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.
Natasha Porter’s favorite television show has always been “Extreme Makeover Home Edition.” She never dreamed she would be experiencing that phenomenon personally. But, through tears, applause, and the encouraging words and presence of Bishop Cate, on the morning of Friday, May 9, Natasha and her daughters received the house keys and a first look at their new home in Pass Christian, Mississippi, built and furnished by gifts and volunteers from throughout our diocese.
The journey to Natasha’s new home began last fall, when Bishop Cate’s 2007-2008 Mission Challenge was affirmed at our 170th Diocesan Convention. The challenge included building the new home, in cooperation with Camp Coast Care, as well as supporting educational projects in our partner dioceses of Bor and Brasilia and the Episcopal Fund for Human Need (EFHN) here in central and southern Indiana. Our parish families went to work, raising money and sending donations great and small to enable construction to begin. Work continued on faith, as the gifts continued to come in. Eventually, those gifts and lots of mission team labor enabled us to finish and provide the basic furnishings for the home.
The week of May 5 was filled with excitement as the first mission team, from Trinity, Indianapolis, arrived early to help complete the construction. Later, parishioners from Church of the Nativity, Indianapolis, St. James, New Castle; St. Christopher’s, Carmel; and St. Paul’s, New Albany arrived to join in with Camp Coast Care volunteers from Connecticut and California, as well as a hard-working Ameri-Corps group. On Thursday, May 8, things really went into high gear, with last-minute painting, laying of sand and sod, floor cleaning, and other finishing touches in preparation for the Friday morning house blessing. Not allowed to go inside and see her new home until Friday’s blessing, Natasha worked with our diocesan video crew and watched tearfully from the front lawn, amazed at all that was being done on her behalf. She managed to choke out the words “Thank you” to as many volunteers as she possibly could.
On Thursday evening, May 8, Bishop Cate arrived, toured the home, and shared Compline with the Camp Coast Care volunteers. She then had an opportunity to meet Natasha and her three daughters and get to know them a bit better. On Friday, May 9, a large crowd, including local news media, gathered in the driveway for a Celebration of Worship and Blessing for the new home. Mark Plummer, a volunteer from St. Christopher’s, Carmel, accompanied hymns on the guitar and various volunteers from the diocese and Camp Coast Care read the lessons and presented gifts. (See a list below of the gifts Natasha received during the liturgy.) Following the presentations, Natasha announced that she was making a gift to our diocese so that we could continue to help others through our Bishop’s Mission Challenge.
Natasha’s hands were shaking as she tried the keys to her family’s new home. The family, who had not seen the interior since it was merely a bare shell, was overwhelmed. Bishop Waynick led the assembled group from room to room for the house blessing. Shortly after the final “Amen,” the furniture truck arrived with the family’s new furniture. Everyone pitched in to haul the furniture into the house. Then, a caravan journeyed over to the family’s FEMA trailer to gather boxes of items to go to the new house. Natasha sent along everything the family wouldn’t need until Monday, May 12, when electrical service was expected to be connected to the home and they could spend their first night there.
At 5 p.m., a housewarming celebration for the family, Camp Coast Care and diocesan volunteers, and others in the local community began. It included 80 pounds of crawfish and barbecue prepared by the Camp Coast Care kitchen staff, music and dancing on the driveway, and a fun evening of kids flying kites and playing ball while grown-ups in the community continued to get their first glimpse of the new home. An exhausted group of volunteers and family called it an early evening---most wondering aloud what our diocese could possibly do for an encore!
Episcopal Relief and Development Responds to Major Earthquake in China
Casualties from the massive 7.9 earthquake that struck central China have increased to at least 12,000 people, with more than 18,000 believed to be trapped in rubble. In some areas 80 percent of all buildings have collapsed and officials estimate that 3.5 million homes have been destroyed.
Heavy rainfall, power outages and impassable roads are slowing the rescue work. Doctors and other emergency workers were forced to walk to the epicenter, which they eventually reached 24 hours after the quake. Military officials have deployed approximately 50,000 troops to assist local emergency services. Trains carrying relief aid have begun to make their way to the affected areas, carrying more than 50,000 tents, fuel and numerous other relief materials.
Episcopal Relief and Development’s partner in China, the Amity Foundation, an independent Chinese Christian voluntary organization, is responding to the quake. Amity has deployed staff to the affected region and is coordinating their response with local partners. With Episcopal Relief and Development’s support, Amity is distributing rice, bedding and sheltering material to alleviate the suffering of 8,000 families in the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Sha’anxi.
"As we continue to learn more about the level of destruction following the earthquake, our partner, the Amity Foundation will continue to meet the emerging needs of the affected population," says Nagulan Nesiah, Program Associate for Asia at Episcopal Relief and Development. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this disaster, particularly with the families of the many thousands who are missing," Nesiah continued.
To help people affected by the earthquake in China, please make a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development’s “Emergency Relief Fund” online at www.er-d.org , or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development “Emergency Relief Fund” P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
Which Path Shall We Walk?
Bishop Mauricio Andrade from our partner Diocese of Brasilia, on Lambeth and the Anglican Communion.
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.
Message from the Anglican Primate of Brazil (Feb 2008)