Register Now for Feb. 26 Lay Leadership Academy on Church Growth

January 20, 2011

Register now for Feb. 26 Lay Leadership Academy on church growth The popular diocesan Lay Leadership Academy 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 http://www.episcopal-ks.org/news/documents/LLA-brochure- 2011.pdf

Important information on clergy housing allowances From diocesan Comptroller Jay Currie and Grace Cathedral Dean Steve Lipscomb: The clergy housing exemption is the single most important tax advantage given to clergy who provide their own housing. But unless you document this by a resolution of the vestry, it could be completely lost in the event of an audit. It is important to know that your exemption is the amount designated in the resolution or the actual amount spent on housing, whichever is less. In other words, if your exemption resolution says your housing allowance is $20,000 and you spend $24,000, then you can only take the $20,000 designated. Note: Documents declaring your housing allowance must be approved by the vestry and dated before your first paycheck of the year. Your housing allowance is more than just your house payment. It can be for any expense within reason for maintaining a household, for instance, your trash pick-up, your utilities, new furniture and appliances, your lawn care, even the purchases of things like air conditioning filters and light bulbs. Check with your accountant or the Episcopal Church Center for a list of what you can deduct. Make sure your accountant is well-versed in clergy taxes, also. If you want copies of forms to use for a vestry resolution on clergy housing allowances, contact Currie at [email protected] .

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 http://www.stmaa.net/? q=content/biblical-scholar-walter-brueggemann-teaching-st-michaels 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 http://www.villagepres.org/ministries-programs/visiting- scholar/ .

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 http://www.esswichita.org/norc.htm

Applications due Jan. 31 for summer youth ministry internships Episcopal college students in the Diocese of Kansas who are interested in youth ministry are invited to apply for the diocesan summer youth ministry internship program. Applications are due Jan. 31. Learn more about the program and how to apply at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/internship.html .

Ordination sermon and photos now are online If you missed the service Jan. 8 at which three deacons and three priests were ordained, you can still read and see some of what happened. The ordination sermon preached by Bishop Dean Wolfe is on the diocesan website at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/bishop/serm_Jan2011_ordinations.php Deacon Bob Hirst has posted more than 370 photos from the service online at http://gallery.me.com/lovesymphony98#gallery . Diocesan Director of Communications Melodie Woerman has 35 print-ready photos online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/melodiewoerman/sets/72157625795690906/with/5343984355/ .

Safeguarding God’s Children workshops offered Two churches are offering “Safeguarding God’s Children” workshops in coming weeks. This is the diocesan-mandated program to help prevent child sexual abuse in churches. Saturday, Jan. 22: 9 a.m. to noon at St. Paul’s, 1010 6th St., Clay Center. To register, contact the Rev. Susan Sawyer at [email protected] or (785) 632-3200. Saturday, Feb. 5: 1-4 p.m. at St. Thomas, 12251 Antioch Rd., Overland Park. To register, contact Katie Knoll Lenon at [email protected] or (913) 451-0512.

Clergy news The Rev. Gail Davis has resigned as rector of Grace, Ottawa, effective Jan. 9. The Rev. Bob Terrill has had two e-mail accounts hacked, and he now is unable to access either one of them. He has established a new e-mail account, which should replace any others in your personal address book. It is [email protected] .

Youth news 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 http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/newbeginnings.html 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 http://www.episcopal- ks.org/youth/summercamp.html for more information. EYE 2011: June 22-26 at Bethel University 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 http://www.episcopalchurch.org/eye2011.htm Registrations will be coming soon. Please put the dates on your calendar and contact Youth Missioner Chad Senuta at [email protected] if you have questions.

Help send a college student to Kenya this summer 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. By supporting this team, you'll not only help improve the lives of our friends in Kenya, you'll also be underwriting a life-changing Christian formation experience for these college students. To support this K2K college mission team, please send checks made out to "Diocese of Kansas," with "K2K college team" in the memo section, to the Rev. Michael S. Bell, PO Box 381, Manhattan KS 66505. All gifts will be acknowledged as charitable donations.

Parish youth ministers invited to ‘recharge’ at March retreat Adults who minister with youth in the diocese are invited to a weekend designed to help them refresh, rethink and renew their ministry. Called “Recharge,” it will take place March 4-5 at Camp Wood YMCA near Elmdale, southwest of Emporia. The keynote speaker will be Ewart Jones, youth and young adults ministry consultant for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Jones will speak on Henri Nouwen's Three Movements of the Spiritual Life and apply them to the context of youth ministry. There also will be time to ask questions, make plans and dream dreams for parish youth programs, as well as opportunities for fellowship with colleagues. More information is available at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/Recharge.html

Two churches plan 2011 pilgrimages St. James’ sponsors July trip to the Holy Land. 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. For more information, contact Abdinnour at (316) 744-8612 or [email protected]

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 www.donaldcornell.com. 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, [email protected].

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 now are 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 http://generalconvention.org/gc/gc2012-nominations

Anniversaries of ordinations Our apologies and belated congratulations go to the Rev. Andrew O’Connor, Good Shepherd, Wichita, whose ordination anniversary was omitted in the previous edition of DioLog. His fifth anniversary was Jan. 14. Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks: Jan. 21: The Rev. Robert Harris, non-parochial (5 years) Jan. 22: The Rev. Cathie Caimano, St. John’s, Wichita (11 years); the Rev. Andrew Grosso, Trinity, Atchison (6 years); the Rev. Eric Anderson, non-parochial (6 years) Jan. 23: The Rev. Jerry Rankin, St. John’s, Abilene (26 years) Jan. 25: The Very Rev. Steve Lipscomb, Grace Cathedral, Topeka (19 years) Jan. 26: The Rev. Zane Wilemon, non-parochial (3 years) Feb. 2: Deacon Bobbie Barber, retired (14 years); Deacon Suzi Drury, St. Michael and All Angels, Mission (14 years); the Rev. Hal Lycett, St. Paul’s, Goodland, Diocese of Western Kansas (51 years)

Inclement weather policy reminder Diocesan policy is to close the diocesan office in Topeka for inclement weather whenever the Topeka Public Schools USD 501 closes. When that occurs, a notice of the closing will be sent out to DioLog subscribers and also will be posted on the front page of the diocesan website, www.episcopal-ks.org, and put on the diocesan Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/EpiscopalDioceseofKansas

Next DioLog The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, Feb. 3. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at mwoerman@episcopal- ks.org, no later than Tuesday, Feb. 1. DioLog is a publication of the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.

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