Feb. 3, 2011
If you need tips for church growth, LayLeadershipAcademy is for you
The popular diocesan LayLeadershipAcademy returns this year with a series of new workshops designed for church growth and vitality.
It will take place Saturday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Grace Cathedral, Topeka. The cost to attend is $25 per person, which includes lunch, a continental breakfast and a notebook of resource materials.
The day is designed for senior and junior wardens, treasurers, stewardship chairs and youth leaders in every parish, but others who are interested in the topics being presented also are welcome to attend.
In addition to a plenary address by Bishop Wolfe, participants can choose from a variety of workshops, including
- Roundtable discussions for senior and junior wardens
- How grant writing can enhance stewardship and mission
- Spirituality of leadership
- What your parish should know about youth ministry
- Roundtable discussion for treasurers
- Navigating through parish conflict
- Social networking: making sense of Facebook and Twitter
Information has been mailed to every parish about the event, and the event brochure also is available on the diocesan website as a PDF at
Health insurance task force holds second meeting
The diocese’s Health Insurance Task Force met for a second time on Jan. 25, and had a conference call with Toni Sutliff, regional coordinator for the Episcopal Church Medical Trust.
The task force and Sutliff reviewed insurance options available in Kansas through the Medical Trust and discussed models other dioceses are using to implement the Denominational Health Plan adopted by General Convention in 2009. A copy Resolution A177, which created the Denominational Health Plan, is available at
Additional information about the group’s work will be provided after subsequent meetings.
Walter Brueggemann, noted biblical scholar, to speak at St. Michael’s Feb. 27
Dr. Walter Brueggemann, recognized as one of the preeminent contemporary biblical scholars and an expert on the Old Testament, will preach and teach at St. Michael and All Angels in Mission on Sunday, Feb. 27.
He will preach at the 8:45 and 10:45 a.m. services that day, as well as lead a workshop from 3-6 p.m. titled “Food Fight: On Hoarding and Sharing.” He will discuss topics from his recent book, Toward the Common Good.
The workshop has limited space, so advance sign-ups are required by calling the church office, (913) 236-8600. More information is available on the church website at
Brueggemann is the author of more than 60 books and had a long teaching career, retiring as professor emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga.
He also is scheduled to speak Feb. 25-26 at the Village Presbyterian Church’s Visiting Scholar program. More information on that is available at .
Major fundraiser for ESS set for Feb. 27
Episcopal Social Services Venture House in Wichita again this year is hosting “A Night on the Red Carpet” as a major fundraiser for the agency, which is an official institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
The black tie-optional event will take place at the Wichita Scottish Rite at 332 East 1st St. beginning at 6:30 p.m. and is a viewing party for the 83rd annual Academy Awards.
Tickets are $75 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, two cocktails, and a live and silent auction. Corporate tables for 10 are available for $850.
To purchase tickets or for more information, see
Visual artists sought for juried art show at St. Michael’s
St. Michael and All Angels in Mission has issued a call for two-dimensional art works to compete in a juried art show it is sponsoring. The deadline for submissions is March 30.
The exhibition has the theme “Abundance,” and all submissions must reflect the theme in some manner.
Entries will be by digital submission, with selected pieces on display in the parish’s Spencer Hall May 6-31.
The top three winning entries will share $850 in awards.
Complete information about the show is in an exhibit prospectus posted on the parish website at
Want to help a college student help people in need?
Do you want to help Kansas college students help change lives in some of the poorest areas of Kenya? Are you interested in supporting the development of servant leadership among our young adults?Consider helping our team of college students who have discerned a call to mission next summer, building houses and working to improve the health and well-being of a community in Kenya.
Each student needs to raise $3,500 to participate in this mission, and they need $2,500 for materials to complete each house being built.
Many donations have been received so far, but an additional $10,000 is needed.
You can help with you monetary contribution in two ways:
Send a check. Make checks payable to "Diocese of Kansas," with "K2K college team" in the memo section, and mail to the Rev. Michael S. Bell, PO Box 381, ManhattanKS66505.
Pay by credit card. You can charge your donation to your credit card via PayPal, through St. Francis Canterbury at K-State:
All gifts will be acknowledged as charitable donations.
Clergy news
The Rev. Dawn Frankfurt has been called as rector of St. James’, Wichita, beginning April 1. She most recently served as interim at two parishes in Oklahoma.
Letters Dimissory for the Rev. Kelly Demo have been received from the Diocese of Arkansas, making her canonically resident in this diocese. Demo was ordained in the Diocese of Kansas in 1997 and previously served as diocesan youth officer and assistant at Trinity, Lawrence. Her husband, the Rev. Gar Demo, currently is rector of St. Thomas’, Overland Park.
Youth news
Recharge: March 4-5 at Camp Wood YMCA near Elmdale, southwest of Emporia. For adults who work with youth. The keynote speaker will be Ewart Jones, youth and young adults ministry consultant for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.More information is available at
New Beginnings: April 1-3 at Good Shepherd in Wichita. For students in grades 6-8 of the current school year.New Beginnings is a weekend retreat focusing on the two greatest commandments: loving God with all our heart, mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.More information is at
Mega Camp 2011: June 5-11 at Camp Wood YMCA for youth in grades 3-12. For the first time we are combining our sessions into one "Mega" camp session, so that we can have a camp full of Episcopalians. Separate lodging, scheduling, activities, staff and programming will be offered for each age group to maintain an age-appropriate experience. Registrations will be coming soon.
Staff applications are available now and are due March 15. See for more information.
EYE 2011: June 22-26 at BethelUniversity in Minnesota for youth in grades 9-12. EYE is the National Episcopal Youth Event that happens once every three years. The event will gather more than 1,200 youth from the Episcopal Church for three days of worship, sharing, prayer, learning, singing, mission and fun. It is a rare opportunity that is not to be missed.More information is available at will be coming soon. Please put the dates on your calendar and contact Youth Missioner Chad Senuta at if you have questions.
Stewardship resource recommended
Char DeWitt, diocesan director of development and stewardship, recommends that those interested in matters of stewardship sign up for “The Steward’s Well,” an e-newsletter from the Episcopal Church Office of Stewardship.
An easy online signup form is available at
Interested in Cursillo?
If so, mark your calendar for two upcoming Cursillo weekends for people in the Diocese of Kansas.
They will take place Oct. 6-9 in Council Grove, and Feb. 16-19, 2012, at HeartlandPresbyterianCenter in Parkville, Mo.
More information will be available in advance of each date.
Cursillo is a movement within the church that offers retreat-like weekends that help people grow in their faith and commitment to serve Christ and the church.
Two churches plan 2011 pilgrimages
St. James’ sponsors July trip to the HolyLand. The Rev. Amanda Eiman and parishioner Sue Abdinnour will lead a journey to the Holy Land July 7-15 that is open to anyone in the diocese who is interested.
Abdinnour is a native of Jerusalem and is making all the trip arrangements.
Highlights of the trip will include stops in Caesarea, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Jericho, Qumran, the Dead Sea, the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem, and many places in Jerusalem integral to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
During each day’s travel, travelers will explore the religious and spiritual significance of the places they visit. Each day will include prayer, devotional time, and the opportunity to explore such questions as: Why are we visiting this location?What happened here? How does this connect to our faith as Christians/Episcopalians?The day will end with prayer and a reflection on that day’s activity and travel.
The cost is $3,480 per person double occupancy and includes round-trip flights between Wichita and Tel Aviv, hotel accommodations, and most meals.
A deposit of $500 is due right away to reserve a spot, with the remainder due by April 5.
The complete brochure, with additional information, a complete itinerary and a registration form, is on the St. James website at
For more information, contact Abdinnour at (316) 744-8612 or
St. Michael’s plans May trip to Turkey. The Rev. Gail Greenwell and the Rev. Lisa Senuta will be spiritual guides for a pilgrimage to Turkey May 3-20 that will trace the footsteps of the apostle Paul.
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.
The trip 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 The cost is $3,695 per person, double occupancy
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,.
Feb. 22 is deadline to apply for election to churchwide bodies
Nominations for membership on seven bodies or positions to be elected at the Episcopal Church’s General Convention in 2012 are due by Feb. 22 to 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
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
Feb. 12: The Rev. Elborn Mendenhall, retired (51 years)
Feb. 14: The Rev. Kelley Lackey, St. Andrew’s, Emporia (7 years); the Rev. Randy McIntosh, Church of the Incarnation, Salina, Diocese of Western Kansas (2 years)
Feb. 15: The Rev. Gary Kennedy, St. Mary’s, Galena, (11 years)
Feb. 17: The Rev. Helen Hoch, Calvary, YatesCenter (10 years)
Next DioLog
The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, Feb. 17. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at , no later than Tuesday, Feb. 15.
DioLog is a publication of the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
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