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	Bishop Dean Wolfe (far right) commissions people during the diocesan convention Eucharist for their service to various elected bodies and committees. The three-part banner on the far wall was made by Marcia Streepy, St. Luke's, Shawnee. --Photos by Tom Pott

Outreach, youth plans unveiled at convention

By Melodie Woerman
Editor, The Harvest

The 147th annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas took care of business quickly, allowing delegates time to hear presentations about new outreach and youth opportunities and the bishop’s vision for the diocese in the coming year.

More than 200 lay and clergy delegates met Oct. 20 at the Overland Park Marriott Hotel for the business of diocesan convention and reconvened the next day for workshops and the convention Eucharist.

	Deacon Allen Ohlstein describes new outreach initiatives for the diocese in 2007.

Deacon Allen Ohlstein, chair of the Outreach Committee, described a new diocesan plan to engage every parish in outreach in the coming year. The four-part effort will ask parishes to participate in local food pantries, hurricane recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast, international mission efforts overseas and increased cooperation in outreach with ecumenical partners.

The Rev. Matt Cobb, a General Convention deputy from Manhattan, helped acquaint delegates with the Millennium Development Goals, which were adopted by General Convention this summer as a chief priority for the Episcopal Church in the next three years.

The MDGs, adopted by the United Nations in 2000, aim to cut world poverty in half by 2015. The goals include

- eradicating extreme poverty and hunger;
- universal primary education;
- gender equality and empowerment of women;
- reducing child mortality;
- improving maternal health;
- combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
- ensuring environmental stability; and
- developing global partnerships for development.

Deacon Steve Segebrecht and seminarian Zane Wilemon described their recent missionary efforts in Kenya, where Wilemon has started a non-profit organization to serve the people of the village of Maai Mahiu and other areas in the country. They will be heading another mission trip next summer and said there would be room for 20 members of the diocese who want to help.

Youth Coordinator Chad Senuta announced a request for a “youth advocate” in every parish by Feb. 1, 2007. This person will be responsible for helping to develop and grow parish youth programs, either by leading the youth program or serving as a cheerleader to help develop one.

Bishop pledges diversity
In his address, Bishop Dean E. Wolfe reflected on the convention’s theme, “Run with perseverance the race that is set before us,” taken from Hebrews 12:1.

He said that through years of hardship and trials on the Kansas prairie, Episcopalians in the state had persevered. “We are still here. We have a reason to be,” he declared.

“We are still here because we cling tenaciously to a vibrant faith that possesses us tenaciously in return,” Bishop Wolfe said. “We are still here because we believe the Episcopal Church has a unique and critical contribution to make to the broader Christian endeavor. We are still here because we do not trust the shrill voices of intolerance and schism.”

He noted that the core doctrine of the Trinity, one God expressed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, shows that the Christian faith is one of complexity, since “the central metaphor for God for Christians is a diversity, encapsulated within a unity,” he said.

Bishop Wolfe went on to say, “In this diocese, as long as I am your bishop, there will be a place for conservative Christians. In this diocese, as long as I am your bishop, there will be a place for liberal Christians. In this diocese, as long as I am your bishop, there will be a place for all of us who find ourselves somewhere in between and haven’t the foggiest notion what to call ourselves.”

He also described progress the diocese is making toward the six goals he outlined a year ago:

- development within existing parishes of the diocese;
- starting three new churches within the coming decade;
- continuing ministry to children, youth and young adults;
- increasing stewardship and development;
- decisions about diocesan facilities, including the diocesan offices; and
- increasing outreach ministries, both inside the diocese and beyond.

Insurance canon tabled
During the business portion of convention, delegates debated a proposed canonical amendment that would have required parishes to insure lay and clergy employees only through the Episcopal Church’s Medical Trust and not with outside insurance companies. Questions posed by clergy and lay delegates centered on the cost to comply with the proposal. The matter was tabled until next year’s convention to allow time for more discussion.

Delegates voted to adopt a canon amendment clarifying that changes to governing documents for any parish or subsidiary organization require the prior approval of the bishop and the consent of the Council of Trustees in its capacity as the diocesan Standing Committee.

There were no debatable resolutions offered.

A proposed budget of just more than $1.6 million was adopted, reflecting a 16 percent increase from 2006. The rate of apportionment parishes pay to support the budget will remain unchanged for 2007, but because parish income rose some $320,000 last year, the amount paid to the diocese also will increase.

Additional funds will come from interest received on diocesan endowments. That money will be used primarily for increases in campus ministry and support for seminary graduates, in keeping with the wishes of donors to the endowment funds.

Delegates also elected two at-large members of the Council of Trustees and seven members of the Ecclesiastical Trial Court.

Annual awards given
During Friday evening’s banquet, the three awards that have become diocesan traditions were presented. The Archdeacon’s Award was given to Deacon Bob Hirst of Good Shepherd, Wichita.

The Canon’s Award went to the Rev. Steven Mues and the Rev. Jim Mitchell, who serve as rector and assistant at the Combined Ministry of St. Alban’s and St. Stephen’s, Wichita.

The Bishop’s Chair Award was given to Carol Connizzo of St. Paul’s, Manhattan.

After-dinner entertainment was provided by the Rev. Mark Giroux, rector of St. Mark’s, Chenango Bridge, N.Y. He poked gentle fun at a variety of aspects of Episcopal life in songs he wrote, accompanying himself on a guitar.

Education and inspiration
With all the convention business completed on Friday, delegates and clergy spent Saturday morning worshipping at the convention Eucharist and attending workshops.

The workshops focused on key areas of diocesan life and were open to anyone in the diocese.

One dealing with evangelism was led by Bishop Wolfe. Diocesan Director of Stewardship and Development Char DeWitt headed a conversation about stewardship, assisted by the Rev. Nicolette Papanek.

The new campus missioner for the diocese, the Rev. Craig Loya, who begins work in the diocese in mid-January, conducted an exploration of ministry to young adults. A workshop on outreach was led by Clark Moore, executive director of Ubi Caritas, an outreach ministry in Beaumont, Texas.

A worship highlight of convention was the premiere of a hymn written especially for the event by Patricia Clarke of Austin, Texas. Set to the tune Austria and entitled “Clouds of Witnesses,” the text of the hymn was based on the convention theme.

Bishop Wolfe said he hopes convention will continue its move away from contentious debate and toward a time of education and inspiration through presentations and workshops.