181 st Annual Convention November 16-17, 2018 Nominations for Diocesan Offices: Standing Committee Commission on Ministry Disciplinary Board Waycross Board Executive Council
The 181 st Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis November 16-17, 2018 Descriptions of Elective Offices Standing Committee The Standing Committee has responsibilities outlined by the canons of the Episcopal Church. The group is a council of advice for the bishop, and must provide consent for the sale of land, the encumberment of church property, the ordination of persons to the diaconate or priesthood by this diocese, and for the election and consecration of bishops in the Episcopal Church. This group must also make determinations regarding the discipline of clergy in this diocese. The committee meets once a month if there is business to conduct. One clergy person will be elected to serve a three-year term. One lay person will be elected to serve a three-year term. Commission on Ministry The Commission on Ministry assists the bishop in determining the present and future needs for all ministries in the diocese. It assists the bishop in matters pertaining to the enlistment and selection of persons for Holy Orders and in the guidance of all postulants and candidates. The Commission meets on a Saturday in the fall, an overnight in January, an overnight in the spring, and at other times as necessary. One clergy person will be elected to serve a three-year term. One lay person will be elected to serve a three-year term. Disciplinary Board The Disciplinary Board (court) meets once per year, by canon, or unless activated. The annual meeting is for election of positions and for training in order to be ready for action if called upon. The time commitment could be considerable if the court is activated. One clergy person will be elected to serve a three-year term. Waycross Board The board of directors provides oversight for the mission of Waycross, which is to serve all who seek fellowship, respite, reflection and growth by providing Christian hospitality and enriching programs. The board meets at least four times a year at Waycross for about six to eight hours. Members have a variety of other duties as well, including involvement in development. Two people, lay or clergy, will be elected to serve a three-year term.
Executive Council Members of Executive Council are appointed by deaneries. The Executive Council carries out the mandates of the Diocesan Convention and has responsibility for the administrative and programmatic life of the diocese in partnership with the bishop. Leadership roles include setting budget priorities and encouragement and support of program and resources for mission and ministry. This group meets at least three or four times per year as a whole and may do some work by email and as subcommittees when needed: One lay person from the Southeast Deanery will be appointed to serve a three-year term. One clergy person from the Northwest Deanery will be appointed to serve a three-year term. One clergy person from the North Central Deanery will be appointed to serve a two-year term to fill a vacancy. One lay person from the North Central Deanery will be appointed to serve a three-year term. One clergy person from the Northeast Deanery will be appointed to serve a two-year term to fill a vacancy. One lay person from the South Central Deanery will be appointed to serve a one-year term to fill a vacancy. One clergy person from the South Central Deanery will be appointed to serve a three-year term. One clergy person from the Southwest Deanery will be appointed to serve a three-year term.
The 181 st Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis November 16-17, 2018 List of Candidates Standing Committee Clergy Hilary Cooke Allen Rutherford Commission on Ministry Clergy Henrietta Grossoehme Shannon MacVean-Brown Disciplinary Board Clergy Rebecca Nickel Lay Phillip Wills Lay Sally Cassidy Gloria Hasler Meribeth Kussmaul Lay no election this year Waycross Board Clergy or Lay Rose Lane Terry Noble Bradley Pace Executive Council (nominee information not included in this packet) Southeast Deanery, lay: Susan Steigerwald Northwest Deanery, clergy: Janet Oller North Central Deanery, clergy: Christopher Beasley North Central Deanery, lay: Michael McGraw Northeast Deanery, clergy: no candidate running South Central Deanery, lay: Rose Anne Grasty South Central Deanery, clergy: Rebecca Nickel Southwest Deanery, clergy: Holly Rankin Zaher
Hilary Cooke Standing Committee Clergy Nomination St. John s, Lafayette I have been in this Diocese for 13 years as an Associate Priest at St. John's in Lafayette. In the Diocese I have led Young Adult events, served six years on the Commission on Ministry, and was a part of the Bishop Search Committee. My primary work on the parish level is with Christian Formation for young people. Outside the Diocese, I have served in the House of Bishops secretariat at seven General Conventions. Beyond the Episcopal Church, I have served as Secretary on the Board of the local Montessori School and am currently a member of the Christian Theological Seminary Alumni Board. I believe that my experience in the national Church would be helpful on Standing Committee. Also, I have a good sense of the Diocese having lived here for more than a decade. In addition to my priestly vocation I have a degree in psychotherapy and faith (trained as a therapist, though I don't practice). I am a good listener and can be trusted to keep confidences. I am organized and committed--if I say I will do something, I will do it. hilary@stjohns-laf.org
Allen Rutherford Standing Committee Clergy Nomination St. John s, Mt. Vernon I am completing six years of service on the Executive Council (two 3-year terms). I am currently serving as Dean of the Southwest Deanery, and have been Dean in the past. I have served the diocese on a racial reconciliation committee many years ago, and been a part of a church planting committee. I served a three-year term on the Disciplinary Board, and am currently a member of that Board for a second term. I have been a member of several social service agency boards in my community, and served as President of two such boards. I strive to not let the great distance of my parish and home keep me from contributing to the governance of our diocese and Church. For those who are familiar with the enneagram, I am a solid Nine; "The Peacemaker." I am patient to listen and slow to speak. I am also a high "F" on the MBTI, so I strive to put myself in other people's shoes and understand different perspectives before weighing in with my opinions on any given issue or discussion. I am brave enough to ask the dumb questions, the trivial questions from all that I observe and hear. I have been classified as a "representative" voice for the faithful members on the fringe of our diocese. rutherford317@sbcglobal.net
Phillip Wills Standing Committee Lay Nomination Grace Church, Muncie Visiting Eucharistic Lay Minister Vestry Jr. Warden twice Acolyte Master when we had youth Properties Mgr., advisor to the vestry and properties chair Chairman of Gathering Grace, the Sunday meal for those in need program Serve as an acolyte Conduct Liturgy of the Word and Prayers of the People Licensed Mediator Certified Instructor "Alternatives to Violence" Chaplain for American Legion Post 437 President Wapahani Girl Scout Council Three terms Secretary, Board of Directors, President, Lt. Governor, and Delegate to International Kiwanis Convention By being a good Listener; By being evolved with things other people are saying; By being accepting different ideas; By using all the people skills I have learned; By being open with everyone; By being prepared for each meeting indiana_true_blue@yahoo.com
Henrietta Grossoehme Commission on Ministry Clergy Nomination Trinity, Bloomington I currently serve on the Waycross Camp and Conference Center Board of Directors and on the Board of Examining Chaplains. In a previous diocese I was on the Diocesan Council, and I have been on the search committee for a rector. I can contribute by bringing a wide variety of ordained ministerial experience, both within and outside of The Episcopal Church. A quarter of my ministry has taken place outside the church when I have served as a hospital, a hospice, and a school chaplain. Congregational settings where I have served include a cathedral staff, and both small and medium-sized parishes. My roles have been that of rector, vicar, pastoral associate, and rector's assistant. I currently serve as the associate rector of Trinity in Bloomington. I bring excitement for new visions of how to identify, prepare and raise up lay and ordained ministers to lead strong and effective communities of faith in southern and central Indiana now and in the future. associate@trinitybloomington.org
Shannon MacVean-Brown Commission on Ministry Clergy Nomination St. John's Speedway In my previous diocese, I served two different terms on Commission on Ministry, one as a layperson the other as clergy. As a rector, over the course of six years, I was assigned three seminarians; assisting them in navigating the ordination process, and in their formation. I served as a healing racism facilitator, a trainer for facilitators, curriculum and program designer. As a healing racism facilitator, I interacted with those seeking Holy Orders, as healing racism is a required training for any leadership position in the church. My previous experience working with and on a Commission on Ministry would contribute to the discernment and carrying out of responsibilities entrusted to this body of the diocese. I know what it's like to be a layperson in discernment and a member of the Commission tasked with the sacred ministry of discernment on behalf of a diocese. I will bring that experience and my gifts of discerning in community to the work of this ministry. 1priestshannon@gmail.com Short Bio or Other Materials The Rev. Dr. Shannon MacVean-Brown is Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrow s appointed Transition Priest for St. John s in Speedway Indiana. Priest Shannon has a passion for working with communities of faith to build their understanding of their baptismal covenant and how it draws us to be present in our communities, no matter our location. Through her years of service, she has learned that this requires listening, discernment, education, and discovery of the gifts and needs of the local church and community. She has served in a wide range of congregations: from white blue-collar, historic black urban to a multiethnic urban endowed cathedral. Her experience ministering with a variety of congregations has developed her ability to help laity from all walks of life gain confidence that they are capable and needed ministers in their church and community. She says, I love the challenge and joy of working with people as they discover and develop gifts and capacity to be change agents in their communities. For her, being a follower of Jesus, compels her to actively engage with social justice issues facing our world.
Sally Cassidy Commission on Ministry Lay Nomination Good Samaritan I have spent the last 20 years in many ministries across the Diocese. I am continuing being an Education for Ministry (EfM) mentor at Indiana Women's Prison, y am a Licensed Lay Eucharist Minister at Good Samaritan, Brownsburg. I'm an active member at Good Samaritan and part of the Leadership team. In the past 20 years I worked in the Bishop's office (20 yrs. with Bishop Cate and 8+ months with Bishop Jennifer), I worked closely with the call and preparation process for clergy. I believe I have developed a strong sense of what may make a faithful ordained clergy person. sally.cassidy1948@gmail.com
Gloria Hasler Commission on Ministry Lay Nomination Trinity-Bloomington The two things that I have done that directly prepared me for the work of the Commission on Ministry is being chair of three Congregational Development Groups at Trinity-Bloomington in the last two years and my association with Education for Ministry (EfM) whose major concern is discernment of ministries [EfM Diocesan Coordinator (1 year), EfM mentor (10 years)]. Other things that have prepared me for this committee and its ministry in less direct ways are the following: - Holy Family, Fishers, IN - one of the "founding families" and People's Warden. - Trinity, Bloomington, IN - initiating and co-chairing the Commission on Compassion, Peace and Reconciliation (CPR). - serving on the Vestry for three years (People's Warden [2018]). - serving at the healing station. - serving as chair of Trinity Grants-Outreach Commission. - participating member of Daughters of the King. In the community of Bloomington, I have served on the boards of Monroe County United Ministries and Bloomington Transit. Before retiring, I taught English first in high school and then in college (43 years) and chaired the Life Skill Program for college Freshmen (3 years). I continue to teach English online for IU. In all of the above, I have spent much time in discerning and helping others to discern to what they are being called by God. I believe that I could contribute to the Commission on Ministry with the following: - organizational skills. - ability to listen to others. - ability to ask appropriate questions that lead to greater understanding. - ability to work cooperatively with others while maintaining my integrity. - having the ability to maintain "pastoral distance", meaning having much compassion balanced with practicality - statement from a priest of Holy Family. - having a great concern for the people that we are calling to serve us as priests and deacons and having concern for the impact they will have on the diocese and the broader church family. ghasler@indiana.edu
Meribeth Kussmaul Commission on Ministry Lay Nomination St. John's, Crawfordsville From 2010-2018, I co-facilitated the Fresh Start Program with The Revs. Debra Kissinger and Mark Van Wassenhove. This program was provided for new priests in the Diocese including newly ordained, interim, and bi-vocational priests among others. The goals included developing a network with others and learning/reviewing skills helpful in the process of transition. I have also assisted in the search process especially in getting search groups started, practicing interviewing and discerning about their next priest. I especially appreciated working with others to facilitate a parish-wide "Day of Discovery." My background and career work has focused on human development including team development, teamwork, meeting effectiveness, and group development. I mentored a woman earning her Associate's Degree. On the local level at St. John's in Crawfordsville, I have served on our Vestry, served as Jr. Warden and chaired our outreach and education programs and assisted with children's education. I also completed the EfM, Kerigma and The Journey programs as well as cofacilitated a parish development series on human sexuality and spirituality. Through my facilitation in Fresh Start, I have had the honor of getting to know a lot of different priests. I suspect this experience will be helpful to me in being with candidates. I can contribute the skills of deep listening, playing well with others, and general life experience. Above all I would strive to contribute the skills necessary for working with others to discern God's will. meribethk@aol.com
Rebecca Nickel Disciplinary Board Clergy Nomination Saint Timothy s Episcopal Church I am currently serving as Rector of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis. I was ordained 20 years ago in the Diocese of Colorado. I served as Curate in Denver, Associate Rector in Boulder, and Rector at Trinity, Fort Wayne in the Diocese of Northern Indiana. I have served in the Diocese of Indianapolis for the past 10 years. Previously, I practiced as a psychotherapist in California and Colorado with a LMFT-License Marriage and Family Therapy. As an LMFT I was trained as a witness in custody cases and participated with Professional Interventions. I have led and facilitated congregational healing and reconciliation in Denver and Boulder churches. I collaborated with Counselor Training and Staff Development at Waycross Camp and Conference Center. I am currently a mentor for newly ordained clergy and St. Timothy's is a Pathways to Vitality pilot parish. With my background in psychotherapy, my diverse leadership experiences, and my years of pastoral care, I believe I will contribute to the Disciplinary Board with my listening skills, gained knowledge and understanding, and care for clergy, family members, and congregations. rjfnickel@gmail.com Short Bio or Other Materials I am currently serving as Rector of St. Timothy s Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. I am a Priest who is passionate about the church. I love my family and friends; mentoring and wellness for individuals, families and faith communities; the arts and good design found anywhere. My experience of working as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and serving a variety of congregations has developed my skills of listening, discernment, coaching and discovery of the gifts and needs of laity and clergy.
Rose Lane Waycross Board Lay Nomination All Saints Episcopal Church Indianapolis I have been involved in many aspects of parish life including serving on the stewardship committee and having served on Vestry. I have previously served two 3-year terms on the Waycross Board, was involved in forming the Council of Advisors, assist in development and have volunteered in a number of capacities. I have been involved with Waycross, both camp and conference center activity, since 1986 and have a deep love for and belief in the mission and goals of Waycross. I can provide my history with Waycross and my commitment to financial development. rose.m.n.lane@gmail.com Short Bio or Other Materials My name is Rose Lane and I am running for a position on the Board of Directors for Waycross Camp and Conference Center. I am a life long Episcopalian and have been a member of the Episcopal Church of All Saints (Indianapolis) for 17 years. In the past, I have served two terms on the Waycross Board, was involved in the development of the Council of Advisors and have volunteered in a number of capacities. My children were Waycross campers and one son was a camp staff member for several summers. I strongly support the mission and goals of Waycross and believe that every child should experience the love and grace they receive as campers. I believe the conference center provides a place for rest, renewal and learning and am looking forward to doing what I can to protect and preserve the campus and facilities. The new Executive Director has some exciting plans for Waycross and I would be honored to walk with him on this journey.
Terry Noble Waycross Board Lay Nomination St. Andrew's Greencastle I have been richly blessed with opportunities to participate in the life of the church. I have served on vestry, (holding the positions of senior warden, junior warden, and clerk), and served as a lay reader, catechist, Eucharistic minister, lay Eucharistic visitor, musician, and enthusiastic participant in the ministries of Saint Andrew's. My community involvement currently includes Putnam Pride Initiative (LGBTQ group), a Bible study group with the Methodists in Greencastle, serving as Hebrew cantor for DePauw's Hillel (Jewish campus community), and various activities with Native American communities in the surrounding area. I am a Labyrinth facilitator and caretaker of the Greencastle Meditation Pathway, a permanent outdoor Labyrinth jointly supported by Saint Andrew's and DePauw University. On the Diocesan level, I have served on Standing Committee, Bishop's Executive Council, Bishop Search Committee, and as a deputy to General Convention in 2012, 2015 and 2018. I am currently in my second term (ending in December 2018) and serving as chair this year of the Commission on Ministry. Since 1988, I have been an Associate of the Episcopal Convent of the Transfiguration in Cincinnati, Ohio. My first visit to Waycross was in 1982 and it was love at first hike. I still sleep in the little upstairs room with the oddly-sized windows every time I am at Hickory Hill. While I was too old to be a youth at Waycross, my Waycross experiences have been many and varied. From volunteering as Waycross staff for The Labyrinth Society's international conference held there in 2015, to arranging Hickory Hill weekend retreats for my knitting circle and Commission on Ministry, to helping organize Saint Andrew's first ever 'Annual' Waycross Retreat, to coming for the Fall Youth Retreat to talk with them about the Bishop Search, I've experienced Waycross from many perspectives. I have had the opportunity to promote Waycross to colleagues at DePauw University. Last year, this brought a regional academic library conference to Waycross. I believe that Waycross changes lives. I believe that Waycross is one of the greatest resources that we have as a Diocese. In light of those beliefs I have chaired Saint Andrew's Bishop Waynick Waycross Scholarship fundraisers for the past two years, raising over $4000. So far we have awarded 8 scholarships and assisted with expenses for the parish retreat. I would very much like to expand and deepen my relationship with Waycross as a member of the Waycross Board. tnoble@depauw.edu
Bradley Pace Waycross Board Clergy Nomination St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette I serve as the Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church. I have worked with youth groups for the past 15 years. I also have served as a chaplain at Waycross. I am passionate about youth ministry and look forward to helping Waycross continue serving the youth of this Diocese. bradleypace@stjohns-laf.org Short Bio or Other Materials I am the Rector of St. John s in Lafayette where I have served since 2013. In the Diocese of Indianapolis, I serve as the Chair of the Board of Examining Chaplains and on the Deacons Leadership Task Group. My family and I share a deep love for Waycross, especially for Summer camp. I have had the great joy to serve as a chaplain for Summer camp for three years and also as a chaplain for the Spring Youth Retreat. I hope to serve the Diocese further, especially our Diocesan youth, by joining the Waycross Board.