Diocesan Convention 2022

Convention details

The 163rd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas took place October 21-22 at Grace Cathedral and St. David’s, Topeka. A full summary of convention business is available in this PDF document.

Convention Business

Council of Trustees Election: Two people were elected to the Council of Trustees and four lay convocation representatives were confirmed.

• The Rev. Doreen Rice, Covenant, Junction City, clergy at-large representative, 3-year term (re-elected)
• Teresa Ryther, St. Stephens, Wichita, lay at-large representative, 3-year term
• Convocation representatives, 3-year terms:
  • Ron Olson, Northeast Convocation, St. Thomas the Apostle, Overland Park (first term)
  • David Littrell, Northwest Convocation, St. Paul’s, Manhattan (first term)
  • John Smittle, Southeast Convocation, St. Mary’s, Galena (first term)
  • Mike Morrow, Southwest Convocation, St. Stephen’s, Wichita (second term)

We give thanks to Todd Allison, Larry Hannan, Marilyn Trubey, and Dick Wilson whose terms on the Council of Trustees have concluded.

General Convention Deputies Election: Four clergy and four lay deputies were elected to serve as the deputation to General Convention 2024. Additionally, four clergy alternates and four lay alternates were selected.

• Clergy Deputies:
  1. The Very Reverend Torey Lightcap, Grace Cathedral, Topeka
  2. The Very Reverend Casey Rohleder, St. Luke’s, Wamego
  3. The Very Reverend Laurie Lewis, St. Stephen’s, Wichita
  4. The Reverend Canon Gar Demo, St. Thomas the Apostle Overland Park
• Lay Deputies:
  1. Stephen Mann, St. Luke’s, Shawnee
  2. Michael Funston, St. Margaret’s, Lawrence
  3. Kirsten Lee, St. Michael and All Angels, Mission
  4. Julia Hart, St. Stephen’s, Wichita
• Clergy Alternates:
  1. The Reverend Andrew O’Connor, Good Shepherd, Wichita
  2. The Reverend Marc McDonald, St. Andrew’s, Emporia
  3. The Reverend Doreen Rice, Covenant, Junction City
  4. The Reverend Dr. David Cox, St. Michael and All Angels, Mission
• Lay Alternates:
  1. Larry Hannan, St. Luke’s, Wamego
  2. Bill Barnes, St. Andrew’s, Emporia
  3. Debbie Kremers, St. Michael & All Angels, Mission
  4. Beth Lee, St. Michael & All Angels, Mission

Special thanks was offered to Mike Morrow who served as a deputy to General Convention for 21 years, attending seven General Conventions and serving as the chair of the deputation in 2012, 2015, and 2018.

Four canonical amendments were approved

• Canon II.2 Sec 6. which gives seat and vote to youth delegates at convocation meetings in addition to diocesan convention where they already had seat and vote.
• Canon III.1 Sec 2. which removes unnecessary language
• Canon III.5 Sec 2 and Sec 4. which clarifies membership in the convocations and some duties of the convocation boards, reducing the overall number of required convocation meetings from four to three.
• Canon III.7 Sec 1-4 were added to describe the location, team, meetings, and responsibilities of minsters.

You can view the full updated canons, which take effect January 1, 2023, on our website here, and see a comparison of minsters and convocations here.

One debatable resolution was presented and passed, requesting that the “Internal control and audit standards for parish funds and assets” policy be reviewed and revised prior to next year’s convention.

The Convention Eucharist offertory will be split between the Diocese of Southwest Florida and the Diocese of Puerto Rico for hurricane relief.

Bishop Bascom presented on the Kansas Episcopal Creation Trustees, including information about General Convention’s and Lambeth’s decisions and statements on creation care. A PDF of her presentation slides is available here.

The Creation Care Task Force delivered a presentation on embracing a creation care lifestyle. They shared the following resources:

• Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit for Congregations
• Planting your Green Team: Growing Earth Stewards
• Track your carbon footprint

Awards

Sustain Island Home contest winner: St. Matthew’s, Newton

Alleluia Grants:

• Church of the Covenant, Junction City, Commercial Range for Community Dinners, $3,000
• Grace, Winfield, Blessing Box, $3,000
• St. Jude’s, Wellington, Emergency Blanket Ministry, $3,000
• St. Stephen’s, Wichita, Winter Care Bags, $1,219
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Overland Park, Hosting Godly Play Training, $3,000

Deacon’s Cross: Charles Durland, St. Paul’s, Coffeyville

Canon’s Award: W. David Jenkins, non-parochial

Bishop’s Chair: Carson, Josh, & Suzanne Avery, Good Shepherd, Wichita and Canterbury House at K-State

Convention materials

• Bulletin: Garden Opening, Ribbon Cutting and Convention Eucharist
• Printed Convention Materials (Check-in Bag & On-Table)
  • 2022 Elections Pictorial Guide
  • Basics of Parliamentary Procedure
  • 2023 Clericus Schedule
  • Minster and Convocation Listening Process, comparisons
  • Updates to Business Items
    • 2023 Apportionment Correction
    • 2022 Courtesy Resolutions Update
    • Convocation Representatives to Council of Trustees (2025 Term)
• Convention Book Mailing, September 2, 2022
  • Convention Book (Agenda, Mission Plan, Business, Elections)
  • Bishop’s Welcome Letter
  • Bethany House & Garden Ribbon Cutting Brochure
• Registration Invitation Mailing, August 10, 2022
  • Letter from the Canon to the Ordinary
  • Tentative Agenda
  • Hotel Information