Jesus Christ has gathered laity, deacons, priests, and bishop of congregations and diocesan ministries in central and southern Indiana to be the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.
We celebrate the great gift of our Anglican heritage and will deepen our understanding of its tradition and heritage, inviting others to join us.
We welcome all persons into our common life and will proclaim the gospel to those in our communities who do not yet know our Lord.
We will nurture relationships in Christ, remaining in conversation with one another despite honest disagreement, always seeking God's will.
We are thankful for our differences and acknowledge that they enrich and energize our ministries.
We promise compassion, acceptance, and assistance to those in need.
We acknowledge and celebrate the wealth of talent and treasure which has been given and will grow in confidence that working together, we will always have enough to engage in God's mission.
Reflections from Bishop Waynick Upon Leaving Lambeth Conference - Sunday August 3, 2008Monday, 04 August 2008
Dear Friends,
The Lambeth Conference drew to a close this evening with a Eucharist at
Christ Church Cathedral, Canterbury. We had spent more than two hours
in Big Blue, hearing reports, offering thanks to the hundreds of people
who worked our front and behind the scenes to plan and implement the
complexities of the conference.
The Reflections document is available on line by now, and represents
the conversations held in 17 Indaba groups on a variety of topics. The
information gleaned from those groups each day was rendered into drafts
which were then returned to the groups for scrutiny, clarification, and
correction if necessary. Then each of the drafts was discussed in open
forums during which anyone who had not felt heard, or wanted to suggest
reference materials and resources could do so. In the end, the document
does reflect the range of views on all that was discussed.
I can say that the process worked far better than many had anticipated. It was... + Full Story
On Saturday, March 21, 2009, the Diocese will host UNDER ONE ROOF 2009 at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. This conference provides an opportunity to bring people together from all over the Diocese for a day of continuing education workshops presented by our diocesan committees and other groups. This gathering will help meet the ongoing demand in the Diocese for leadership training and ministry development for laity and clergy on a wide variety of topics.
This year’s theme will be: THIS FRAGILE EARTH, OUR ISLAND HOME: Stewardship of Our Earth, Our Churches, & Our Lives. Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church will be our keynote speaker. She will be addressing things temporal, spiritual, and earthly through the lens of stewardship.
Committees are invited to highlight their work by presenting a workshop at this event. Each workshop session is one hour and fifteen minutes. You may present a single session workshop, or you may offer a 2 ½ hour workshop over two sessions.
Fill out and return the UNDER ONE ROOF WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION sheet if you would like to present a workshop. Display space is also available All information must be submitted by October 31 so that a brochure will be ready to distribute throughout the Diocese by the first of January.
Click on the links below for a flyer with expanded information about this event and the WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION SHEET (due date October 31). For further information or questions, please contact Canon Debra Kissinger at the Diocesan office.
Natasha Porter called this morning to share that her new home in Pass
Christian, Mississippi (built by the Diocese of Indianapolis and dedicated this
spring) DID make it through Hurricane Gustav! She said to please thank
everyone in the diocese for their prayers. Natasha was asked to work/stay
at the hospital where she is employed, so she boarded up the windows and sent
her three girls on to Shreveport to stay with family during the
evacuation.
This morning, the curfew was lifted so she could check out her home.
Other than having tree limbs down and electrical power out (a widespread problem
there), the house weathered the storm just fine. (She did mention
that, on the road to her house, the hurricane had deposited someone's
boat in the middle of the street!) Natasha said to tell everyone hello and
sends her love. She asks for your continued prayers for everyone on the
coast as more storms are lurking a few days out.
Congregational Development Workshop Coming to Nativity, Indianapolis
Congregational
Renewal Program at Nativity
Put a red circle around
the dates…September 13-14. The Church of the Nativity at 7300
Lantern Road, Indianapolis is sponsoring a week-end event entitled Reviving the Spirit. Special guest speaker Dr.
Diana Butler Bass will conduct a Saturday Workshop and speak at
Nativity’s Sunday services at 8am and 10:30am.
Bishop Cate sings with the Bishops/Spouses choir at Lambeth. Listen here!
FLOOD RELIEF: AFTER THE BUCKET BRIGADE, NOW WHAT?
Thanks to ALL who helped furnish supplies or help for the bucket brigade” for Hoosier flood victims. Here’s what you and your parish can do now to help.
The primary need remains financial. A fund is already established through the diocese to assist storm and flood victims, including those in our own parishes who have been displaced without adequate assistance. You can continue to contribute to this fund by sending contributions to the diocesan office or by clicking here to make an online gift . The focus of our efforts with these gifts will be strategic longer-term relief and providing for those who have “fallen through the cracks.”
Does your congregation have individuals or a group of persons who would be interested in volunteering to assist with flood disaster relief in Indiana? The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis is working in cooperation with the Indiana Office of Faith Based Community Initiatives (OFBCI), to provide volunteers to assist organizations on the ground providing relief. To participate, groups need to register through OFBCI’s Indiana portal REGISTER HERE
When registering, you will be asked to provide information about the type of work your group is willing to do and the skill sets that you can provide. Based on this information, they will match your group to the needs of particular relief organizations. More information about OFBCI. If you will be sending a group, please coordinate this effort with the diocese through the Rev. Michael Galvin at father_mike@hfec.org or 317-842-4133. Grant money may be available to assist your mission group.
Finally, please help us to be aware of the ongoing needs in all of our communities related to flood and storm damage. Our clergy and parishioners throughout the diocese are the best “eyes and ears” we have. When you encounter a need, please contact Father Mike or the diocesan office. (And, please continue to pray for all who have been affected by the floods and all who are working to assist them.)
Flood Damage Reports Emerge
Flood damage reports throughout the diocese are beginning to emerge. The good
news---no churches or church property appear to have sustained any significant
damage. However, a number of parishioners in flooded areas have been affected.
Here is a rundown on what we know:
St, Mary's, Martinsville---Two parish families have been displaced and
there is widespread destruction throughout the community.
St. Paul's, Columbus---Two parish families have experienced significant
losses and a number of others have flooded basements and other water damage.
The town of Columbus also had widespread community damage.
St. Luke's, Shelbyville---One parishioner experienced significant crop
loss.
St. Thomas Whiteland/Franklin---Several parish families experienced
flooding.
Waycross Camp and Conference Center---Bridges were washed out on two of the three
access roads to the camp. There was other minor damage to the property and
the homes of two staff members experienced flooding.
How can you help? Contribute to a fund for flood relief through the Diocese of Indianapolis.
What a Diocese!
Bishop Waynick has received a letter from The Rev. Dr. Gregory Straub, Executive Officer and Secretary of the General Convention informing us that the Diocese of Indianapolis has been selected as the host for the 77th General Convention to be held in 2012. The GC will be held in Indianapolis. The Joint Standing Committee on Planning and Arrangements has made the recommendation to the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Houses of General Convention and the Presidents of the Provinces seeking their affirmation of the selection. Executive Council will vote on the recommendation at the upcoming meeting in Ohio.
This will be an exciting time for us and there will be a TREMENDOUS amount of planning and work to be done. Expect to hear a lot from a soon to be formed Planning Committee, asking for volunteers for the countless committees that will be required to make this undertaking as memorable as the GC we hosted in 1994, and for interesting things we might do for our guests from around the Church.
From Dr. Straub's letter: "The committee was favorably impressed by the enthusiasm of the Diocese of Indianapolis for hosting Convention and by the layout of the Convention Center and its proximity to meeting space and hotel rooms, together with Indianapolis' commitment to enhanced air access. There is no question Indianapolis is an attractive venue."
More will be coming as we make our plans for this great event.
Under One Roof 2009: Fragile Earth Workshops
Congregational
Renewal Program at Nativity