Aug. 18, 2016
Diocesan Convention information for delegates and clergy
Here is some helpful information that lay delegates and clergy need to know about Diocesan Convention. All this information also is on the diocesan website convention page,
Diocesan Convention takes place Oct. 28-29 at Hilton’s Double Tree Hotel at the Airport, 2098 Airport Rd., in Wichita. It is a joint event with the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas.
> Registration. Registration this year is via an online form,
Each person needs to submit his or her own registration form; no group registrations are possible. Registrations are complete when you receive a confirmation email. If you think you have registered but did not receive a confirmation email, please contact Convention Coordinator Michele Moss at , or (785) 235-9255 or (800) 473-3563.
Payment can be made by credit card via the registration form, or a check can be sent to the diocesan office.
The deadline to register is Friday, Sept. 30.
> Hotel reservations. Reservations for overnight accommodations should be made directly with the Hilton's Double Tree Hotel at the Airport at Click on "Book a Room" to make your selection.
You also can contact the hotel directly by phone at (855) 271-3617.
In both cases, please use group code EDK and note that you are with the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
The deadline to reserve a room with the group discount is Monday, Oct. 10.
> Proposed agenda. The proposed agenda is available as a PDF documenton the diocesan website,
> Exhibitor information. If you are interested in having a booth in the Exhibit Hall, information on rates is included in a PDF documenton the diocesan website,
The deadline to sign up as an exhibitor is Friday, Sept. 30.
How to help flood victims along the Gulf Coast
Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana’s emergency response efforts in the wake of widespread flooding that has affected more than 40,000 homes across the state. Some areas received more than 24 inches of rain, with record precipitation of up to 30 inches around Baton Rouge. As of Aug. 17, 20 Louisiana parishes (counties) had been included in the federal disaster declaration due to flooding. The majority of homes in many areas have been affected.
Donations to ER&D’s US Disaster Response Fund can be made online at
Bulletin inserts with information about the flooding that has hit the region, as well as other resources, are on ER&D’s web page devoted to the situation:
Save the date for the ECW Annual Gathering
“Sharing the Spirit,” the 2016 Annual Gathering of Episcopal Church Women of the diocese, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle, 12251 Antioch Road in Overland Park.
The event will continue ECW’s emphasis on learning more about human trafficking that began with last year’s Gathering and continued at the Women’s Summit in April.
All women of the diocese are invited to attend. More information will be available soon.
There also will be a short ECW board meeting following the event, to which all participants who are interested are welcome to attend.
Deadline to submit Alleluia Grant requests is Sept. 1
Parishes that want to apply for one of the new Alleluia Grants have until Sept. 1 to submit their application form.
The grants, which were developed by the diocesan Mission and Outreach Committee, are a pilot program that offers matching funds for projects within congregations that support the mission of enabling parishioners to fulfill their baptismal covenant to serve as Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
Grants will be considered for one-time projects, with a maximum of $3,000 per grant. Congregations that apply must indicate they will provide an amount equal to or greater than the amount being requested.
TheAlleluia Grant application form, which includes additional information, may be downloaded as a Word documentfrom the diocesan website,
Applicants must submit a written application form, along with a narrative summary of the proposed project of no more than 500 words, along with a detailed project budget (preferably in Excel format).
All applications will be reviewed by the Alleluia Grant Task Force. Upon evaluation, the Task Force will provide award recommendations to the Diocesan Council of Trustees for final approval. Alleluia Grants will be awarded during Diocesan Convention.
Funding for this grant comes from money designated for mission and outreach through the diocesan Crossroads Campaign.
Fall Fun Fest registration is now open
Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to attend a fun, faith-filled weekend. This is a great opportunity for youth to “try-out” a diocesan event in a shorter format. It’s also a great way to reconnect with friends from summer camp.
- When: Saturday, Sept. 17, 1 p.m. to Sunday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m. (Parents are invited to join us for the 10 a.m. worship service.)
- Where: St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 5700 West 6th Street, Lawrence
- Fee: $40 ($55 after Sept. 1)
- Priority deadline: Thursday, Sept. 1 (fee increases $15 after this date)
- Registration form:
Sign up to be a part of the Official Youth Presence at Diocesan Convention
Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to help out at Diocesan Convention as acolytes, pages and worship leaders. It’s an excellent way to learn more about the Episcopal Church and meet lots of people from around the diocese. Youth participation is paid for by the diocese.
The dates are Oct. 27-29 in Wichita; see for all the information and registration form.
Mark your calendars for fall youth events
- Fall Fun Fest, Sept. 17-18 at St. Margaret’s, Lawrence
- Official Youth Presence at Diocesan Convention, Oct. 27-29 at Good Shepherd, Wichita
- YouthTide!, Nov. 11-13 at St. Andrew’s, Emporia
Questions about diocesan youth events? Contact Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach at , or check out the youth website,
Learn biblical Greek at the Bishop Kemper School
Have you ever wanted to be able to study the New Testament in the original Greek? Now you can learn how to do just that through the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry.
This 10-month course utilizes innovative methodologies to teach biblical Greek in ways that are accessible, engaging and memorable. Combining face-to-face, video-conferencing and online learning, you will gain an equivalence to two semesters of seminary Greek.
By successfully completing this course, you will be able to translate the New Testament from Greek and become more aware of how aspects of the Greek language affect translation, interpretation and application of the text.
The cost for the entire course is $1,000, which includes meals during residential sessions.
More information and registration is on the BKSM website,
Two open positions at the Episcopal Church Center are announced
The Episcopal Church has announced two full-time positions that are open, to serve as members of the Presiding Bishop’s staff: Chief Operating Officer and Digital Evangelist.
The Chief Operating Officer will be based in the Episcopal Church Center in New York. The Digital Evangelist may be based in any location.
Information and an application link for the COO position are online at
Information and an application link for the Digital Evangelist position are online at
Applications accepted for delegates to UN Commission on the Status of Women
Applications are being accepted now for 21 people who will represent the Episcopal Church at the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York City March 13-24, 2017.
Applicants can be youth (age 14-19) or adult, woman or man, who are willing to participate in advocacy at theUNSCW and speak to the session’s priority theme, “Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.”
Youth who attend must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
Delegates will be responsible for their own travel, housing and program expenses.
The application is available online at
The deadline to apply is Sept. 16.
For more information contact Lynnaia Main, the Episcopal Church global relations officer, at .
Cursillo weekend set for Sept. 8-11
The next Cursillo spiritual enrichment weekend, serving the Dioceses of Kansas and West Missouri, takes place Sept. 8-11 at the Heartland Presbyterian Center, 16965 MO-45 in Parkville, Mo., just north of Kansas City.
A Cursillo weekend consists of 15 talks, five meditations, worship, music, fellowship and laughter. It focuses on the experience of God’s grace, as well as spiritual growth and enrichment, and is designed to deepen one’s Christian faith. It often leads lay people to expand how they live out their Baptismal Covenant.
For more information, or to sign up, contact Lay Rector Jo Bower .
Conference to explore fundamentals of transition ministry
A conference will explore the role of an interim leader during times of clergy transition, as well as the foundations of transitional ministry, Oct. 11-13 at the DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle, Tenn., near the University of the South in Sewanee.
The event is sponsored by the Interim Ministry Network and the Beecken Center.
While this course emphasizes the work of the transitional pastor, it is also helpful to judicatory and lay leaders to make informed and healthy choices about clergy leadership during times of transition.
The cost to attend is $740 and includes a one-year membership in the Interim Ministry Network, as well as a Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry manual. The cost does not include lodging or meals.
Information and registration are available online at
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
Aug. 19: The Rev. Dan Northway, retired (27 years)
Aug. 22: The Rev. Bede Thomas Mudge, OHC, non-parochial (52 years)
Aug. 24: The Rev. Lavonne Seifert, retired (3 years)
Aug. 27: The Rev. Brian Viel, St. Mark’s, Lyons, Diocese of Western Kansas (7 years)
Stay in touch via Facebook and Twitter
You can find news, features and updates from the diocese on social media. We’re on Facebook – EpiscopalDioceseofKansas ( – and Twitter – @EpiscoKs.
Next DioLog
The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, Sept. 1. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, , no later than the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Parishes are free to excerpt anything printed in DioLog; attributionthat material is reprinted fromDioLogis appreciated. Feel free to copy this and make it available to parishioners in whatever way is most useful.
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DioLog is a publication of the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, 835 SW Polk Street, Topeka, KS 66612.