn from all four dioceses.

Members of the diocese who want to enroll in a class should contact Dean Compier at (816) 217-4053 or [email protected].

2014-2015 coursesHere are the dates when weekend classes take place, as

well as course titles and the instructors leading each class:Aug. 9-10:

Catholic Tradition, the Rev. Dr. George Wiley Christian Spirituality, the Rev. Virginia Dabney Brown

Doctrine of the Incarnation, the Rev. Dr. Don Compier

Sept. 13-14: Anglican Identity, the Rev. Chris Arnold Educational Philosophy, the Rev. Dr. Bill Fasel

Oct. 11-12 British Christianity, the Very Rev. Dr. Bill Wolff Diakonia, the Ven. Dr. Charles Pearce Presbyterate, the Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Thomas Adult Formation, the Rev. Dr. Bill Fasel

Nov. 8-9 History of the Episcopal Church, the Very Rev. Dr. Bill Wolff

Modernity and After, the Rev. Dr. George Wiley Missional Ecclesiology, the Very Rev. Craig Loya

Dec. 13-14 Old Testament Survey, Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya Polity and Canons, Mr. Larry Bingham Ecclesiology, the Rev. Dr. Don Compier

Jan. 10-11 New Testament Survey, Dr. Jim Lewis Liturgics, the Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Thomas

Feb. 14-15 Gospel Traditions, Dr. David May Church History Survey, the Rev. Dr. George Wiley Doctrine of God, the Rev. Dr. Don Compier

March 14-15 Pauline Epistles, the Rev. Dick McCandless Systematic Theology, the Rev. Ben Varnum Doctrine of Salvation, Dr. Bill Stancil

April 11-12 Christian Ethics, the Rev. Andrew O’Connor Contemporary Ethics, the Rev. Dr. David Cox Pastoral Theology, the Rev. Virginia Dabney Brown

May 9-10 Homiletics, the Rev. George Pejakovich Evangelism and Congregational Development, Dr. David Thompson

Parish Administration, the Rev. Gar Demo

Upcoming BKSM classes are open to all learners

Upton Hall is one of the sites for classes at the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry.

DO YOU HAVE A STUDENT HEADED

TO A KANSAS COLLEGE?If so, the diocesan Campus

Ministry program wants to know! They would like to connect Epis-copal students with campus min-istries that are in his or her area.

You can share that information through a quick, online form: http://edokcampusministry.wordpress.com/connect-a-college-student/



Teenagers from six states spent part of their summer break doing work at St. Paul’s, Kansas City. They came from a variety of churches and were sponsored by Youthworks, a Christian organization that organizes mission trips for teens in 70 locations in North America. St. Paul’s was one of those sites.

The Rev. Dixie Junk, St. Paul’s priest in charge, said groups of youth volunteers were on site over a span of eight weeks, usually for four days at a time. Two days were spent in service at the church’s food pantry, with another two days of work, including time in the parish garden or doing interior remodeling.

She said many of the students helped with rehabbing rooms in the church that will house the congrega-tion’s new Youth in Transitions pro-gram, slated to begin its pilot effort this fall, to help at-risk teens in the Kansas City area.

Under the direction of St. Paul’s members Elvis and Joy Spearman, Youthwork volunteers removed all the wallpaper in the library and also scraped tile and other coverings from wood fl oors in several rooms.

Junk said that the former library will become a space for tutoring those in the new after-school program, along with a space for a computer lab for math and science. The chapel will be used for quiet study.

She said, “One of the wonderful things about our beautiful 90-year-

old building is that it was built with materials to last several lifetimes.” The newly cleaned fl oors in the library and the chapel will be sanded and refi nished, and walls will be repainted.

A favored siteJunk said that the church has been

a Youthworks site in previous years, so the church knew how to put this summer’s volunteers to their best use. She said the organization likes to send teens to St. Paul’s because they always can provide indoor work, which is helpful in case of rain or high summer heat.

“They also need to have projects where students can see results after just a few days,” she said. “These are mostly 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds, and they sometimes are overwhelmed by how much they actually can do.”

St. Paul’s often had teams from two churches working at the same time, Junk said. They represented Lutheran, Baptist, Roman Catholic, United Church of Christ and Christian Reformed congregations from Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Minne-sota and Pennsylvania.

Junk said it helped to have the Spearmans on site to explain to the youth volunteers St. Paul’s vision of providing hope to its neighborhood through its worship and programs. Because the congregation now offers a weekly Spanish-language Eucharist for an increasingly Latino neighbor-hood, volunteers usually had the chance to visit the Mexican consulate in Kansas City, Mo., to learn more about Latin American culture.

Youth provide rehab skills at Kansas City church

Volunteers on youth summer mission trips at St. Paul’s, Kansas City, scrape wood fl oors (above) and polish handrails (left). Teams of teens volunteered through Youthworks, a Christian mission organization that sends youth to work sites across North America.

Photos courtesy of St. Paul’s

At its meeting in May, the diocesan Council of Trustees adopted a new policy that spells out for the fi rst time the minimum level of insurance for church buildings and other church property.

Episcopal Church canons require that church build-ings and their contents “be kept adequately insured,” and the policy is the Council’s defi nition of what meets that canonical requirement.

Bob Skaggs, president of the Council, said the body adopted the policy because “we have a canonical respon-sibility to protect our build-ings and their contents.” He said the policy spells out the required level of coverage in “a plain and understandable format.”

He noted that all churches in the diocese carry insur-ance but not all have the new required coverage.

Those churches with cov-erage that meets the policy requirements will be asked to submit a certifi cate of insur-ance once a year.

Churches with coverage that falls short must request from the Council an exemp-tion from the minimum lev-els, going first through the

diocesan Finance Committee.The levels specifi ed in the

new policy are:

Commercial Package Policy

Buildings, Organs and Contents: Insured to Re-placement Value, “All Risk” Coverage

Fine Arts/Stained Glass: $1,000,000

Flood Coverage: Insured to Replacement Value, “All Risk” Coverage

Comprehensive General Liability

• Occurrence $1,000,000 • Aggregate $5,000,000

Pastoral Counseling Li-ability


Employee Benefits Li-ability


Medical Payments• Each person $15,000 • Occurrence $60,000

Sexual Misconduct Li-ability


Crime/Employee Dis-honesty

• Occurrence $25,000 (minimum)

Directors and Offi cers Policy with these liability limits

Directors and Officers: $1,000,000

Employee Practices Li-ability: $1,000,000 (in-cluding sexual harassment)

Workers Compensation Policy (including supply clergy)

Bodily Injury by Ac-cident: Each accident $500,000

Bodily Injury by Diocese: Policy limit $500,000

U m b r e l l a P o l i c y , Excess Liability as excess over Commercial General Liability, Pastoral C o u n s e l i n g , S e x u a l Misconduct, Directors and Offi cers, Owned Auto, Hired and Non-Owned Auto and Workers Compensation:

• Occurrence $1,000,000• Aggregate $1,000,000

The policy is posted on the Policies page of the Re-sources section of the dioc-esan website at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/resources/documents/Congregation-insurance-coverage.pdf.

— Melodie Woerman

Council of Trustees defines minimum property insurance coverage for churches

Church Women plan special day at Grace Cathedral

The board of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Kansas has planned a special day of fellowship, worship and learning for all women of the diocese.

A “Day at the Cathedral” will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave., Topeka.

Events will begin at 10:30 a.m., preceded by registration at 10 a.m.

The event will include a worship service and tour of the cathedral, with a special emphasis on the stained glass windows and needlepoint kneelers.

There also will be an organ presen-tation and a tour of the Bethany Place property.

A short ECW meeting will also be part of the day.

Lunch will be included.

Grace Cathedral in Topeka will be the site of a special day for women of the diocese on Saturday, Sept. 27, sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women.

The event will be a time of fellowship, worship and learning.

The cost is $15 per person.

The cost will be $15 per person. Checks to cover the cost of the event

will serve as registration for all those attending.

The deadline to sign up is Sept. 15.Checks for $15 per person should

be made payable to “Episcopal Church Women” with “Cathedral Day” in the memo line.

Mail them to:Sharon Atherton, Treasurer10206 West 20th Street NorthWichita, KS 67212

Please include your name, address, phone number, email address and the name of your church and its city.

Questions about the event may be directed to ECW president Daria Con-don at [email protected] or (620) 784-2316.


Two college students spent the summer as interns in the diocesan youth program — Chris Ash, a member at St. Thomas, Over-land Park and a student at the University of Kansas; and Daniel Falk, a member at St. James, Wichita and a student at Emporia State University.

This is the tenth summer that students have served as youth interns, engaging in hands-on youth ministry and spending time in vocational discernment.

As part of their internship, Ash and Falk attended MegaCamp and MissionPalooza, events they also helped plan under the di-rection of diocesan Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach.

To further their experience with parish youth ministry, they spent a week helping St. Michael and All Angels in Mission with their Arts Camp and a week helping St. Thomas’, Overland Park, with their Reaching Out To the Community program. After each event, they had to write a verbatim about a conversa-tion they had during the event.

“My favorite part so far has been camp,” Ash said, “I was really happy with the way camp went with several new changes, and it made for a really good week.”

Schlabach said the summer intern program is an important time for those who serve. “We believe this internship is a powerful instrument of spiritual formation as well as

a wonderful opportunity for vocational dis-cernment,” she said. “We need more faithful, committed and talented leaders in both lay and ordained ministry. This internship seeks to equip and send a young disciple into the ‘harvest fi eld’ of youth ministry.”

Falk said, “The internship is a truly re-warding experience. I’m currently working on a teaching degree, and I think the things I’m learning and the experience I’m getting will be helpful in the future.”

They also met with the Companions in Discernment group in the Northeast Convo-cation to review their spiritual autobiography and to discuss with them what God may be calling them to do.

Schlabach said since the summer youth intern program began in 2005, several alumni have shown great leadership through their ministry in the diocese.

She noted that two of them now work full-time in church jobs, and one recently graduated from seminary and was ordained. Another is leaving a full-time parish youth job to begin seminary this fall.

Two former interns are working as part-time youth ministers while they are fi nishing college, and another volunteers as the coordi-nator for the diocesan peer ministry program. Two others have fi nished nursing school and have returned to serve as the nurse at diocesan youth events.

Chris Ash (left) and Daniel Falk spent the summer working as interns in the diocesan youth program. This is the 10th summer the diocese has helped young adults learn more about youth ministry through serving as summer interns.

PHOTO BY KAREN SCHLABACH


The Episcopal agency that helps to provide homes in Kansas for refugees is expanding its reach to provide ad-ditional support for even more people.

Until recently EWARM — the Epis-copal Wichita Area Refugee Ministry — has provided settlement help only to refugees from Burma, also known as Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia that for decades has been the scene of fi ghting and devastating persecution that drove tens of thousands of people in refugee camps. Refugees from Burma continue to arrive to start new lives in Wichita.

But recently the agency received the fi rst families coming from the Demo-cratic Republic of Congo in central Africa, which is suffering from a fi erce, five-year war between government forces and rebels. Tens of thousands of refugees there now are in camps pro-vided by the United Nations.

These families and individuals enter the United States through a program to protect and settle political refugees from around the world. EWARM is an affi liate of Episcopal Migration Minis-tries, one of the agencies that partners with the U.S. government to undertake this work.

Shannon Mahan, EWARM’s execu-tive director, said the agency so far in 2014 has resettled more than 50 refu-gees, which is more than it had helped since the agency started 18 months EWARM fi nds an apartment for each refugee family, provides furnishings and helps the refugees become familiar with American life and customs. The agency also helps adults fi nd work they can do while they are settling into life in Kansas.

Mahan said a recent refugee family provided not only some special chal-lenges but also some special blessings.

A family of fi ve who arrived from Burma included the 61-year-old matri-arch, who calls herself “Aunty Rita.” She lost both her legs to cancerous scar tissue that resulted from severe burns when her village was attacked by the military junta in 1988, in which her husband was killed.

EWARM provided her with a wheel-chair and helped the family fi nd a fully

accessible apartment to accommodate her needs.

The blessings have come from Aunty Rita’s comments to EWARM staff, thanking them for all they have done for her family. Mahan said in a letter to them she wrote, “I know the character of those who choose your line of work, and the strong sense of social justice that propels your cause.”

Mahan said, “Several times she has said that while she knows this is our job, she also knows that we do this because we feel strongly about helping people.” Aunty Rita, Mahan said, “is a beautiful, feisty, spirited survivor with a personal-ity to match.”

Expansion goes westIn addition, EWARM recently has

expanded to provide help for refugees in three new ways.

A new case worker soon will be able to help Burmese refugees fi nd homes in the western part of the state — Garden City, Dodge City and Liberal — where they have family living in growing Burmese communities there. Many are drawn to the meat packing plants in western Kansas, since jobs there are less reliant on English-language fl uency.

The agency also now is able to pro-vide support services to refugee families for up to fi ve years after their initial entry into the United States, thanks to the addition of a new staff member as-signed to this effort.

Until now support services normally lasted less than a year.

That person also will assist a new group of refugees who have begun arriving in the Wichita area — people who originally settled in other areas of the United States but now are coming to Kansas to be nearer to family or others from their home country.

So far plans indicate this will include people from the Democratic Republic of Congo and three other African nations: Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea.

With a growing population of resi-dents adjusting to new lives in the Unit-ed States, EWARM also has expanded the educational assistance it offers. Classes now are offered daily in vo-cational English as a second language, cultural orientation, job readiness train-ing and fi nancial literacy, with childcare provided for each one.

EWARM expands services to assist more refugees

SUBMITTED PHOTO

“Aunty Rita” (left), along with her two grandchildren (pictured) and her daughter and son-in-law, arrived in Wichita in June as refugees from Burma. Because she lost both legs to cancerous burn scar tissue, she needs a wheelchair and an accessible apartment, something EWARM was able to provide for her and her family.Two summer youth interns

learn hands-on ministry

Save the DateYou are invited to

A Night to RememberA gala evening of dinner and dancing

featuring dinner by Culinary Cornerstones (a ministry of Episcopal Community Services)

and music by the Michael Beers Band

Friday, November 7 • 7 - 11 p.m.St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Overland ParkMore details to come!


MegaCampers spend a week exploring grace

Elementary campers spend a few minutes of quiet in the beauty of the Flint Hills.

All campers and adult volunteers gather for the MegaEucharist, bringing together nearly 240 Episcopalians for an outdoor worship service, with Bishop Dean Wolfe offi ciating.

By Karen SchlabachYouth Missioner

About 240 Episcopalians spent the week of June 1-7 at Camp Wood YMCA , southwest of Emporia, for the annual diocesan summer MegaCamp

This is the fourth year that all there camps — elementa-ry, junior high and senior high — of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas have come together into a combined experience dubbed MegaCamp.

The theme for this year’s camps was “grace.” Campers spent an hour and a half each day learning more about their faith and having discussions or activities in small groups, led by volunteer counselors. Each age group had a variety of activities to engage the theme.

Elementary campers had grace relays and a sinful snow-ball fi ght (with newspapers). Junior high students decorated grace boxes and tie-dyed grace bandanas to serve as visual reminders of what they were learning. Senior high campers talked about judgment, had a water balloon fi ght, shredded their sins and shared Post Secrets.

Worship was an important part of the week of Mega-Camp. Bishop Dean Wolfe offi ciated at an all-camp Mega-Eucharist on Wednesday night.

Each age group also had its own chaplain, who offered campers a variety of worship experiences. Elementary and junior high students blessed the camp on Monday, similar to a house blessing or consecration of a worship space.

Senior high students participated in an alternative expe-rience on Tuesday that included praying for people across the world, journaling and walking a labyrinth. Junior high students closed the week by making written confessions and

burning them. Elementary students ended the week with a “Suesscharist,” a Eucharist using the language of Dr. Seuss.

A special closing Eucharist for senior high campers included a time of good-bye for graduating seniors. They were presented with a special painted rock to help them remember the week of camp, and they also received a Disciples Cross as a farewell gift from the diocesan youth ministry program.

There is also a lot of time at camp to have fun. Each age group had three hours of time programmed by the YMCA camp staff, where they picked from several offerings of traditional camp activities like swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, archery, arts and crafts, climbing tower, and sports.

Campers also enjoyed a game night, movie night and talent show. One evening the older groups had a dance, while elementary campers had a beach party.

Run by volunteersMegaCamp is different from many other diocesan

camps, since most of it is run by volunteers. All of the counselors, program leaders, chaplains, nurses and pro-gram directors volunteer their time for the week to make this a great experience for children and youth from Kansas churches.

Parish support is also essential to make camp happen. Churches paid for about 37 percent of camp fees through scholarships to campers.

Camp Wood has been working hard to improve their facilities and offerings. Since last summer they added a pavilion structure to the beach front to provide shade, and built stairs that lead down to the lake. They also are in the process of re-doing the camp’s water system to provide higher-quality water in more locations.

They have plans in the works to replace the red cabins, build new bathhouses to service the quad and tents, and renovate Hutch Hall, one of main meeting spaces. They also hope to offer tiered camp-run activities, with different levels of activities for elementary, junior high and senior high, giving campers something to look forward to as they come back to camp year after year.

Friendships develop easily at junior high camp.

A senior high camper assists

with a Eucharist, celebrated

by Campus Missioner the Rev. Stephanie Jenkins.

Daily worship experiences are

a key part of MegaCamp.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS


Around the diocese St. John’s, Abilene suffered

storm damage this summer to one of the church’s stained glass windows and to the storm win-dow covering it, but quick action by a Hutchinson stained glass company has returned it in better shape than ever.

Trinity, Atchison welcomed 35 guests to the church for a tour and refreshments during the city’s annual Ameliafest July 18-19. The event celebrates the life of Atchison native Amelia Earhart, who was baptized at Trinity.

St. Mark’s, Blue Rapids brings worship with some gospel music to residents at Blue Valley Senior Living every month in which there is a fi fth Sunday.

St. Paul’s, Clay Center has made upgrades to its kitchen to support the church’s food minis-try. Two new stoves were provided by a donation from members Bob and Donna Long.

St. Paul’s, Coffeyville sup-ports its “baby blanket ministry” with fabric that members can use to make special coverings for newborns or pediatric patients at the local hospital.

St. Andrew’s, Derby members assembled 200 sack lunches on July 26 and distributed them to people in need through a ministry of St. John’s, Wichita.

St. Martin’s, Edwardsville continues to collect a variety of food, personal care and cleaning items for use by the clients of Vaughn-Trent, a local community services agency.

Trinity, El Dorado welcomed Minda Cox as a guest speaker on Aug. 3. Cox, who was born with-out arms or legs, spoke about her books and her upcoming mission trips to Central America.

St. Andrew’s, Emporia mem-bers readied for three rounds of “Holy Conversation” in August, designed to help the congrega-tion remember its past, discern members’ deepest values, and discover wishes and needs for the coming years.

Epiphany, Independence planned a special “Back-to-School Fun Night” for Aug. 17, complete with grilled burgers and hot dogs, ice cream sundaes, games, and a blessing of the backpacks.

St. Margaret’s, Lawrence has a monthly “Wine and Fellowship” group that gathers for tastings, snacks and conversation.

Trinity, Lawrence on Aug. 3 took a special collection for the Diocese of West Texas, to aid with expenses of churches in that diocese that are helping unaccom-panied children who recently have crossed the country’s southern border.

St. Paul’s, Leavenworth suf-fered some roof damage in recent storms. Because the $3,300 cost wasn’t in the budget, member donations quickly covered the expense.

St. Paul’s, Manhattan mem-bers signed up for the Aug. 23 Speedy P.D. Run/Walk, a fun-draiser for a local Parkinson’s disease fund. Races ranged from a 1K (.62 miles) through a 10K (6.2 miles).

St. Paul’s, Marysville mem-bers are exploring creation of welcome brochures and an out-reach program to let community members know more about the church.

St. Michael’s, Mission wel-comed 72 campers for its week-long Arts Camp, which this year featured a Haiti theme. Art expe-riences included music, theatre, painting, singing and short stories.

St. Matthew’s, Newton has 132 clients in its Payee Program, which provides money manage-ment for people who receive as-sistance and are deemed in need of help. The program helps keep them safe in a stable environment.

Grace, Ottawa has begun collecting loose change as “coins for Christ,” to benefi t a variety of outreach projects. The fi rst helped with expenses of a family with a sick infant.

St. Francis, Overland Park has begun planning for the church’s 40th anniversary cel-ebration in September.

St. Thomas’, Overland Park children in grades 3-5 partici-

pated in a parish-based mission opportunity, Reaching Out to the Community. Morning work served a variety of organizations, and afternoons were devoted to fun activities

St. John’s, Parsons members provided food and support to teen Group Work Campers from across the U.S. and Canada who came to town to paint houses for folks who needed assistance. Parish member Jo Pontius was one recipient.

Epiphany, Sedan members have been invited to participate in the Bible Reading Challenge, which provides a schedule to help people read and reflect on the Bible over the course of a year.

St. Luke’s, Shawnee invited members who played any kind of musical instrument, or who sang, to provide the offertory during the summer.

Grace Cathedral, Topeka has begun renovation of its existing cloister building to provide a two-story entrance hall and gathering space. Entrances to other parts of the building will be much clearer, once labyrinthian hallways are removed.

St. David’s, Topeka planned an end-of-summer barbecue for all members after church on Aug. 17. The parish provided everything needed for the feast.

St. Luke’s, Wamego will provide the space needed for a new youth initiative in town, OUTLET (Opportunity Uniting Teen Leaders to Effect Tomor-row). Participants will meet in the parish’s Guild Hall basement from August 2014 through July 2015.

Topeka mouse spends the summer traveling across the country

Pooraz, a church mouse from Grace Cathedral, Topeka, has accompanied several parishioners on summer travels, including this visit to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

VIA FACEBOOK

Pooraz, a church mouse of the stuffed variety, has been very busy with summer vacations, thanks to a number of parishioners of Grace Cathedral, Topeka.

Members have been encouraged to have Pooraz (actually, one of three Poorazes) accompany them on their summer vacation and then submit photos of the mouse in some of the travel locations. Pictures then are shared on the cathedral’s Facebook page for others to see.

So far Pooraz has been spotted on a golf course, at a baseball game in St. Louis, on a riverboat cruise along the Mississippi, crossing the Rocky Mountains, on the Oregon coast, in Seattle, at various spots in California, and in London and Paris.

The goal is to see how far and wide the mouse, representing members of Grace Cathedral, can travel this summer.

panded each year as the plants spread, clustering around a cross near the sidewalk to the church.

Good Shepherd, Wichita is preparing to celebrate the church’s 25th anniversary later this year. Co-chairs of the planning commit-tee are Deacon Carmen Anderson and Gee Petrosky. The church was formed in 1989 by the merger of St. Mark’s and St. Matthias’.

St. Bartholomew’s, Wichita continues its monthly clothing give-away, to benefi t people who need it, on the fi rst Saturday of the month.

St. James’, Wichita is help-ing clients of Episcopal Social Services by providing the agency with donated cases of bottled wa-ter, which can quench the thirst of those who walk or ride the bus there on hot summer days.

St. John’s, Wichita now has in hand almost all of the $1.2 million needed to begin restorative main-tenance and improvements to the building and grounds. Some of the construction will begin soon.

St. Stephen’s, Wichita cele-brates the Eucharist twice a month for residents of the Larksfield Place Retirement Community.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

St. Francis’, O.P., celebrates Independence DayMembers of St. Francis of Assisi, Overland Park, entered a fl oat in Stilwell’s annual 4th of July parade with the theme “Let Freedom Ring.” It featured a tower with a bell that the children rang during the parade, patriotic music played by Jerry Touslee on an organ at the front of the fl oat, Betsy Ross and of course St. Francis himself with a squirrel to entertain the children along the parade route. Youngsters on the fl oat threw out candy, along with red, white and blue strands of beads.

St. Jude’s, Wellington for the past three years has welcomed a plot of hollyhocks that has ex-


People

Clergy newsThe Rev. J. Ted Blakley has been named the full-time curate at St. John’s, Wichita,

beginning Aug. 1. He most recently has been the part-time curate at the parish.The Rev. David Lynch is serving as a long-term supply priest at Trinity, Atchison,

following the departure of their previous rector, the Rev. Andrew Grosso. Lynch recently completed two years’ of service as curate at St. James’, Wichita.

The Rev. Philip Hubbard, who served at St. Clare’s, Spring Hill, until it closed in May, has been called as rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Mary in Hampton Bays, N.Y. in the Diocese of Long Island. His new ministry there began on Aug. 1.

The Rev. John Goddard concluded his service as interim at St. Luke’s, Shaw-nee, on June 1.

Alversa Milan, wife of retired Deacon Jesse Milan, died on April 5. She was 80.

Ordinations and a reception welcome new clergy in June

Two from Good Shepherd, Wichita, receive statewide awards

Cara Ledy (center), principal of Wichita South High School, on Aug. 5 was named the Kansas High School Principal of the Year by the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals. She was joined by offi cials with the Association and the Wichita Public Schools, who made the presentation to her during an in-service day at school.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Two people from Good Shepherd, Wichita, in recent weeks have been recognized by statewide organizations for outstanding performance in their jobs.

Cara Ledy, Kansas High School Principal of the YearCara Ledy, the principal at Wichita South High School, on Aug. 5 was named the

Kansas High School Principal of the Year by the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals.

Representatives of the association, along with offi cials of the local school district, surprised Ledy with the news in front of her faculty and staff during an in-service day

Eugene Haydock, the association’s executive director, said that the award rec-ognizes leadership qualities, school improvement, school and building culture, and overall support for a quality education. “Cara is an outstanding, exemplary principal,” he said. “She cares so much for her students. She is such a quality person.”

She will be formally honored in November during the association’s fall confer-ence, and in April she will be recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in Washington, D.C.

Deacon Bob Hirst, Employee of the Year, Kansas Department for Children and Families

Deacon Bob Hirst in April was named the Out-standing Employee of the Year for 2013 by the Kansas Department for Children and Families, where he works as a human services supervisor. This follows his selec-tion as the Employee of the Quarter in late 2013 for the Wichita region.

He was selected from the 20 regional quarterly award winners selected during the year. He was called “a true team player who jumps at the opportunity to help his coworkers and clients. He is one of more than 2,500 employees of the agency, which provides a variety of child protective and family welfare services.

The award comes with a $1,000 cash prize.Hirst received the award from DCF Secretary Phyllis

Gilmore, along with Wichita Regional Director Bill Gale and supervisor Jim Heiser.In addition to his diaconal duties at Good Shepherd, he serves as “innkeeper” for

the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry. He is in charge of physical arrangements during residential weekends. He also is a skilled photographer and regularly takes pictures during diocesan worship services and events.

PHOTOS BY MELODIE WOERMAN

Bishop Dean Wolfe (center) stands with newly ordained clergy after a service June 7 at Grace Cathedral, Topeka. They are (from left) transitional deacons the Rev. Steven King, the Rev. Vivian Orndorff and the Rev. Don Compier, and new priest the Rev. Ted Blakley.

The Rev. Jon Hullinger (left) was received as a priest of the Episcopal Church by Bishop Wolfe during a service at Grace Cathedral, Topeka on June 8. Hullinger previously had been a priest in the Roman Catholic Church.

Deacon Bob Hirst

At two services in early June, Bishop Dean Wolfe ordained and received five people as clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.

On June 7 four people were ordained at a diocesan service at Grace Cathedral, To-peka. The Rev. J. Ted Blakley, who had been serving since August 2013 as a transitional deacon, was ordained as a priest.

Three transitional deacons also were or-dained in the service: the Rev. Don Compier, the Rev. Steven King and the Rev. Vivian Orndorff.

The following day, during a service marking the feast of Pentecost, Bishop Wolfe received the priestly orders of the Rev. Jon Hullinger, who had served for 14 years as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church before becoming an Episcopalian.

Blakley, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland and studied at the Bishop Kemper School, serves as curate at St. John’s, Wichita.

Compier, who has a Ph.D. in theology from Emory University and has been a seminary dean and professor for more than 20 years, began service July 1 as dean of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry.

King, who graduated in May from Vir-ginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va., began his ministry as an assistant rector at St. Thomas, Overland Park on July 1.

Orndorff, who graduated in May from

the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, is serving as curate at Trinity Church in The Woodlands, Texas.

Hullinger, who graduated with a cer-tifi cate in Anglican Studies from the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry in May, is as-sisting at Grace Cathedral while exploring other ministry opportunities.

St. David’s member celebrates 103rd birthdayVirginia Newell

(far left) recently celebrated her 103rd birthday, making her the most senior member of St. David’s, Topeka.

She lives in a retirement community, where she regularly is visited by Eucharistic Visitor Deb McGlohon (center), who takes the sacrament to Newell and others who are homebound or hospitalized.

Also pictured is Dolores Lewis.


National and international newsAnglican news briefsEpiscopal News Service

ERD responds to Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Episcopal Relief & Development is working with the Anglican Diocese of Bo in Sierra Leone and the Episcopal Church of Libe-ria in response to the Ebola epidemic that has killed hundreds of people since the current outbreak began in March 2014. Through its local partners, the organization is supporting awareness-raising efforts and providing personal protection equipment and disinfec-tants to under-resourced hospitals and clinics in the affected areas. Local dioceses are working with key community leaders on how to encourage prevention and treatment practices.

TREC plans churchwide meeting for Oct. 2. The Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC) will convene a churchwide meeting on Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Central time “to receive responses to the proposed recommendations to be brought forward to the 78th General Convention.” The meeting will be webcast live from Washington National Cathedral. Although the meeting will be open to the entire church, TREC encourages attendance from each diocese: a bishop, a lay deputy, a clerical deputy,and one person under the age of 35. There is no fee to attend in person or to watch the live webcast. However, registration for in-person attendance is requested. Registration is not required but is encour-aged for viewing the webcast. Register online at http://tinyurl.com/kxlhsmu .

Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital provides aid during crisis. Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City struggled under diffi cult cir-cumstances to provide critical health care services to anyone in need during recent Israeli air strikes targeting Hamas militants. It treated wounded patients, with staff working around the clock while experiencing shortages in medicine, fuel and food for both patients and those in the community who need help. The hospital is one of more than 35 institutions run by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

Anglicans, Oriental Orthodox prepare for theological breakthrough. Senior theologians in the Anglican Communion and Oriental Orthodox churches are to confi rm an agreement on their understanding of Christ’s Incarnation. The statement consid-ered the question of how the two natures, human and divine, were united in one human being: Jesus Christ. The Rev. Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan, director for unity, faith and order for the Anglican Communion, who said, “Such an agreement on the fundamental theological question about the Incarnation marks a breakthrough in over 1,600 years of division.”

Congo Anglicans reach out to Pygmy community. The Anglican Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is breaking new ground by bringing help and hope to a Pygmy community living in the country’s forests. Pygmy peoples live in several ethnic groups across the forests of central Africa. There are an estimated 250,000 to 600,000 living in the Congo rainforest alone. The Province de L’Eglise Anglicane Du Congo is seeking ways to meet their physical and spiritual needs.

Presiding Bishop receives honorary degree from Oxford University. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was among fi ve prominent fi gures from the worlds of science, the arts and religion to receive honorary degrees from the University of Oxford on June 25. Bishop Jefferts Schori, who received the Degree of Doctor of Divinity, said: “[Oxford] is a place where the life of the mind is honored, where creative thought and connection-making is the primary task of the human being: critical thinking, creative and artistic and beautiful thinking is a way of searching for truth.”

Archbishop of Canterbury joins in World War I com-memorations. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby joined members of the Royal Family and Britain’s Prime Minister at an event in Belgium the evening Aug. 3 to remember the entry of British soldiers into World War I in August 1914. The service, which recalled the sacrifi ces of British soldiers while giving thanks for the strong friendship between former foes, was held at St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, Mons. Leaders of Belgium, Germany, Ireland and other countries involved in the war were among the 500 people who attended, many with personal family links to soldiers buried in the cemetery. During the ceremony the archbishop prayed for reconciliation, asking that our “God of peace and justice” will strengthen people to “seek peace.”

PHOTO BY MARY FRANCES SCHJONBERG, EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE

‘Philadelphia 11’ recalled on 40th anniversary

Among those attending a celebration in Philadelphia on July 26 celebration observing the 40th anniversary of the fi rst ordination of women as priests in the Episcopal Church were six participants in that ordination service: (from left) the Rev. Alison Cheek, retired Bishop of Costa Rica Antonio Ramos, the Rev. Carter Heyward, the Rev. Merrill Bittner, the Rev. Marie Moorefi eld Fleischer and the Rev. Nancy Wittig.

Anglican Communion News Service

The fi ve-year-old son of a found-ing member of Baghdad’s Anglican church was brutally murdered during an attack by the Islamic State on the Christian town of Qaraqosh.

In an interview Aug. 8, an emo-tional Canon Andrew White told ACNS that he christened the boy several years ago, and that the child’s parents had named the lad Andrew after him.

“I’m almost in tears because I’ve just had somebody in my room whose little child was cut in half,” he said. “I baptized his child in my church in Baghdad. This little boy, they named him after me — he was called Andrew.”

The boy’s father had been a founder member of the church back in 1998 when the Canon had fi rst come to Baghdad. White added, “This man, before he retired north to join his family, was the caretaker of the Anglican church.”

Baghdad is part of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, which is included in the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, a member church of the Anglican Communion.

Though the move north should have proved safer for the Iraqi Christian family, the Islamic State made sure that it became a place of terror. “This town of Qaraqosh is a Christian village so they knew every-body there was part of their target group,” said White. “They [the Islamic State] attacked the whole of the town. They bombed it, they shot at people.”

The Islamic State group captured Qaraqosh overnight Aug. 6-7 after the withdrawal of Kurd-

ish forces. ISIS, which has been called a “brutal, extremist group” and which claims to have fi ghters

from across the world, announced the creation of a “caliphate” — an Islamic state — across its claimed territory in Iraq and Syria a month ago.

The boy’s family, along with many other townspeople, has now fl ed to Erbil.

Anglicans leading reliefThe violent takeover of parts of

Iraq by the Islamic State is threatening to bring about what the United Nations has said would be a “humanitarian ca-tastrophe” in the beleaguered nation.

White said that Anglicans there have been working hard to provide a lot of support for the Christians who have fl ed Mosul and Nineveh to the

north, as well as the many other minority groups targeted by the Islamic State.

“Anglicans are literally at the forefront of bringing help in this situation and there’s no one else,” he said adding that the church is supplying much-needed food, water, accommodation and other relief items thanks to fi nancial contributions from supporters overseas.

The church’s activities are led by a Muslim, Dr. Sarah Ahmed.

“We need two things: prayer and money. With those two we can do something. Without those we can do nothing.”

As regards prayer, White said, “I have three ‘Ps’ that I always mention, which is for protection, provision and perseverance. We need protection, we need to provide for those people and we need to keep going.”

The Rev. Andrew White, Canon of St. George’s

Church in Baghdad

Anglican ‘vicar of Baghdad’ describes plight of Christians

The 40th anniversary of the “irregular” ordination in Phila-delphia of 11 women as priests of the Episcopal Church was marked by a special service July 26 at the Church of the Advocate, where the original service took place on July 29, 1974. Among those attending were fi ve members of what has become known as the “Philadelphia 11,” as well as one of the bishops who laid hands on them during their ordination.

Preaching at the service was Presiding Bishop Katharine Jef-ferts Schori, the fi rst woman to serve as primate of any of the member provinces of the Anglican Communion, as well as retired Bishop Barbara Harris of Massa-chusetts, who was the fi rst woman ordained a bishop.

The service was designed not only to mark the anniversary but also to celebrate the ministry of all women, lay and ordained, in the

past, present and futureThe 1974 ordination service

took place slightly more than two years before General Convention gave its explicit permission for women to become priests.

It was deemed irregular by the House of Bishops immediately afterward but was recognized as valid after General Convention took action in 1976 to permit women in all ordained orders of the church.


Saint Francis Community Services names Robert Smith as new CEO

The Rev. Robert Nelson, the new president and CEO

of Saint Francis Community Services

Episcopal churches respond to needs on the southern borderEpiscopal News Service reports

Episcopal churches in Texas and elsewhere have responded to the needs of the thousands of unaccompanied children crossing the southern border of the United States in recent months.

Two parishes in the Diocese of West Texas — St. John’s, McAl-len, and Christ Church, Laredo — are working in partnership with others in their communities to provide humanitarian relief to the children and families that have crossed the Rio Grande, often from Central American countries.

With so many people entering the country through that route, these two cities have seen a spe-cial need for help from many or-ganizations to make sure the basic needs of people are met.

St. John’s, McAllen, with help from a $10,000 emergency grant provided by Episcopal Relief & Development, has joined the McAllen Faith Community for Disaster Recovery, a group of churches and government agen-cies that have come together to respond to the crisis, in assisting with meals and laundry for indi-viduals and families sheltering inside and in tents around Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

St. John’s began preparing backpacks of hygiene items, with travel-size soaps, shampoos and conditioners, a comb, a tooth-brush, and other items, as well as packs of nutritional snacks, such as peanut butter crackers and cereal bars.

“We will hold ‘packing par-ties’ at the church every Sunday and Wednesday and put together as many packs as we can, and we will assemble these packs as long as they are needed,” said the Rev. Nancy Springer, assistant rector of St. John’s.

Similar efforts are taking place in Laredo, where parishioners at Christ Church are assembling backpacks, also containing hy-giene and nutritional items, to deliver to the children and families fl owing into their city.

PHOTO BY TRISH MOTHERAL, DIOCESE OF WEST TEXAS

A boy stands with a stuffed animal he received at the refugee processing center in McAllen, Texas, hosted at Sacred Heart Catholic parish. St. John’s Episcopal Church in McAllen has provided volunteers and supplies to aid the thousands of families and unaccompanied minors who have entered the United States recently along the southern border.

HOW TO HELPYou can send fi nancial aid to help this need in two ways:

Episcopal Diocese of West Texas

P.O. Box 6885San Antonio, TX 78209

Episcopal Relief & Development US Disaster Fund

P.O. Box 7058 Merrifi eld, VA 22116-7058

Diocese appeals for aidBishop Gary Lillibridge wrote

to his diocese on July 3 in a letter posted on the diocesan website. In it he said, “Other needs will likely manifest themselves in the foreseeable future as this appears to be a situation that will not end in the short term.”

He added, “This is an impor-tant opportunity for us to show Christ’s love in a tangible way. I urge each of you to wholeheart-edly and sacrifi cially respond to this appeal; and I thank you for your generosity in responding to human need and suffering. As our Lord tells us, “I tell you the truth,

whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

In July, the Rev. Robert Nelson Smith — or, as he prefers, “Father Bobby” — began his tenure as the sixth president and chief executive offi cer of Saint Francis Commu-nity Services.

Saint Francis is a non-profi t, community-based child and fam-ily services provider founded in 1945 in Ellsworth as an expression of Christian mission by another Episcopal priest, the Rev. Bob Mize Jr. Its headquarters now is in Salina.

Father Bobby brings to his new position nearly 20 years of health care administration experience in Wisconsin and Illinois.

After feeling a call that his ministry of healing would extend to ordination, he attended Nasho-tah House Theological Seminary and was ordained an Episcopal priest in 2011.

Of his new responsibility he said, “This is a ministry that reaches out to help heal lives that are in pain, broken, in need of assistance.”

He added, “I think I bring a recognition of that reality into this call, and I’m going to work hard every day to be good steward of this ministry and its resources so the story of Saint Francis can be told for generations to come.”

Church of England says ‘yes’ to women bishopsBy Matthew DaviesEpiscopal News Service

The Church of England made history July 14 when its Gen-eral Synod, meeting in York, approved legislation to enable women to serve as bishops, pos-sibly by 2015.

The vote ends centuries of tradition and follows more than a decade of often-emotional debate accompanied by various stages of legislative action.

The legislation passed with 37 votes for, 2 against and 1 abstention in the House of Bish-ops; 162 votes for, 25 against and 4 abstentions in the House of Clergy; and 152 votes for, 45 against and 5 abstentions in the House of Laity. It required a two-thirds majority to pass.

Before the vote, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said to pass the legislation “is to com-mit ourselves to an adventure in faith and hope. Like all ad-ventures it carries danger [and] uncertainties and for success requires perseverance, integrity and courage.”

The legislation affirms the church’s commitment to “en-abling women, as well as men, to be consecrated to the offi ce of bishop if they otherwise satisfy the requirements of Canon Law as to the persons who may be consecrated as bishops.”

The vote comes almost 20 months after the synod nar-rowly rejected similar, but more complex, legislation to accept women as bishops. While passed by the bishops and clergy, that November 2012 vote failed in the House of Laity by six votes.

A vote by General Synod in February 2012 rejected a bid to provide greater concessions for those opposed to female bishops. Those concessions would have enabled two bishops to exercise episcopal functions within the same jurisdiction by way of “coordinating” their ministries.

Various groups, including a steering committee and the House of Bishops, have since worked toward advancing as ef-fi ciently as possible a legislative package that could be supported by the required two-thirds major-ity in all three houses.

The General Synod gave its assent to the new legislation when it last met in February. Since then, through an abbrevi-ated process, a majority of the church’s 44 dioceses have given their assent to the legislation, a step required whenever synod is proposing a change to church and U.K. law.

The measure now requires approval by the U.K. Parliament and royal assent, because the legislation effectively changes English law. (The Church of England is an offi cially estab-lished Christian church with Queen Elizabeth II as its su-preme governor.)

Following the failure of the

previous legislation, during parliamentary debate some U.K. politicians bemoaned the church’s decision and its drawn-out journey toward acceptance of women bishops.

It is expected that the U.K. Parliament will take up the matter before the end of 2014, which would mean the fi rst fe-male bishop could be appointed in 2015.

On hearing the news, Epis-copal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the fi rst female primate in the An-glican Communion, said, “I am overjoyed for the Church of Eng-land as it has fi nally consented to the ordination and consecration of women as bishops. I believe that the inclusion of women in this order will bring new gifts and possibilities for its partner-ship in God’s mission in Eng-land. This represents one more step in the long transformation of church and society toward the Reign of God.”

Priests in 1992The Church of England

opened the priesthood to women in November 1992, fi ve years af-ter women fi rst were ordained to the diaconate. More than 5,000 women have been ordained as priests in England since then, and today they represent nearly 40 percent of all clergy.

In July 2005, 13 years after agreeing to ordain female priests, the General Synod began its steady course toward allowing them to become bishops when it passed a motion to remove the legal obstacles to ordaining women as bishops. A series of discussions, drafts and votes followed until the successful passage in July.

The Episcopal Church passed legislation to enable women to become priests and bishops in 1976, although it would be another 13 years before Bishop Barbara Harris was consecrated as suffragan bishop of Massa-chusetts, becoming the Angli-can Communion’s fi rst female bishop.

Bishop Penelope Jamieson made history in 1989 when she was elected bishop of the Dio-cese of Dunedin, New Zealand, and became the fi rst woman to serve as a diocesan bishop in the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Mary Adelia McLeod, became the fi rst female diocesan bishop in the Episcopal Church when she was consecrated bish-op of Vermont in 1993.

Bishop Nerva Cot Aguilera became the fi rst female Anglican bishop in Latin America when she was consecrated bishop suf-fragan of the Episcopal Church of Cuba in June 2007.

Bishop Ell inah Ntombi Wamukoya on Nov. 17, 2012 was ordained as bishop of Swazi-land and became the fi rst female bishop in any of the 12 Anglican provinces in Africa.


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The mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is to gather, equip and send disciples of Jesus Christ

to witness to God’s reconciling love.

August 20143 Bishop Wolfe at St.

Christopher’s Wichita

9 Classes at Bishop Kem-per School for Ministry, Upton Hall and Grace Cathedral, Topeka (though Aug. 10)

10 Bishop Wolfe at St. John’s, Abilene

16 Youth Commission meeting, St. Andrew’s, Emporia

19 Council of Trustees meeting, Upton Hall, Topeka

24 Bishop Wolfe at St. John’s, Parsons

For more news and information, as well as calendar listings, visit the diocesan website:

www.episcopal-ks.org

Follow the diocese on Facebook:

EpiscopalDioceseofKansasand Twitter:

EpiscoKS

Want to make a secure online donation? Visit the website and click

“Donate now.”

6 Southeast Convocation meeting, St. John’s, Parsons (9 a.m.)

Southwest Convocation meeting, Trinity, El Dorado (2 p.m.)

7 Bishop Wolfe at St. Stephen’s, Wichita

13 Northeast Convocation meeting, St. Margaret’s, Lawrence (9 a.m.)

Northwest Convocation meeting, Grace Cathe-dral, Topeka (1 p.m.)

Classes at Bishop Kem-per School for Ministry, Upton Hall and Grace Cathedral, Topeka (through Sept. 14)

17 Bishop Wolfe at fall House of Bishops meet-ing in Taiwan (through Sept. 23)

20 Fall Fun Fest youth event, St. Thomas, Overland Park (through Sept. 21)

30 Council of Trustees meeting, Upton Hall, Topeka

Reclaiming a priestly call after a debilitating disability By the Rev. George Choyce

I was preaching one August Sunday in 2009 when, to my embarrassment, I lost my place in the sermon. My perception of the event was that approximately 10 seconds had passed, but in reality, I was told, it was at least one and a half minutes.

I had just experienced my fi rst seizure and had begun my reluctant journey toward dis-ability. As a fi rst line of defense, I passed the whole episode off with humor. “The sermon was so boring,” I chuckled, “that even the preacher fell asleep.”

It was not funny when it hap-pened in the pulpit again just one month later.

I am an Episcopal priest, living with the disability of a seizure disorder called epilepsy. Though my story about dis-ability is my own, it has some similarities with those of other clergy who are also living with disability. It is our own struggle for clergy wellness.

Beyond physical wellnessThere is the obvious physical

side to wellness. It includes, but is not limited to, going to numer-ous doctors’ appointments, avail-ing oneself of physical therapy, undergoing surgery and taking medications hourly.

But wellness goes signifi cant-ly beyond the physical; it also includes multifaceted emotional components. I have had the pastoral care of my bishop, a therapist and a priest from East Carolina with whom I have a weekly telephone appointment.

I have also talked with Bar-bara Ramnaraine, a deacon at the Episcopal Disabilities Network in Minneapolis, who has been

a remarkable source of both encouragement and education.

However, fi nding other Epis-copal clergy living with disabili-ties in order to share experiences has been an exercise in futility due to privacy regulations.

This separation from one an-other diminishes our health. Do not underestimate the depressing infl uence that isolation brings to our complex journey toward wellness.

From collar to civiesFor me the hardest part of

healing is spiritual and voca-tional. I went from being a rector to wearing my “civies” to other Episcopal churches. Clean, crisp vestments that once hung in the church’s vesting room were now hanging in the closet, permeated with a musty, mothball smell.

I placed my clerical collar on my dresser as an “outward and visible sign” of my priestly vocation, because sometimes I did not know who or what I was anymore. I experienced a depth of despair, diffi cult for others to understand, as my identity was being stripped away by my disability.

I had to fi nd a way to climb out of despondency but found I could not do it alone. The re-claiming of some of my priestly call came when the pity party ended, and I began to consider the possibility of something new emerging in my priestly call through the workings of the Holy Spirit. I needed others who would take the time to walk with me, and even though it was awk-ward at fi rst, I began to reach out to colleagues.

Another signifi cant step in reclaiming my priestly identity came in a serendipitous moment

on Christmas Eve. Entering the narthex of St. Peter’s in Chatta-nooga with my family, the Rev. Carter Paden III spotted me and, with a huge grin, asked, “You want to ‘suit up’?” I turned to my spouse with a questioning look. She nodded, then in a quiet yet clear voice said, “Go on.”

I needed her permission. She had walked the journey with me and had every right to be involved in the decision. It was now time for me to be at the altar again, even though I still have epilepsy. The “outward and visible sign” of my vocation, my clerical collar, is coming off the dresser and going back around my neck again as I continue to regain my identity.

I cannot emphasize enough how other Episcopalians have a profound part in our healing when it feels that our dignity has been stripped from us, and in our nakedness of disability we are unintentionally separated from the church that once called us to exercise our gift of priesthood.

We clergy who are on disability offer our gift of weakness to the church, to be a visible symbol of the wounded Christ in a world fi lled with millions of people liv-ing with disabilities.

In the broadest interpretation of the word, you can “call” us to come back and participate.

And in so doing, we can begin to explore a new call in the context of our community, the Episcopal Church. After all, calls to ministry are best discerned through the community.

The Rev. George L. Choyce lives in Signal Mountain, Tenn., in the Diocese of East Tennessee. This article fi rst appeared in Epis-copal Journal and is reprinted with permission.

Documents

The Harvest, July-August 2014