December 16, 2010
Newly redesigned diocesan website now is online
The address is the same – – but the look is all new for the website of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas following its launch in early December.
The site is designed to be easier to navigate, and it puts links to frequently used items, including the diocesan calendar and the cycle of prayer, on the front page. It includes information with lots of links to aid people who are exploring the Episcopal Church, and it also provides background information about the diocese.
It also features, among other new additions:
- A drop-down menu listing for all churches, with maps for each one
- The diocesan calendar and bishop’s visitation schedule as month-at-a-glance Google calendars
- A biography and downloadable photos of Bishop Dean Wolfe
- Fly-down menus for the various ministry areas highlighted on the menu bar across the top
- A resources section, including a list of things of particular help to parish offices
The design was created by River City Studios in Kansas City, Mo. The creation of the pages and their content was the work of Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications.
Photos of sunflowers, wheat and the Flint Hills are at the top and rotate as different pages are clicked. The Flint Hills image was taken by Tom Pott of St. John’s, Wichita.
Questions or comments about the site may be directed to Woerman at or (800) 473-3563.
Checks for diocesan payments due by Dec. 27
From diocesan Comptroller Jay Currie: If your parish has a check for apportionment or payment on a loan that needs to be applied this year, please have it in the diocesan office by the end of the day Monday,Dec. 27 to ensure it is credited to the 2010 books.
Questions about any remaining apportionment amounts should be directed to Currie at or (800) 473-3563.
The mailing address for the diocesan office is 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS66612-1688.
Miqra registrations are due Jan. 3
From Youth Missioner Chad Senuta: It's almost time for the greatest youth event in the history of youth events! Come learn more about the Bible and have fun doing it. This event is for youth in grades 6-12 and is held at Grace Cathedral and St. David's in Topeka Jan. 15-17.
Registrations are due Jan. 3. More information:
Summer youth ministry internship applications now available
Applications for the diocesan summer youth ministry internship program are due Jan. 31. Learn more about the program and how to apply:
Six people to be ordained on Jan. 8
Bishop Dean Wolfe will ordain six people on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Cathedral in Topeka. Everyone in the diocese is invited to attend.
Being ordained as deacons are Barbara Jean Gibson, Jeffrey Howard Roper and Frances Marie Wheeler. They are the first graduates of the KansasSchool for Ministry following its reorganization two years ago.
Being ordained as priests are the Rev. Dixie Roberts Junk, the Rev. Antoinette Vance Tackkett and the Rev. Michael Scott Bell, who is being ordained on behalf of the Bishop of Los Angeles.
Bishop Wolfe has said he expects all active deacons and priests in the diocese to be present for the service and vested (red stoles) and walk in the procession. Attendance is optional but appreciated for retired clergy.
A reception honoring the newly ordained will take place in the cathedral’s Great Hall after the service.
Givers have until Dec. 31 for a big estate tax break
December is the time when many charitable donors review the gifts they have made for the calendar year and decide what further gifts they want to make before the tax year closes.
2010 is a unique year for this planning.
The Internal Revenue Code has a provision that limits the itemized deductions (including charitable contributions) that may be taken by some taxpayers on their personal income tax return. That limitation was being phased out over a period of time; however, for 2010 only, this limitation has been suspended entirely,and there will be no such limitation for the current tax year.
Barring further legislation, the full limitation (without phase-out reduction) will be restored in 2011.
Therefore, people who make significant charitable gifts should seriously consider maximizing their contributions in 2010 and accelerate plans for giving in future years.
For instance, if you have made a multi-year pledge to the diocesan Crossroads Campaign, it may be advantageous for you to accelerate some or all ofthe futureinstallments into 2010. As always, you should check with your tax advisor to determine if this opportunity is applicable to your personal situation.
There also are several excellent ways you can make a gift and still receive much-needed retirement income along with the tax deduction. If your interest or dividend income has dwindled, you may want to consider a Charitable Gift Annuity (minimum contribution of $5,000), Pooled Income Fund (minimum contribution of $2,500) or a Charitable Remainder Trust.
These allow you to designate a deferred gift to your parish, diocese or other Episcopal agency and receive potentially increased income that you can’t outlive.
There are many plans available, all with benefits and limitations you will want to consider. Contact diocesan Director of Development and Stewardship Char DeWitt for a personalized deferred gift illustration. She can be reached at (785) 250-0060 or .
Note: The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas does not render tax advice; please consult an attorney or professional tax advisor.
UTO applications are due in the diocesan office before Dec. 31
Those wanting to apply for a 2011 United Thank Offering grant have until Dec. 31 to submit information to the diocesan office.
This year the entire process will be completed online, and as in recent years, only one application from each diocese will be accepted by UTO.
Those wishing to apply for a grant need to notify Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Craig Loya at r (785) 235-9255 before Dec. 31. Once Bishop Wolfe has endorsed the finalist from the Diocese of Kansas, the final online application deadline is Jan. 31, 2011.
UTO grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally.
UTO information and contact info are available at . The application form and instructions are available at
Jan. 7 is deadline for scholarship aid requests from clergy children
Jan. 7 is the deadline for clergy children to apply for a Father Young Fund grant for the spring semester. All students interested in receiving an award from the Father Young Fund should send a letter addressed to Bishop Wolfe stating:
1. Who they are (their relationship to a clergy person in the diocese);
2.Where they are attending school;
3.Their year in school; and
4.What they plan to study.
Awards from the Father Young Fund are sent directly to the student at their home address in the third week of January.
Guidelines for applying for assistance from the Father Young Fund:
Assistance will be provided for eight semesters of undergraduate work only.
Assistance is normally reserved for students attending Kansas colleges or universities.
Application for the spring academic term is to be made no later than Jan. 7; for the fall term no later than Aug. 5.
According to the conditions of the original gift, this fund can only be used for children of clergy canonically resident in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
Once enrolled in college, a student becomes eligible to apply for assistance from the Father Young Fund.Assistance has averaged $500-$750 each semester and is based on the number applying and the amount of interest earned on the fund.
To apply, each semester the student should send a letter to the bishop before the closing date. As soon as all applications have been received from the students, the amount of financial assistance will be determined, and a check will be sent to the student.
If you have any questions, please contact Jeanne Atha at or (785) 235-9255 or (800) 473-3563.
Kansa to Kenya ministry launches website
The Kansas to Kenya ministry of the diocese, known as K2K, has a website that describes its work and how people can become involved.It is
The site also is linked on the “Outreach and Mission” page of the diocesan website, under “Diocesan Life.”
Coming events
Feb. 26: LayLeadershipAcademy, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Grace Cathedral, Topeka. Designed for parish senior and junior wardens, treasures, stewardship chairs and youth leaders, as well as others interested in a variety of ministry areas. More information will be sent in early January.
March 4-5: Recharge, at Camp Wood YMCA. For adults who minister with youth in the diocese. The keynote speaker will be Ewart Jones, youth and young adults ministry consultant for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, speaking on youth culture and current best practices in youth ministry. Don't miss this opportunity to refresh, rethink and renew your parish youth program.
St. Michael’s sponsors pilgrimage to Turkey in May 2011
St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, is sponsoring a pilgrimage next spring to Turkey and invites fellow Episcopalians to participate in the trip that traces the footsteps of the apostle Paul through the heart of the early Christian church.
The trip will take travelers from Istanbul to Ankara, through the heartland of Turkey-Anatolia. Stops will include Goreme in Cappadochia, to see what is recognized as the first Christian monastery, then on to the Mediterranean coast, to Antalia, then to Heropolis, Ephosus, Izmir, Troy, and Nicea, visiting the seven churches of the Book of Revelation.
Spiritual guides will be the Rev. Gail Greenwell, St. Michael’s rector, and the Rev. Lisa Senuta, assistant rector.
The trip departs May 3, 2011, and will be led by the Rev. Donald Cornell, a Lutheran pastor who has led this trip for many years. A complete itinerary is available at Don is a retired Lutheran minister who has led this trip for many years.
Contact Greg Peterson for any additional information or to register for the trip. He can be reached by phone at (913) 449-6004 or e-mail,.
Consecration dates set for neighboring bishops
Pending receipt of the required consents from bishops and Standing Committees, new bishops for two neighboring dioceses will be consecrated early in 2011.
Western Kansas: Bishop-elect Michael Milliken will become the diocese’s fifth bishop in a Feb. 19 service at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Hutchinson.
West Missouri: Bishop-elect Martin Field will become that diocese’s eighth bishop in a service at the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City, Mo. on March 5.
Nominations sought for churchwide bodies
Nominations for membership on seven bodies or positions to be elected at the Episcopal Church’s General Convention in 2012 are now being accepted by the Joint Standing Committee on Nominations.
Bishops, priests, deacons and lay persons may be nominated, and nominees don’t have to be current or former General Convention deputies.
Positions are open for Executive Council, General Board of Examining Chaplains, Disciplinary Board for Bishops, Trustee of General Theological Seminary, Secretary of the House of Deputies, Treasurer of the General Convention and Trustee of the Church Pension Fund.
Information about the positions and a nomination form are available at
Survey explores questions of a possible Hymnal revision
The national body charged by General Convention with exploring a possible revision of The Hymnal 1982 has produced an online survey and seeks comments and input.
The survey is available at and will remain online until Jan. 31, 2011. It is being coordinated by the Church Pension Fund’s Office of Research
The Episcopal Church Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) is asking anyone in the Episcopal Church to take the survey and offer their opinion.
The survey seeks answers to two questions:
- Do the Hymnal and other music resources meet the needs of the church? and
- If not, what is the best way to meet those needs?
Music of the season provided via on-demand video
The multimedia section of the Episcopal Church Office of Communications is providing seasonal music offerings via video on-demand from the Episcopal Church website:
- Lessons and Carols from Grace Church in New York City is available at
- Madrigal music from St. John’s Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. is available at
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next three weeks:
Dec. 18: The Rev. Jim D’Wolfe, retired (55 years); the Rev. MichaelBridge, St. John’s, Ulysses, Diocese of Western Kansas (6 years); the Rev. Philip Rapp, Diocese of Western Kansas, retired (49 years)
Dec. 19: The Rev. Ruth McAleer, retired (18 years); Deacon Suzanne Layne, retired (17 years)
Dec. 20: The Rev. W. Bernard Gordon, Transfiguration, Logan and Trinity, Norton, Diocese of Western Kansas (2 years)
Dec. 21: The Rev. David Barclay, retired (54 years); the Rev. Merrill Broach, retired (38 years); the Rev. Frank Cohoon, retired (56 years); the Rev. Gary Gooch, retired (36 years); the Rev. Richard McCandless, retired (48 years); the Rev. Randall McQuin, non-parochial (31 years); the Rev. Jim Mitchell, Trinity, El Dorado (47 years); the Rev. George Spratt, retired (55 years); the Rev. Robert Terrill, retired (49 years); the Rev. Donald Pierce, retired, Diocese of Western Kansas (56 years); the Rev. Larry Steadman, retired, Diocese of Western Kansas (8 years)
Dec. 22: Deacon Deborah Burns, St. Martin’s, Edwardsville (9 years); the Rev. Hal Emery, retired, Diocese of Western Kansas (50 years)
Dec. 27: The Rev. Frederick Robertson, retired (36 years)
Dec. 30: The Rev. Tom Miles, St. Paul’s, Manhattan (34 years)
Jan. 3: The Rev. Edwin Sisk, licensed (40 years)
Jan. 5: The Rev. Alan Tilson, non-parochial (25 years)
Diocesan office closed for Christmas
The diocesan office will be closed from Dec. 24 - 31 in observance of Christmas and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 3 with regular office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Next DioLog
This is the final edition of DioLog for 2010. The next edition will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, Jan. 6. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at , no later than Tuesday, Jan. 4.
DioLog is a publication of the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
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.
To subscribe, send an e-mail to with the subject line “subscribe DioLog.”