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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is undertaking an important study that will play a key role in our diocesan life in coming months, and your participation as a parish leader is vital to our success.

We soon will be launching a feasibility study to determine whether or not to undertake a diocesan-wide capital campaign that could fund important parts of our diocesan mission that can’t be met through our regular budget.

Since becoming your bishop, we have been pursuing a vision for deeper ministry across the diocese. In the past four years, we have accomplished several important things that already are beginning to bear fruit:

• two Campus Missioners are establishing an Episcopal presence on campuses across the diocese;
• our youth program is the envy of dioceses across the nation;
• a full-time Director of Development and Stewardship is providing needed resources to parishes;
• a Missioner has been hired to plant a new church in Johnson County; and
• a Dean has been hired to oversee the redevelopment of the Kansas School of Ministry.

But much remains to be done, and this is where the Council of Trustees and I believe a capital campaign could play a significant role. We still need to:

• increase local, national and global mission and outreach;
• strengthen and expand the Kansas School of Ministry; and
• improve diocesan facilities for staff, gatherings and the Kansas School of Ministry.

From now until late May, RSI, a Christian stewardship consulting firm, will be conducting interviews, focus group meetings and an online survey to learn what the people of the diocese have to say about such a proposal. Everyone in the diocese will be asked to participate in the survey, and smaller groups of individuals will be invited to offer opinions through personal interviews or focus group meetings.

I encourage everyone who receives an invitation to say yes and participate. We need your input!

Further information, including details of the study activities, will be provided in the coming weeks.

In order to get this initial information distributed as widely as possible, I’m sending this letter to parish clergy, wardens and parish offices. Please make copies of this letter for members of your vestry, so they have the information, too.

These next few weeks will provide us a rare gift – the opportunity to reflect on the ministry we share in this diocese and to see how we can do all God is calling us to do. I look forward to sharing with you in this exciting time of discernment and discovery.

Grace and Peace,

The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe
Ninth Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas

Note: This letter was sent April 3 to all parish clergy and offices, and senior and junior wardens, with a request that it be copied for all vestry members.