the harvest, spring 2015

FROM THE BISHOP | THE RIGHT REVEREND DEAN E. WOLFE

A time of new beginningsof the Trade” that documents Dain’s family’s extensive involvement in the slave trade in New England.

Th e movie is a painful reminder that the institution of slavery was supported in the North as well as in the South, and there were many institutions, including the Episcopal Church, that benefi ted economically from slavery.

We also discussed issues that I anticipate will come before this sum-mer’s General Convention regarding same-sex marriage and the restruc-turing of Th e Episcopal Church. When discussing such potentially polarizing issues, I believe it’s always helpful to remember that in Christ, we have so much more that binds us together than divides us.

I remain convinced that Th e Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is a leader in many ways across Th e Epis-copal Church. I’ve said before that for a diocese of our size, we consis-tently “box above our weight class.” I am so proud of the work so many Kansas Episcopalians do to make the load a little lighter.

Th e outstanding ministries of parishes of every size, in every cor-ner of our diocese, are evidence of our deep commitment to excellence.

May God continue to guard and guide us, and bless every member of our beloved diocese.

Grace and Peace,

DEAR FRIENDS, Welcome to Th e Harvest, the

newly redesigned magazine that shares stories about the people of God in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, along with stories from the wider church.

We think this easier-to-read format, combined with the ability to showcase photos in color, will make this publication more useful to you.

Our editor, Melodie Woerman, welcomes your feedback, as we strive to be the best communicators we can be.

But this magazine isn’t the only new thing in our diocese.

On page 5 you will read I have called the Reverend Torey Lightcap to be our new Canon to the Ordi-nary. It has taken some time to fi nd just the right fi t for this position, and I’m excited for people to meet this talented, energetic priest and to see the many gift s he brings to our diocese.

You’ll also learn about some exciting new initiatives of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry. Steps are currently underway to introduce online learning this fall, and the curriculum is being retooled to bet-ter equip those training to serve as deacons.

In the Task Force for Reimagin-ing the Episcopal Church (TREC) report, the Bishop Kemper School is the only institution in the entire Episcopal Church mentioned by name.

Th ese are exciting times for this new school, which is so important in preparing Christian leaders for our diocese and, indeed, for our entire region.

I recently returned from the Spring Retreat of the House of Bishops, held at the Kanuga Camp and Conference Center in North Carolina. Besides the obvious enjoy-ment of spending time with my fellow bishops, we also engaged in an important and diffi cult discussion about race — in our church, in our culture and in our own lives.

Dain and Constance Perry, former parishioners of mine from Trinity Church in the City of Boston, presented a movie entitled “Traces

SPRING 2015 | VOL. 101 | NO. 3In This IssueA publication of Th e Episcopal Diocese of Kansas835 Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688(785) 235-9255(800) 473-3563www.episcopal-ks.org

Th e Anglican Communion is a global community of 70 million Anglicans in 38 member churches/provinces in more than 160 countries. Th e Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

Th e Episcopal Church is a community of 2 million members in 109 dioceses in 16 countries in the Americas and abroad. Th e Most Rev. Katharine Jeff erts Schori, Presiding Bishop

Th e Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is a community of more than 10,000 members in 45 congregations, three diocesan institutions and one school in eastern Kansas. Th e Rt. Rev. Dean E. Wolfe, Bishop

Th e Harvest is published four times a year by the Offi ce of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. Member, Episcopal Communicators and Episcopal News Service

Publisher Th e Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, Bishop

EditorMelodie Woerman

For submissions, please contact the editor: [email protected]

Need to change your mailing address?Harvest Address Changes835 Polk St., Topeka, KS [email protected] deadlines:Summer 2015 issue: May 1Fall 2015 issue: Aug. 1Postmaster:Send address changes toEpiscopal Diocese of Kansas835 Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688

Around the diocese St. Timothy’s, Iola, again fed lots of hungry community college basketball players, and churches hosted many Lenten and springtime activities.

Worship via eServiceA digital, downloadable version of the Sunday bulletin at St. Luke’s, Shawnee, not only is more cost-eff ective, but members like it, too.

4New Canon to the Ordinary is announced Th e Rev. Torey Lightcap has been called as the diocese’s Canon to the Ordinary. He begins his ministry on May 1.

Bishop Kemper School for MinistryNew online classes, and a revamping of the curriculum for people preparing to serve as deacons, highlight the coming academic year.

6Weaving a legacyFor 30 years the Rev. Sam Criss has used weaving as a means to relax. But he also has created liturgical items that glorify God.

Opposing the death penaltyBishop Dean Wolfe and other faith leaders across Kansas called for abolition of the death penalty in a news conference in Topeka Feb. 10.

12Miqra attracts interested diocesesTh e diocese’s Bible-reading weekend for youth has caught the eye of other dioceses. Two of them sent people to this year’s event to learn more.

Th e Harvest | Spring 2015 | 1

ON THE COVER: Alex Baldwin, a member of Trinity, Lawrence, and a ninth grader at the diocese’s Bishop Seabury Academy, takes his turn reading aloud a portion of the Bible during the Miqra youth weekend in January. | Photo by Melodie Woerman

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5

2

18Episcopal and Anglican newsAn Episcopal church in Selma, Ala., works for racial unity, and the Church of England installs its fi rst woman bishop.

16

St. John’s, Abilene off ered a 20-minute service of Stations of the Cross every Friday at 5:30 p.m. dur-ing Lent.

Trinity, Atchison has a new roof over the sacristy and kitchen, as well as a freshly painted hallway between the parish hall and church, all over-seen by Junior Warden Fred Gage.

St. Mark’s, Blue Rapids pro-vided the service on Palm Sunday aft ernoon at the Blue Valley Senior Living facility.

St. Paul’s, Clay Center adjusted the time of its Ash Wednesday ser-vice to accommodate the many par-ish volunteers at the monthly Mobile Food Pantry distribution.

St. Paul’s, Coff eyville thrift shops was able to help two families who suff ered fi res at their homes. Th e shop provided them with cloth-ing and household items.

St. Andrew’s, Derby off ered a Lenten retreat on March 7 at the local community of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, a vowed reli-gious community of Roman Catho-lic women. Sister Mary Kevin served as leader, along with rector the Rev. Tom Wilson.

St. Martin’s, Edwardsville off ers Evening Prayer every Wednesday, along with a meal and an activity such as Bible study or contemplative prayer.

Trinity, El Dorado off ered a fi ve-week program during Lent on death and grief, along with planning one’s funeral.

St. Andrew’s, Emporia is re-building a parish choir, with rehears-als planned to start in early March. Planners look forward to welcoming additional singers.

St. Mary’s, Galena opened its historic building, built in 1880, for a local holiday tour. More than 100 visitors stopped in to see the build-ing, hear the antique tracker organ and enjoy refreshments.

Epiphany, Independence host-ed a fun night on March 17 with a St. Patrick theme, including a baked potato bar and encouragement for all to wear green.

St. Margaret’s, Lawrence has an all-girl Venture Crew sponsored by the parish. Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America open to girls and boys age 14-20.

News and notes from congregationsAROUND THE DIOCESE

Members of the men’s basketball team at Allen Community College dig in for a meal of turkey and dressing cooked by parishioners of St. Timothy’s, Iola. Th e church provided lunch and dinner to 50 members of the men’s and women’s teams for almost three weeks in January. Th e athletes were on campus for practice and games before food service was open in the dorms.

Th is is the second year the church has fed the basketball teams. With the extra space off ered in the newly constructed Chubb Hall, the lanky athletes could really stretch out and enjoy the food and hospitality.

PHOTO BY MARSHA BURRIS

| Th e Harvest | Spring 20152

Trinity, Lawrence served more than 1,000 people at its Interfaith Food Pantry in January. Food distrib-uted to each of the 377 households will provide about 12 meals. Mem-bers support the pantry through do-nations of food and money.

St. Paul’s, Leavenworth asked members to help with supplies that the parish’s medical mission would take to Haiti. Medications were transferred from large bottles to smaller containers.

St. Paul’s, Manhattan Encore Shop has distributed its profi ts in the form of cash grants to four entities, two in the community and two in the parish.

St. Paul’s, Marysville raised $677 toward construction of a ramp and accessible restroom in the cabin next to the church, thanks to a pan-cake feed on Valentine’s Day.

St. Michael and All Angels, Mission off ered a free youth “winter workshop” arts camp for children age 6 and up on a Saturday morning in February. Activities and snacks were included.

Ascension, Neodesha continues to provide help to seven students at a local elementary school through its aft er-school tutoring program, Hell-er Homework Helpers. Reports are the students are fi nding more suc-cess in school, thanks to the tutors.

St. Matthew’s, Newton contin-ued its ongoing commitment to out-reach by collecting food for the lo-cal Salvation Army food pantry and mailing Valentine cards to members of the Armed Forces and to parish shut-ins.

St. Aidan’s, Olathe again hosted its annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner

and silent auction. Th e corned-beef-and-cabbage dinner off ered a chance for members to invite friends so they could experience the parish’s fellow-ship

Grace, Ottawa took up its yearly Lenten discipline of forgoing yum-my snacks at coff ee hour. Pretzels took their place.

St. Th omas’, Overland Park 7th and 8th grade youth spent Lent mak-ing blankets for a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Th ey asked for donation of fabric, scissors and other supplies.

St. John’s, Parsons has begun providing weekend backpacks of food for children in the local Head-start program who otherwise would be at risk of hunger. Th ey are being joined in the project by the local Presbyterian church outreach team.

Epiphany, Sedan continues its monthly healing service with Com-munion at St. Matthew’s in Cedar Vale, which functions as a chapel of Epiphany.

St. Luke’s, Shawnee off ered a Lenten program led by Rockhurst University theology professor Dr. Bill Stancil. He explored the ways in which Americans are express-ing religious commitment in today’s culture.

Grace Cathedral, Topeka dean the Very Rev. Steve Lipscomb spent 10 days in Cange, Haiti, learning more about the program the church supports, as well as assisting with a medical mission.

St. David’s, Topeka has resumed its monthly social suppers. Upcom-ing themes include a no-tax taco bar on April 15, as well as an ice cream

social with patriotic music on Flag Day, June 14.

St. Luke’s, Wamego is con-tinuing its new community break-fast program, called TTEM (Th ird Th ursday Every Month). Parishio-ners were asked to donate food to help off set the cost of the outreach eff ort.

Good Shepherd, Wichita had a special towel drive to help the resi-dents of Our Little Roses orphanage in Honduras. Harsh washing meth-ods in the Central American coun-try result in the need for frequent replacements.

St. Bartholomew’s, Wichita has made copies of its cookbook — which helps food stamp recipients prepare meals on the average of $4-a-day in benefi ts — to Episcopal Social Services. Th e agency will use it for cooking classes with clients at its downtown location.

St. James’, Wichita sought sup-port for its Aft er School Program by encouraging members to “sponsor” a student for $60 a month, the cost of providing the program to the el-ementary students served.

St. John’s, Wichita off ered its 44th annual Lenten lunch and speaker series this year, with priests from other Wichita-area churches providing the remarks. Th e noon event included Holy Eucharist and time for questions with the speakers.

Grace, Winfi eld opened its popular Prom Dress Xpress on Sat-urdays in March to provide gently-used prom dresses, shoes, makeup and accessories to girls who might otherwise not be able to aff ord to at-tend their high school formal.


AROUND THE DIOCESE

Bulletin at St. Luke’s, Shawnee, goes digital


By Melodie Woerman

ST. LUKE’S, Shawnee, now off ers worshippers an alternative to use of a Prayer Book, Hymnal, les-son insert and bulletin leafl et during worship services.

Instead, they can download an electronic version of the bulletin, complete with music and readings, to their smartphone or tablet and bring it to church. Or they can borrow one of the devices that the church loans out on Sunday mornings.

It’s so convenient that the rector, the Rev. Mary Siegmund, now leads the service using her own tablet.

Former senior warden Tom Schrempp said the church had re-ceived feedback that some people, especially newcomers, found it hard to juggle the various books and in-serts required for worship.

When Siegmund came in Oc-tober, the two of them talked about how they could provide the entire service, including readings and mu-sic, in the bulletin in a way that was cost-eff ective.

Th rough the use of some special soft ware, Siegmund started assem-bling a bulletin that incorporates all elements of the service, as well as some color graphics and helpful instructions.

Aft er testing during Advent, the concept launched in January.

Th e bulletin, which quickly was dubbed “eService,” is posted on the church website on Saturday, and members then can save it to their smartphone, tablet or e-reader.

Schrempp said this off ers two advantages for worshippers — not

only is everything in one document, but devices allow people to make the type larger, a real plus for many with vision problems.

Th e church also bought two tab-lets (at $60 each) for use on Sunday mornings. Th e service is pre-loaded, so all a person has to do is pick it up from a table and start worshipping.

“Every Sunday we are seeing more and more parishioners using the eService with their tablets and smartphones, and we are printing fewer bulletins,” Schrempp said.

While not everyone was a fan of the idea at the start, he said many are changing their minds. “We have

some doubting Th omases who are now enthusiastic supporters of the concept.”

To further expand St. Luke’s electronic footprint, the church has bought eight more tablets, at a cost of less than $35 each, for use in Sun-day school classrooms. Th e church tech team has pre-set the devices with links to the church website, an online copy of the Book of Common Prayer, an online copy of the Bible and the list of lectionary readings.

“We believe it will be a great way to connect our techno-savvy kids with their Sunday school teachings,” Schrempp said.

People attending St. Luke’s, Shawnee, can follow the Sunday service in a vari-ety of ways. Tim Rohrer (left ) uses a Prayer Book, Kristina Purinton (center) reads the new eService on an iPad and Patty Purinton follows on her phone.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY KELLER

The Rev. Torey Lightcap is called as new Canon to the Ordinary, to start May 1

BISHOP DEAN WOLFE on March 14 an-nounced that the Rev. Torey L. Lightcap has been named canon to the ordinary for the Episcopal Diocese of Kan-sas. His ministry will begin on May 1.

Lightcap, 42, currently serves as transitions offi cer for the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa and as rector of St. Th omas Episcopal Church in Sioux City, Iowa.

In making the announcement Bishop Wolfe said, “Father Torey Lightcap brings an exceptional skill set and a faithful passion for diocesan work. Everyone who met him during the search process was impressed by his creativity, warmth and his many gift s for ministry.

I know that he, his wife Jacqueline and their children will be a tremendous asset to our diocesan community. I can’t wait for the clergy and lay leaders of our diocese to meet Torey, and I look forward to continuing together the exciting work to which we are so passionately com-mitted.”

As canon to the ordinary, Lightcap will have respon-sibility for clergy deployment, oversight of the ordina-tion process, support for clergy and congregations, and administration of the diocesan offi ce.

Th e bishop also off ered his thanks to the Rev. George Wiley, the diocese’s canon pastor, and Dave Seifert, mis-sioner for transitions, for their ministry during the pe-riod between canons. Both will continue in those posi-tions, with fi nal details on their scope to be determined.

Lightcap said of his new ministry, “It’s a privilege to be able to join in the work of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. I look forward to serving alongside Bishop Wolfe, the staff and the people of the diocese to further the work of witness to Christ in this time.

“Th is diocese is known and respected throughout Th e Episcopal Church for what it does and how it does it. Ministries here are as varied as they are enriching. God’s Spirit is truly present among the people of this land, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Lightcap is a 2004 graduate of the Episcopal Semi-nary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. He received a bachelor’s in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist Univer-sity and a master’s in mass communication from Okla-homa State University. He also served parishes in Texas and Colorado before moving to Iowa in 2009.

In addition, he is a writer, a three-time fellow of the College of Pastoral Leaders and an alumnus of the “Recasting of Building Assets” program of the Episcopal Church Building Fund.

He is married to Jacqueline Whitney Lightcap, a na-tive of Topeka. Th ey have two children, Gabriel, 10, and Annie, 7. Lightcap said he and his family are delighted to be returning to their area roots — his mother lives in Wichita, and his wife’s mother and grandmother live in Topeka.


DIOCESAN MINISTRIES

Th e Rev. Torey Lightcap


Bishop Kemper School has new curriculum plans

DIOCESAN MINISTRIES

By Melodie Woerman

AS THE SPRING semes-ter wraps up at the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, plans have been announced for two new elements this fall — a signifi cant revision to the curriculum for those studying to be deacons, and the school’s fi rst on-line courses.

BKSM provides courses to those preparing for ordination, and oth-ers, in the four dioceses that own the school: Kansas, Western Kansas, West Missouri and Nebraska.

Th e school’s dean, the Very Rev. Don Compier, said the deacon curriculum will better refl ect the servant nature of that order of or-dained ministry. “Diaconal ministry is unique, not priest light,” Compier said. “Th ese changes highlight the role deacons play as an interface be-tween the church and the world.”

Compier, who is a priest in the Diocese of Kansas, said those study-ing to be deacons still will take two years of classes (priest-track students take three years). But now some of the courses will emphasize ministry unique to deacons, especially social justice and outreach.

New deacon-track coursesFor instance, Compier said they

will take an “Introduction to Scrip-ture” course alongside those study-ing to be priests, but they then will study the Old and New Testaments with an emphasis on the scripture’s social witness.

He said he is delighted that two new classes in Social Ministry will

be added, developed in conjunc-tion with Episcopal Social Services in Wichita, one of the diocese’s two agencies that serve the poor.

Compier said that the school’s structure allows for fl exibility and changes like these to meet the needs in the four partner dioceses.

Going digitalCompier said that, for the fi rst

time, two courses will be off ered en-tirely online. One will be “Founda-tion of Ethics,” but the other one still is being determined, he said.

Both courses will be completely redesigned in order to off er them online. Compier noted that online teaching and learning are entirely diff erent from standard classroom instruction, from the way the in-structor presents material to how students interact with the teacher, the subject matter and each other.

Bishop Kem-per School for Ministry dean the Very Rev. Don Compier describes new online classes to be off ered in the coming academic year, as well as changes to the courses for people studying to be a deacon.

PHOTO BY MELODIE WOERMAN

BISHOP KEMPER SCHOOL BY THE NUMBERS

28 Total students enrolled this academic year

12 Diocese of Kansas

7 Diocese of Western Kansas

5 Diocese of West Missouri

4 Diocese of Nebraska

14 Priest track

10 Deacon track

2 Anglican studies

2 Lay studies

Having already developed an online teaching platform at his pre-vious position with Graceland Uni-versity in Independence, Mo., he knows that this method may appear


easier but actually can be more chal-lenging for learners.

“It requires daily interaction on the part of the student,” he said. “Th ere is no sitting back and just tak-ing notes.” It does let students choose when to have that interaction, how-ever, which should make it easier for people with busy schedules.

He noted that just as with any BKSM course, the new online op-tions will be open to those who are not full-time students at the school but are interested in the topic.

Compier said some faculty members already have experience with online instruction, which will be a tremendous help now and in the future.

Spreading the wordCompier said he also has been

busy this spring visiting churches across the four partner dioceses to talk about the school and all it off ers in its commitment to provide theo-logical education for all people.

“I want everyone in the four dio-ceses to see that this is their school,” he said. “Preparing people in con-gregations is our mission, and it’s needed now.”

Th e school plans to off er study tracks for lay persons in fi ve minis-try areas identifi ed in church canons:

Worship leader Preacher Catechist Evangelist Pastoral leaderPeople in nearly every congre-

gation already serve as Eucharistic Ministers (serving communion dur-ing worship services) or Eucharis-tic Visitors (taking communion to those not able to attend church), and they do so under a license from the bishop issued at the request of their parish.

Bishop Kemper School for Ministry has announced the addition of two new staff members, including one whose position is made possible by a major grant.

Casey Rohleder, a second-year student from the Diocese of Western Kansas, has been hired as the school’s communications and outreach spe-cialist. She is a member of St. Michael’s in Hays and is preparing for ordination as a priest,

In addition, Deacon Karen Wichael, who serves at St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, will become the school’s volunteer registrar.

Th ey join the Very Rev. Don Compier, the school’s dean, and Deacon Bob Hirst, volunteer hospitality coordinator.

Rohleder’s position is being provided by a $30,000 grant from the Roanridge Trust, which supports transformative work in the Episcopal Church, especially in small towns and rural areas. Th is marks the second year in a row the school has received the largest grant the Roanridge Trust made.

A $50,000 grant in 2014 enabled the BKSM board of directors to enhance the position of dean from half-time to full-time.

Compier said, “Th ese appointments represent a great step forward in terms of institutional development. Both people are passionate and ar-ticulate about the vision that guides all our eff orts. I am most grateful for their exemplary dedication and look forward to working collegially with them.”

Bishop Kemper School for Ministry has announced the addition of two new staff members, including one whose position is made possibleby a major grant.

Casey Rohleder, a second-year student fromthe Diocese of Western Kansas, has been hired asthe school’s communications and outreach spe-cialist. She is a member of St. Michael’s in Haysand is preparing for ordination as a priest,

In addition, Deacon Karen Wichael, whoserves at St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, willbecome the school’s volunteer registrar.

Th ey join the Very Rev. Don Compier, theschool’s dean, and Deacon Bob Hirst, volunteerhospitality coordinator.

Rohleder’s position is being provided by a $30,000 grant from theRoanridge Trust, which supports transformative work in the EpiscopalChurch, especially in small towns and rural areas. Th is marks the secondyear in a row the school has received the largest grant the Roanridge Trustmade.

A $50,000 grant in 2014 enabled the BKSM board of directors toenhance the position of dean from half-time to full-time.

Compier said, “Th ese appointments represent a great step forward interms of institutional development. Both people are passionate and ar-ticulate about the vision that guides all our eff orts. I am most grateful fortheir exemplary dedication and look forward to working collegially withthem.”

Major grant allows BKSM to add new staff membersSecond Roanridge grant again is largest given

Casey Rohleder

BKSM also off ers a variety of classes that can help those seeking a license in the other fi ve areas, Com-pier said.

But beyond this, Compier said he and the school’s board of direc-tors want to expand course off erings to help equip lay leaders in parishes across the region. “Church canons call for quality education for priests, deacons and lay people,” Compier said. “We want to help the church live into these canons.”

He said the health of all congre-gations depends on people serving

others and sharing their faith. He said the school wants “all the people of God to be equipped to share the gospel, to share the message of God’s love,” and aims to play a role in mak-ing that happen.

“Th e church needs more well prepared lay leaders,” he added.

Information on the school’s cur-riculum, as well as other items, is on the BKSM website, www.bishop-kemperschool.org. Th ose with ques-tions also can contact Compier at [email protected].


Hand-craft ing liturgical items for use

to the glory of God adds a special

dimension to the 53-year ministry

of the Rev. Sam Criss of Wichita

By Melodie Woerman

FIFTY YEARS aft er con-cluding his service as rector of Grace, Winfi eld, the Rev. Sam Criss off ered his ministry to the con-gregation yet again, this time by weaving the fabric for a new set of hangings that adorns the church’s altar area.

Th e curtain, called a dossal, was dedicated during services on Sun-day, Feb. 15, which celebrates the Feast of the Transfi guration.

Criss, now retired, said that in 2013 he was serving as a supply

priest for the congregation when he noticed that the heavy gold curtains that for years had been part of the wooden reredos behind the altar were gone. Senior Warden Sharon Taylor said they had become so threadbare they had to be removed.

“He asked me, ‘Would you like me to weave a new dossal curtain?’, Taylor said. “I told him, ‘Sure!’”

About a year later, the church’s current priest in charge, the Rev. Laurie Lewis, said Criss presented

Th e Rev. Sam Criss sits at one of two looms at his home in Wichita. He made both looms himself.

Weaving a legac


PHOTO BY TOM POTT

her with more than 10 yards of hand-woven, white-and-gold fabric with a subtle cross pattern.

A local seamstress turned it into the three panels that were installed last December.

Criss said he picked the color not only as a nod to the original curtain but also because gold tones complement both the wood of the altarpiece and the limestone wall behind it. “It also works for all litur-gical seasons,” he said, “although it looks a little cheerful for Lent.”

PHOTO BY LYN WATTLEY

What is a dossal?Dossal: dos·sal (pronounced \dä-s l\. It rhymes with fossil.An ecclesiastical ornamented cloth suspended behind an altar. “Altar screen” is sometimes used as a synonym for the dossal. Its color may match the liturgical color of the day, and it may be decorated with religious symbols. Dates from the mid-17th century, denoting an ornamental cloth to cover the back of a seat. From medieval Latin dossale, from late Latin dorsalis, “on the back” (see dorsal).

From Oxford Dictionary and An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

e

Criss wove the fabric for the new dossal curtain at Grace, Winfi eld, using two kinds of threads and three shades of gold that, when viewed, blend and produce a shimmer eff ect. He also incorporated a subtle cross pattern but was careful not to overshadow the altar cross itself.Continued on next page

cy


Custom-designed eff ectCriss, who has been weaving for

about 30 years, created the fabric for this project on a loom that he built himself. He picked two types of thread for their unique charac-teristics. Th e warp (which forms the length) is from threads of Egyptian pima cotton, known for its strength that makes it last longer than wool.

Th e weft (which forms the width) is from threads made of TENCEL, a manufactured product

attachment called a dobby, which consists of a series of pegs that, when rotated, push levers that raise and lower various threads to align with the pattern.

Criss said he fi nds it fascinating to see what results from diff erent colors of threads. “Sometimes you have to rely on trial and error,” he said, to get the desired result.

Because the Winfi eld curtain usually is seen from several feet away, the pattern in it isn’t obvious. He planned it that way — he didn’t want the fabric to over-power the brass altar cross, which

should be the focal point, he said.

Began as relaxationCriss said he began weaving as

a way to relax from the intensity of priestly ministry (he was ordained in 1961). And while he has craft ed his share of scarves, rugs, table cloths and upholstery, he said he is most proud of the liturgical items he has made.

He has created full sets of stoles (one each in red, white, blue, green and purple) for fi ve priests and two deacons, as well as a variety of priest chasubles, now used in several Wichita-area parishes.

He said his favorite piece so far is a red chasuble in use at St. James’, Wichita. Lewis, the current priest in Winfi eld, wore it when she was ordained in 2008.

He also created two tapestries that now hang at Episcopal Social

derived from wood fi bers that has all the properties of silk but isn’t damaged by sunlight.

He picked three diff erent shades of gold for the weft . He said a view-er’s eyes blend the colors into one, creating a shim-mer eff ect from a distance.

Th e hardest part of the project, he said, was setting up the loom. To create fabric that would be three feet wide required passing thousands of threads for the vertical warp through the tightly spaced part of the loom known as the heddle. “You really have to like handling threads,” he said. It also requires a lot of patience.

Creating the fabric’s cross pat-tern requires use of a special loom

“But the things you can off er to God, and this

is true for all of us, whatever we have, enrich us.”Th e Rev. Sam Criss

Criss wove two tapestries that hang at Episcopal Social Services in Wich-ita. Th ey depict in a modern design the Holy Spirit hovering over creation (left ), and the bread and wine of the Eucharist (below).PHOTOS BY TOM POTT


Services in Wichita. In modern design they depict the Holy Spirit hovering over creation, and the bread and wine of the Eucharist.

Criss, now 82, said he expects all these items to outlast him. “I hope they get passed down.”

Off ering is motivation“It’s important for me to make

something and have a way to off er it to God,” Criss said. “Th at makes a perfect harmony in my life. Th e of-fering is my major motivation.”

He said he enjoys making everyday items — he’s creating a set of tea towels for the home he shares with his wife Beth — because they can enrich someone’s life.

“But the things you can off er to God, and this is true for all of us, whatever we have, enrich us.”

Criss said weaving reminds him of the Greek version of the Bible

verse in Romans 8:28: “All things commingle for good for those who love the Lord.” He said that pas-

sage reminds him of the threads he weaves commingling to create the colors that emerge on his loom.

Criss said his favorite piece so far is a red cha-suble in use at St. James’, Wichita. Th e Rev. Laurie Lewis, the cur-rent priest in Winfi eld, wore it when she was ordained in 2008.

PHOTO BY TOM POTT

People news and notesPriest named Coff eyville ‘Woman of the Year’

Th e Rev. Antoinette Tackkett, vicar of St. Paul’s, Coff eyville, was honored Jan. 14 by the Cof-feyville Cham-ber of Com-merce as its Woman of the Year. She was recognized for her many years of service to the com-munity.

Before she was ordained in 2011, she was a member of the Coff eyville Police Department,and taught Span-ish, sociology and criminal justice at Coff eyville Community College. She also is a volunteer hospital chaplain.

Young Topeka pianist wins competition

David Mangiaracino, a member of St. David’s, Topeka, took fi rst place in the Heritage Philharmonic Young Artist Competition on Feb. 21. Th e young pianist will get to perform a with the Heritage Philharmonic in Kansas City on May 2. He also re-ceived a scholarship.

Campus Ministry seeks internTh e diocesan Campus Ministry

program is looking for a recent col-lege graduate to serve as intern at the Canterbury House at the University of Kansas, starting Aug. 1.

Th e internship off ers the oppor-tunity to deepen one’s faith and share formation, leadership and pastoral

skills while working with local peer ministers. It also off ers the opportu-nity for vocational discernment.

Th e internship has the poten-tial to be for two years. Compensa-tion includes a monthly stipend and lodging.

Applicants should be passionate about a life of faith, with a desire for looking to engage in a year of ser-vice, off ering ministry to others and gaining leadership skills,

More information about this op-portunity is on the Campus Ministry website, https://edokcampusminis-try.wordpress.com/campus-intern-application/, or contact Campus Missioner the Rev. Stephanie Jen-kins at [email protected] or (785) 766-7435.


DIOCESAN ADVOCACY

Speaking out against the death penalty

PHOTO BY MELODIE WOERMAN

Bishop Dean Wolfe calls for the abolition of the death penalty in Kansas during a Feb. 10 press conference at the state Capitol.

By Melodie Woerman

BISHOP DEAN WOLFE and leaders from Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and Menno-nite traditions have called on Kansas legislators to repeal the state’s death penalty and replace it with a sen-tence of life in prison without parole.

During a press conference at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka on Feb. 10, they also presented legislators with a petition supporting repeal that was signed by more than 430 Kansas faith leaders, including a number of Episcopalians.

Kansas’ current death penalty law was adopted in 1994. Th e last execution was in 1965.

In his remarks, Bishop Wolfe noted that the Episcopal Church has been on record opposing the death penalty for more than 50 years “be-cause we believe the forgiveness of God in Christ triumphs over every-one and everything.”

He quoted Ronald Clemmons, a member of the executive council of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, who noted that Christianity “was found-ed upon the non-violent philosophy of an innocent man who was execut-ed based on perjured testimony.”

Th e bishop added that studies have shown that capital punishment is not an eff ective deterrent to crime, is subject to prejudice based on race and economic class, and is unjust. “On average, fi ve people have been exonerated each year between 2000 and 2011,” Bishop Wolfe said.

“What if we had executed all those innocent human beings?”


Th e press conference was coordinated by the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Mary Sloan, a member of St. Aidan’s, Olathe, has been the group’s ex-ecutive director since 2012.

She said that the Coalition is a “big tent” organization that includes people from varying political parties, religions and philosophies. What brings them all togeth-er is a commitment to end the death penalty in the state.

She noted that there have been previous attempts to repeal the death penalty law, and in 2010 it failed by only one vote in the Kansas Senate.

Chance for passage this yearSloan thinks this year may be

the one where the eff ort fi nally pre-vails. Besides those who oppose it on religious, ideological, libertarian or small-government grounds, more and more people are opposing it for economic reasons, she said.

Repeal would save the state be-tween $500,000 and $1 million a year, because of shorter trials and fewer appeals.

But beyond all that, for her, re-peal is a matter of faith. It all boils down to forgiveness, she said. “Th at’s the standard.”

But even more, she seeks what is best for society as a whole. She noted former Kansas Secretary of Correc-tions Roger Werholtz has said that the issue really isn’t what kind of punishment criminals deserve, but what kind of society the rest of us deserve.

“We are ashamed when our sys-tem gets it wrong,” Sloan said. “We

don’t want to execute an innocent person. We don’t want to incarcerate an innocent person.”

Sloan said her job, based in Topeka, not only requires an hour commute each way but places her always on call. Her heavy travel schedule means she had to give up serving on St. Aidan’s Steward-ship Committee and as a Eucharistic Visi-tor, but she remains an active member of the

Daughters of the King. She also is a graduate of Education for Ministry and a former member of the Vestry.

Looking for a better wayTh e Rev. Shawn Streepy, priest

in charge at St. Aidan’s, has been a member of the Coalition’s board of directors for many years and is a fre-quent legislative advocate. He also is a former Assistant United States At-torney for the District of Kansas.

He said that the single thing that draws all those in the group’s big tent together is a “belief in the innate dignity of human life.” Nothing can extinguish that, he said, not even a person’s criminal activity.

Streepy said that society must resist the temptation to mete out punishment equal to the murders that land people on death row. Th ose criminals “do not set the standard we follow,” he said. “We are looking for a better way.”

Th e death penalty repeal under consideration this year by the Kan-sas Legislature is House Bill 2129. To become law it has to be adopted by a majority of the 125 members of the Kansas House of Representatives and the 40-member Senate, and be signed by the governor.

Mary Sloan

What does the church say about capital punishment?Th e Episcopal Church

Th e fi rst time the Episcopal Church spoke out against the death penalty was in 1958.

Th e most recent statement was a resolution adopted by General Convention in 2000:

Resolved, Th at the 73rd Gen-eral Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffi rm its opposition to capital punishment and call on the dioceses and members of this church to work actively to abolish the death penalty in their states.

Th e Diocese of KansasTh e fi rst time the diocese went

on record against the death penalty was in 1979, in a resolution ad-opted by Diocesan Convention:

Resolved, that the 120th Con-vention of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas affi rms its opposition to capital punishment.

Th is position was reaffi rmed by the same resolution adopted by the 1998 Convention.

Th e death penalty in Kansas1907: Death penalty is out-

lawed by the Kansas Legislature1935: Capital punishment is

reintroduced by state law1965: Th e last execution is car-

ried out in the state1972: Some factors used by

states in imposing the death pen-alty are found unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court

1976: Laws correcting those factors are approved by the Court, which reinstates the death penalty

1994: Kansas enacts a new law based on the 1976 court case. No executions have taken place; nine men currently are on death row.


Miqra: Reading Genesis to Revelation in 72 hours

DIOCESAN MINISTRIES

Text and photos by Melodie Woerman

THE BIBLE-BASED WEEKEND for youth in grades 6-12 is known for reading the Bible, out loud, non-stop, over the course of three days. Th is year, youth and adults from two dioceses came to fi nd out more for themselves.

Eliana Seidner (left ), Trinity, Lawrence, assists Mark Ash, St. Th omas’, Overland Park, as he reads the Bible while walking into the cathedral. When the cathedral was in use, the Bible reading took place in another room. But the reading kept going even as people changed locations.

Th e Dioceses of East Carolina and Maine each sent four young people and adults to experience the event, which took place Jan. 16-19 at Grace Cathedral in Topeka

Th ey came because they had heard about the program, now in its 12th year, and wanted to see if it would be a fi t for their own youth.

Emily Gowdy-Canady, East Carolina’s program offi cer for youth, campus and young adult ministries, said they are seeking to add a pro-gram besides Happening for high school students. She and three high schoolers participated in the week-end, which drew rave reviews.

Melissa Glen said she really liked Miqra. “I like the idea of reading the Bible.” April Brown agreed, say-ing she hadn’t been to a youth event before that focuses so intently on scripture.

Emily Summerlin said that read-ing the entire Bible gave her new in-sights. “I never have really learned about it all together,” she said.

Gowdy-Canady said she and others in East Carolina defi nitely will look at how Miqra might fi t into their existing event schedule.

Kim Wallace and Ryan Corum

are volunteer adult leaders from the Diocese of Maine, who were accom-panied by two high school students. Th ey discovered Miqra through a search of other diocesan youth websites, Wallace said, and asked to come. Maine, also, wants to expand

the programs it off ers to its high schoolers.

Ally Smith said the event was “really cool,” and would like to off er the Bible reading to youth in Maine.

Ally Collins said listening to the continuous reading was her favorite


Participants from the Diocese of East Carolina were (from left ) Emily Gowdy-Canady, April Brown, Emily Summerlin and Melissa Glen. Th e diocese is headquartered in Kinston.

Participants from the Diocese of Maine were (from left ) Ally Smith , Ryan Corum, Ally Collins and Kim Wallace. Th e diocese is headquartered in Portland.

part. Smith said she also liked that the event was live-streamed online so anyone could follow along.

Corum said he was intrigued by the youth band, the Mustard Seeds, made up of a rotating group of youth musicians who lead singing at youth events.

Wallace said she and Corum want to look at the logistics of sched-ules to see how Miqra might fi t into their programs.

But Miqra already has spread beyond Kansas and the two visiting dioceses. It took place for a second year in the Diocese of Chicago, on the same weekend as Kansas and also live-streamed online.

It also has been off ered at least once by the Diocese of Southern

Ohio, the Diocese of Oklahoma and St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Tif-ton, Ga.

Emphasis on the PentateuchKaren Schlabach, the diocese’s

youth missioner, said this year’s edu-cational focus was the Pentateuch, the fi rst fi ve books of the Bible.

Youth were assigned to one of the “12 Tribes of Israel” for small-group discussion, and each tribe was asked to illustrate two assigned pas-sages from Genesis and Exodus.

Th ose large drawings then were placed in order, like a time line, cre-ating what she called “Th e Great Story.”

Th e entire group — 66 youth and 32 adults — heard a presentation

by Rabbi Debbie Steele of Topeka’s Temple Beth Shalom, describing the Jewish interpretation of the Bible.

Bishop Dean Wolfe spoke on how to read the Bible and why peo-ple should, and took part in a Bible question-and-answer period.

Th e Rev. Kelly Demo, who de-veloped Miqra when she was in charge of diocesan youth programs, explored God’s appearance of anger in the Old Testament, as well as the overall arc of its stories.

Smaller workshops were led by Diocese of Kansas clergy and looked at additional aspects of the Old Tes-tament.

Th e weekend also included plen-ty of fun, including making papier-maché crosses, a variety of indoor and outdoor games, and discussions about life aft er high school.

Non-stop reading of the BibleBut the continuous reading of

the Bible remains Miqra’s mainstay feature. Adults, college students and some student leaders arrived on Fri-day, Jan. 16 to begin the reading. Other youth and leaders arrived on Saturday aft ernoon.

Participants signed up for one- hour reading slots that took place around the clock, usually in the soar-ing cathedral nave. When the church was in other use, the reading moved elsewhere, but it never stopped. It was concluded on Monday morning.

Th e reading’s power was impor-tant to those who had come from other dioceses. Melissa Glen of East Carolina said hearing her own voice reading out loud helped her really focus on the words themselves.

Abby Collins from Maine agreed, saying that when she was reading, she had no idea of anything else going on around her.


NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Medieval dinner will benefit Kenya programs

Tickets are on sale for a dinner styled aft er medieval feasts, to ben-efi t the Kansas to Kenya ministry.

Th e event is Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at St. Michael and All An-gels, 6630 Nall Avenue, Mission.

Th e cost is $50 person and fea-tures a fi ve-course meal. Seating is limited to 80 people.

Funds benefi t the Agatha Am-ani safe house for women, and the Osborne Library, both in Kenya.

For tickets, call the diocesan of-fi ce, (785) 235-9255.

Led in procession by a unity quilt, faith and civic leaders join 2,000 Selma residents on March 1 in a unity walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, part of the city’s 50th anniversary commemoration of Bloody Sunday.

PHOTO BY KATE WOOD | EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE

Churches in Selma lead unity walkEpiscopal News Service

THE REV. Jack Alvey, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Sel-ma, Ala., knows that the image of a city can become frozen in time, and a single event can create an impres-sion so deep that it never fades.

Fift y years ago, state troopers attacked marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, in one of the defi ning moments of the civil rights movement. Selma has been grap-pling with the legacy of that mo-ment, and the events that led up to it, ever since.

On March 1, a coalition of faith leaders, including Alvey, helped lead a racially integrated crowd of some 2,000 people in a unity walk that be-gan on the south side of the famous bridge and ended with a prayer ser-

vice in Songs of Selma Park.Participants walked the same

Selma-to-Montgomery route as marchers did on Bloody Sunday in 1965, but in reverse, to symbolize the theme of the gathering, “One Selma: Coming Home United in Faith,” said organizer Juanda Max-well.

Th e walkers crossed the bridge behind an 11-foot wide unity quilt, composed of 176 squares contribut-ed by individuals and congregations from across the city and coordinat-ed by Alvey’s wife, Jamie, a quilter. Begun in January, the quilt became the focal point of the event.

“Th is is the Selma I know and love,” said Allen Bearden, a mem-ber of St. Paul’s. “Th is is the Selma I want the world to know and love.”

Libby Lane installed as bishop in Chester

Th e Rt. Rev. Libby Lane, the fi rst female bish-op in the history of the Church of England, was installed as the eighth bishop of Stockport at Chester Cathedral on Interna-tional Women’s Day, Sunday, March 8.

More than 1,900 people from across the county of Cheshire at-tended the installation, which in-cluded Choral Evensong.

Bishop Libby Lane

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

ST.FRANCIS STATUE IN THE BETHANY PLACE GARDENS | PHOTO BY MELODIE WOERMAN

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