Aug. 1, 2013

Diocesan Convention is coming – here’s helpful information

The 154th annual Convention of the diocese is set for Oct. 25-26 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Topeka. Here are some things to note.

Registration packets have been mailed to all parishes. Delegates should check with the clerk of their Vestry, to whom registration materials were mailed last. The packet that was sent includes the registration form, proposed agenda, hotel reservation information, child care reservation form, a form to sign up as an exhibitor and a form to submit a courtesy resolution. The deadline for all registrations to be received in the diocesan office is Sept. 20. These forms also are on the convention page on the diocesan website,

The deadline for nominations, resolutions and amendments is Aug. 15. All proposed nominations for offices to be elected at convention must be made by the Aug. 15 deadline, which is also the deadline to submit debatable resolutions and proposed amendments to the diocesan constitution or canons. Nominations are to be submitted on the form posted on the convention page, along with a digital photo. All items are to be sent to the chair of their respective committees. All this information is on the convention web page,

Pre-convention meetings for convocations are set. Convention delegates and clergy are reminded of the upcoming September meetings of the four convocations, when information about Diocesan Convention will be presented and discussed.The convention book, with information delegates and clergy will need, will be mailed prior to these meetings. It also will be available online.

  • Southeast Convocation: Saturday, Sept. 7, 9 a.m., St. John’s, 1801 Corning, Parsons
  • Southwest Convocation: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2 p.m., Trinity, 400 W. Ash, El Dorado
  • Northeast Convocation: Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m., Trinity, 1011 Vermont St., Lawrence
  • Northwest Convocation: Saturday, Sept. 14, 1 p.m., Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave., Topeka

Ordinations set for Aug. 24 at Grace Cathedral, Topeka

The next diocesan ordinations will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Cathedral, Topeka.

The Rev. Lavonne Seifert will be ordained as a priest, and James Ted Blakley will be ordained as a transitional deacon.

A reception will follow the service. Clergy who attend are invited to vest (red stoles) and walk in procession.

Bishop names Mike Morrow as Intake Officer

Bishop Dean Wolfe has appointed Mike Morrow of St. John’s, Wichita, as the diocese’s Intake Officer, replacing Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Craig Loya, who has been called to Trinity Cathedral in Omaha, Neb.

Having an appointed diocesan Intake Officer is a required part of the disciplinary process for clergy, based in church canons.

In making the appointment, the bishop said, “Mike Morrow has long served our diocese in a variety of capacities. He is a devoted member of St. John’s, Wichita, a respected attorney in the federal court system,a former president of the diocesan Council of Trustees, diocesan coordinator for Education for Ministry and an EFM mentor, and a General Convention deputy and member of the General Convention Committee on Constitution and Canons. Mike is a person of great faith and deep integrity, and I am grateful he is willing to serve our diocese in this capacity. It is our intention that the ministries of this diocese are always conducted in a way that, as the Baptismal Covenant expresses, ‘respects the dignity of every human being.’”

Bishop Kemper School for Ministry now has a website

The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, the newly created joint school operated by the Dioceses of Kansas, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas, now has a website: It includes information about the school, the course schedule, the board of directors and the four sponsoring dioceses.

More information about the creation of the Bishop Kemper School is available at

Upcoming classes. If you are interested in attending any of these upcoming classes for personal enrichment, contact the dean, the Rev. Andrew Grosso, at or (913) 367-3171.

Aug. 10-11: ANGL 100: Anglican Identity (The Rev. Rob Baldwin); MINI 100: Liturgics (The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Thomas); SPIR 100: Christian Spirituality (The Rev. Virginia Brown)

Sept. 14-15: BIBL 100: Old Testament Survey (Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya); HIST 200: Catholic Tradition (The Rev. Dr. George Wiley); MINI 700: Polity & Canons (Mr. Larry Bingham)

Oct. 12-13: BIBL 110: Pentateuch & Histories (Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya); MINI 200: Homiletics (The Rev. George Pejakovich); MINI 300: Educational Ministry (The Rev. Canon Dr. Bill Fasel)

Nov. 9-10: BIBL 120: Prophets & Writings (Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya); MINI 330: Adult Catechesis & Formation (The Rev. Canon Dr. Bill Fasel); THEO 100: Church Dogmatics Survey (The Rev. Ben Varnum)

Dec. 14-15: MINI 080: Diakonia (The Ven. Dr. Charles Pearce); MINI 090: Presbyterate (The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Thomas); THEO 300: Doctrine of the Incarnation (The Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso)

St. James’, Wichita to offer Godly Play workshop Aug. 17

St. James’, Wichita, will host a Godly Play workshop on Saturday Aug. 17 to introduce teachers, educators and mentors to the theory and practice of the Godly Play methods. It will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the church, 3750 East Douglas in Wichita.

The cost to attend is $30 per person, which includes all materials and refreshments. The course will be taught by a certified instructor from the Godly Play Foundation.

Similar to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Godly Play utilizes story telling in a manner that brings Bible stories to life and allows children to recreate the stories using their imagination and the supplies provided in the program.

The workshop is open to all who are interested, but advance registrations are requested. Please RSVP to the St. James’ office at (316) 683-5686.

For more information, contact the Rev. David Lynch at (316) 683-5686 or .

Newton parish seeks help for door-to-door campaign

St. Matthew’s, Newton, is asking for volunteers to be part of a door-to-door campaign from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 24 to reach 500 people across the city. A barbecue will follow the canvassing effort.

Anyone who wants to help – youth, Bible study groups, men’s and women’s groups, or others – is asked to sign up to help by calling the church office at (316) 283-3310 or emailing .

Bishop Wolfe, Bishop Field to be part of Sept. 12 inclusion forum

Kansas Bishop Dean Wolfe and West Missouri Bishop Martin Field will be featured during a “Bishops Open Forum” Sept. 12 sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Integrity.

It will take place from 7-9 p.m. at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 West 13th St., in Kansas City, Mo.

The event is designed to help clergy, lay leaders and others who are interested look at where dioceses and parishes stand following the decision by the 2012 General Convention to authorize use of a rite to bless same-sex union.

Participants will have the chance to discuss a variety of questions, including:

  • Has there been any change in your parish as a result of this resolution?
  • Has your parish been asked to bless any same-sex unions?
  • If your church has done so, what has been the reaction?
  • If your church hasn’t been asked, has your vestry and congregation discussed the issue in anticipation of such a request?

The gathering also will discuss ways churches can reach out to the gay and lesbian community so they know what the Episcopal Church has to offer them as members.

Youth news

Youth Peer Ministry applications now are being accepted. The diocesan youth peer ministry program currently is accepting applications to join the 11 current Peer Ministers. The peer ministry program seeks to provide an opportunity for high school students in the Diocese of Kansas to grow in their faith, receive training in ministry and life skills, assume roles of liturgical leadership, welcome other students into the body of Christ, and develop other young leaders.If you know a youth in your parish who would fit this position or be interested in this position, invite them to apply to be a peer minister. Applications are due by Aug. 23 and are available on the youth website at If you have questions about the peer ministry program, contact Peer Ministry Coordinator Michael Funston at or diocesan Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach at .

Fall Fun Fest registrations now available.Fall Fun Fest takes placeSept. 21-22 at St. Margaret’s in Lawrence for youth in grades 6-12. Start the year off right with the first diocesan youth event of the school year. There will be music and games, including an inflatable obstacle course, human hamster ball races and sumo wrestling. There are opportunities to make friends with youth from all over thediocese and learn about Christian spirituality. All youth are encouraged to invite a friend to this welcoming event. Registrations are available online at

Youth can sign-up to be pages at Diocesan Convention. Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to be pages at Diocesan Convention. Pages pass out ballots or other handouts during the business sessions and assist as needed. Youth also are needed to serve as acolytes and assist with a Taizé service on Friday night. Interested youth should register by Sept. 23. Forms can be printed from the youth website at

August youth newsletter is now available. The monthly youth newsletter with information about upcoming events, opportunities for youth, and tips and suggestions for youth ministry is now available on the youth website at It also is emailed to all clergy and youth workers. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, email Karen Schlabach at .

Date changed for 2014 deacons’ retreat

Deacons who like to plan ahead should note a change in the previously announced date for the 2014 deacons’ retreat.

To accommodate the schedule of the speaker, the event now will take place May 9-11, 2014. May 11 is Mother’s Day, but the schedule is flexible for those needing to be home on Sunday.

The retreat still will take place at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.

Questions may be directed to Archdeacon Charles Pearce at or Archdeacon Monte Giddings at .

All are invited to Cursillo closing Eucharist

The closing Eucharist for the upcoming Cursillo weekend is planned for Sunday, Aug. 11, and all who are interested are invited to attend.

It will take place at the Heartland Center, 16965 Missouri Highway 45, Parkville, MO 64152. A music time begins at 2:30, with the service at 4 p.m.

Cursillo is a three-day weekend event designed to enrich the spiritual lives of those who participate. More information about Cursillo is at

Executive Council shares recently adopted resolutions with dioceses

Executive Council, the Episcopal Church’s governing body between meetings of General Convention, adopted several resolutions at its June meeting. It has asked that two of them be shared with the dioceses of the church.

One encourages dioceses and parishes to vote the proxies it has by virtue of its investments, noting that there is no cost to do so.

The other affirms and supports the right of workers to safe working conditions and encourages every Episcopalian to be mindful of the links they have to worker safety and health through the products they buy and investments they make.

More information about these and other Executive Council resolutions adopted in June are provided by Episcopal News Service at

Anniversaries of ordinations

Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:

Aug. 6: The Very Rev. Bill Wolff, St. Peter’s, Pittsburg (8 years)

Aug. 9: The Rev. Jan Chubb, St. Timothy’s, Iola (16 years)

Aug. 15: Deacon Bob Hirst, Good Shepherd, Wichita (14 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, Aug. 15. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at , no later than Tuesday, Aug. 13.

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.