The Commission on Ministry is a body required by the canons of the Episcopal Church for every diocese, and it is charged with assisting the diocesan bishop in three specific ways:
- in the implementation of Title III, the general canons dealing with ministry,
- in the determination of present and future opportunities and needs for the ministry of all baptized persons, and
- in the design and oversight of the ongoing process for recruitment, discernment, formation for ministry, and assessment of readiness therefor. (Canon III.2, Sec. 2)
Information on the process toward ordination
Discernment of a call to ordained ministry begins at the local level under the supervision of a parish priest.
After that, a number of steps are involved to explore the call further, and the Commission on Ministry has created a process to assist with that.
Ordination process handbook
Information on materials that need to be submitted for each step is in the ordination process handbook.
Academic standards for formation
A guide to the expectations for academic study for those in the ordination process, prepared by the diocesan Board of Examining Chaplains.
Members of the Commission on Ministry
Members of the Commission on Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, with their parishes and the year their term of office ends, are:
The Rev. Andrew O’Connor, Good Shepherd, Wichita (2022), Chair. Email
The Rev. Tom Baker, St. Aidan’s, Olathe (2023). Email
Mrs. Jeanine Blessant, St. Peter’s, Pittsburg (2021). Email
The Rev. Kelly Demo, St. Thomas the Apostle, Overland Park (2021) Email
Deacon Sandy Horton-Smith, St. Paul’s, Manhattan (2023) Email
The Rev. Marc McDonald, St. Andrew’s, Emporia (2023). Email
Mrs. Debbie Oehmke, St. Andrew’s, Derby (2021) Email
The Rev. Marco Serrano, St. Margaret’s, Lawrence (2023) Email
The Commission on Ministry administrator is Michele Moss of the diocesan staff. She is the person to whom forms need to be addressed.
She can be reached by email, phone (800) 473-3563 or (785) 235-9255, or mail, 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612-1688.
Assisting the Commission on Ministry are the Examining Chaplains.
The Examining Chaplains
The Rev. David Cox, Ph.D., St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, Chair Email
Mr. Mike Morrow, St. Stephen’s, Wichita. Email
Deacon Robert Schwaller, Ph.D., Trinity, Lawrence. Email
The Very Rev. Vicki Smith, St. David’s, Topeka. Email
The Very Rev. Don Compier, Ph.D., Dean of Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, Topeka, ex officio. Email
835 SW Polk St.