Emily Davenport

Report — The Order of the Daughters of the King

Cheryl Webb-Laughlin, President What are the highlights of your ministry since the 2021 Diocesan Convention? We held our first post-covid in person Fall Assembly at St. Mary Magdalene in Belton.  It was well attended and very appreciated by daughters across the diocese. Held our in-person Spring Assembly at Trinity Episcopal in Lebanon and provided a “Ride Share” opportunity for 14 daughters from the K.C. Metro area to attend.  Attendance was increased as some of our members don’t or can’t make the long drives any longer. Sent a donation to the KC Refugees organization in support of their ministry to incoming refugees from various countries. Sent a $1000 donation to be divided among our 4 national funds in compliance with our vows as daughters. Made a $500 donation to support our National Triennial meeting in Baltimore, MD in June of 2022. Assisted our diocesan president with some expenses in her attendance and participation at our National Triennial convention in Baltimore, MD. Members attended, via Zoom, the Province VII Spring Assembly held in San Antonio, Tx. Made financial assistance available to daughters in the diocese who needed help with paying their yearly dues. Continued to bring new members into the 13 chapters in our diocese.  Provided support required for their 3 month discernment period. Held our first post-covid diocesan Board Retreat at Trinity Meadows with all but three chapter presidents present. Explored new ideas for continued growth of Daughters of the King within our Diocese. Daughters continued to be faithful in their rule of life by praying daily for their parishes, dioceses and provinces, as well as national and international daughters. Describe how these activities have furthered the work of the diocese and strengthened the parishes. Daughters of the King provide spiritual formation for the parish through their commitment to prayer, service and evangelism. Daughters are a rich resource to the priests of each parish where a Daughters of the King chapter is located. Daughters often attract new members through their external/internal evangelism and service which strengthens the parish as well as the diocese What are your plans for ministry for 2023? Continue to seek opportunities for new chapters of Daughters of the King throughout the diocese. Provide relevant and meaningful education that will nurture daughters for the furthering of God’s Kingdom. Listen intently to the needs of daughters in the diocese and take direction from their input. How will you measure success in 2023? Track (through our national office) new member numbers, which are only reported to the diocesan level once every three years. Within the diocese, track interest in new chapters and applications for membership Follow the involvement of Daughters in reported participation within the life of their respective parishes.  Chapter presidents report this information to the President of the Diocese once a year. Utilize our diocese membership chair to work closely with those chapters who experience issues in dues payment annually. How does your ministry reflect the priorities of the diocese? Grow Congregations: The presence of Daughters of the King Chapters within a parish helps stabilize and sustain the parish so the church can grow and ministry can be on-going. Grow Personally: Daughters grow personally through practicing their Rule of Life:  to pray, to serve and to evangelize in furthering the Kingdom of God. Grow in Community: The activities of the individual Chapters of Daughters of the King represent the accounting of the work carried out in communities, often hand-in-hand with other community partners. Grow in Compassion: Daughters recognize the need to aid others, as is seen time and time again, in the work they do throughout the diocese.  Service is one of the rules daughters vow to uphold in becoming a member of the order. Daughters wear their crosses daily and hold each other accountable in an effort to show the world who we are and to whom we belong. Grow Leaders: Through prayer, service to others and evangelism, many daughters have found their role as leaders within their parish, the diocese, the province and even at the national level. We nurture chapter members in leadership so the future of Daughters of the King in the Diocese will be on-going for years to come. Continue to provide a retreat every 2-3 years for the chapter presidents to assist in their growth of Daughters of the King within our diocese. Chapters of The Order of the Daughters of the King in the Diocese of West Missouri St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, Belton, Missouri Church of the Resurrection, Blue Springs, Missouri St. George Episcopal Church, Camdenton, Missouri St. Thomas a’ Becket Episcopal Church, Cassville, Missouri Grace Episcopal Church, Chillicothe, Missouri St. Michael Episcopal Church, Independence, Missouri Trinity Episcopal Church, Independence, Missouri Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City, Missouri St. Matthew Episcopal Church, Raytown, Missouri Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri St. James Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri Trinity Episcopal Church, Lebanon, Missouri St. Peter & All Saints Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Missouri To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

Report — Peace and Justice Committee

Tara Bennett, Chair The Peace and Justice Committee was formed in August 2022 by Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce in response to the shootings in Uvalde, TX and the Dobbs decision. It is in its’ initial formation stages, determining activities and responses. The Peace and Justice Committee is charged with first looking at a Diocesan response to gun violence, be it city gun violence, unintentional shootings or suicide. The committee will follow two tracks. The first track is Education and Legislation, and will provide Bishop Bruce with information and advice about pertinent legislation within the Missouri legislature. Additionally, it will look for ways to provide education to congregations on gun safety and violence prevention. The second track is Social Justice. It will seek to work at a deeper level with societal causes of gun violence, and to partner with relevant groups in the community to address the underlying issues which cause people to turn to gun violence. In the next year, the Peace and Justice Committee plans to focus first on the Education and Legislation track. It will distribute information to parishes about gun violence and safety and advise the Bishop regarding advocacy on gun safety measures in the legislature. It will then move to research and determine effective work with partner organizations to address the root causes of gun violence as the year progresses. To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

Report — The Order of the Daughters of the King

Cheryl Webb-Laughlin, President What are the highlights of your ministry since the 2021 Diocesan Convention? We held our first post-covid in person Fall Assembly at St. Mary Magdalene in Belton.  It was well attended and very appreciated by daughters across the diocese. Held our in-person Spring Assembly at Trinity Episcopal in Lebanon and provided a “Ride Share” opportunity for 14 daughters from the K.C. Metro area to attend.  Attendance was increased as some of our members don’t or can’t make the long drives any longer. Sent a donation to the KC Refugees organization in support of their ministry to incoming refugees from various countries. Sent a $1000 donation to be divided among our 4 national funds in compliance with our vows as daughters. Made a $500 donation to support our National Triennial meeting in Baltimore, MD in June of 2022. Assisted our diocesan president with some expenses in her attendance and participation at our National Triennial convention in Baltimore, MD. Members attended, via Zoom, the Province VII Spring Assembly held in San Antonio, Tx. Made financial assistance available to daughters in the diocese who needed help with paying their yearly dues. Continued to bring new members into the 13 chapters in our diocese.  Provided support required for their 3 month discernment period. Held our first post-covid diocesan Board Retreat at Trinity Meadows with all but three chapter presidents present. Explored new ideas for continued growth of Daughters of the King within our Diocese. Daughters continued to be faithful in their rule of life by praying daily for their parishes, dioceses and provinces, as well as national and international daughters. Describe how these activities have furthered the work of the diocese and strengthened the parishes. Daughters of the King provide spiritual formation for the parish through their commitment to prayer, service and evangelism. Daughters are a rich resource to the priests of each parish where a Daughters of the King chapter is located. Daughters often attract new members through their external/internal evangelism and service which strengthens the parish as well as the diocese What are your plans for ministry for 2023? Continue to seek opportunities for new chapters of Daughters of the King throughout the diocese. Provide relevant and meaningful education that will nurture daughters for the furthering of God’s Kingdom. Listen intently to the needs of daughters in the diocese and take direction from their input. How will you measure success in 2023? Track (through our national office) new member numbers, which are only reported to the diocesan level once every three years. Within the diocese, track interest in new chapters and applications for membership Follow the involvement of Daughters in reported participation within the life of their respective parishes.  Chapter presidents report this information to the President of the Diocese once a year. Utilize our diocese membership chair to work closely with those chapters who experience issues in dues payment annually. How does your ministry reflect the priorities of the diocese? Grow Congregations: The presence of Daughters of the King Chapters within a parish helps stabilize and sustain the parish so the church can grow and ministry can be on-going. Grow Personally: Daughters grow personally through practicing their Rule of Life:  to pray, to serve and to evangelize in furthering the Kingdom of God. Grow in Community: The activities of the individual Chapters of Daughters of the King represent the accounting of the work carried out in communities, often hand-in-hand with other community partners. Grow in Compassion: Daughters recognize the need to aid others, as is seen time and time again, in the work they do throughout the diocese.  Service is one of the rules daughters vow to uphold in becoming a member of the order. Daughters wear their crosses daily and hold each other accountable in an effort to show the world who we are and to whom we belong. Grow Leaders: Through prayer, service to others and evangelism, many daughters have found their role as leaders within their parish, the diocese, the province and even at the national level. We nurture chapter members in leadership so the future of Daughters of the King in the Diocese will be on-going for years to come. Continue to provide a retreat every 2-3 years for the chapter presidents to assist in their growth of Daughters of the King within our diocese. Chapters of The Order of the Daughters of the King in the Diocese of West Missouri St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, Belton, Missouri Church of the Resurrection, Blue Springs, Missouri St. George Episcopal Church, Camdenton, Missouri St. Thomas a’ Becket Episcopal Church, Cassville, Missouri Grace Episcopal Church, Chillicothe, Missouri St. Michael Episcopal Church, Independence, Missouri Trinity Episcopal Church, Independence, Missouri Church of the Good Shepherd, Kansas City, Missouri St. Matthew Episcopal Church, Raytown, Missouri Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri St. James Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri Trinity Episcopal Church, Lebanon, Missouri St. Peter & All Saints Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Missouri To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

Report — Christian Formation

Kim Snodgrass, Assistant to the Bishop for Christian Formation The purpose of the Christian formation ministry is to encourage and nurture spiritual growth, Christian practices, and theological reflection. This is based on the belief that actively engaging in Christian formation is a transformative experience which affects our understanding of morality, politics, economics, labor, family, the environment, hospitality, justice, friendship, and forgiveness. In short, everything is a spiritual matter. As formation takes place within our hearts and minds; the fruits of awareness and spiritual growth are directed outward into our communities. Ultimately, what we inwardly digest as we follow The Way of Jesus encourages active, visible faith that values people and relationships, naturally moving us outside the walls of the church building in form of mission, outreach, inclusiveness, and evangelism. The Christian Formation Commission focuses on the ways in which people can explore, deepen, and grow their faith by determining helpful responses to the needs of congregations, discovering new resources, and recommending best practices. To fulfill this purpose and advocate for intentional Christian formation, the following work has been in process throughout 2022. Curated traditional and experiential resources for people of all ages on the diocesan website to organize the wealth of online information and simplify the search process. A companion presence of support, consultation, resources, and encouragement. In January 2021, the Everything Holy project began as an experiential way to explore, grow and deepen an experience of God within the home.  Missional in nature, it has been a beneficial resource nearly 300 households representing 37+ churches, 65+ cities, and multiple states. Although a recent survey indicated most participants found it both beneficial and a means of connecting to the diocese, it is a time-intensive and expensive project to continue long term. The decision has been made to suspend the project effective the November 2022 issue. We are thankful for the project’s success but want to refocus our efforts on ways to reach more members of the diocese and believe similar creative efforts can be put forth in ways that will include access to new resources, training, and curriculum. Work towards the creation of a diocesan Formational Arc (scope and sequence). Our desired outcome is to produce opportunities for experience and resources that are age appropriate for the lifelong journey of faith and flexible to the needs of each congregation. Our hope is to provide a benchmark of our hopes and dreams, a vision for formation, and unite us with a common purpose. Formation-related posts through the New Spirit Update highlight educational, liturgical, fellowship and service-oriented resources and reflections. 2023 Additional Plans for Ministry include Fine-tuning communication offered at deanery gatherings and made available to congregations through regular communication channels such as newsletters, bulletins, etc. Our hope is to include information and an invitation for individuals and congregations to be involved in the formational process. New workshop and training opportunities, curriculum, and resources God’s hands are always busy at the potter’s wheel; Jesus himself “increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.”i  The Christian Formation ministry is here to walk with the people of West Missouri as we seek to be become authentically engaged in hospitality, worship, prayer, learning and mission; a people who “live out the values of the kingdom of God in the presence of the kingdoms of the world;” ii a people becoming human beings made in the likeness of Christ. ________________________ i  Luke 2:52ii The Dream of God: A Call to Return by Verna Dozier To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

Report — Hispanic Missioner

The Rev. Jose Palma Hispanic Missioner for the Diocese of West Missouri. Education and Spiritual Growth The act of educating and nurturing the faith of our children, youth and adults. Conducted adult Bible study at Grace. Conducted spiritual retreat at Grace Church, for parishioners from, St. Nicholas Noel, All Saints Bentonville, San Andres Rogers AR, La Iglesia del Espiritu Santo Tulsa OK Serve as Hispanic Missionary of the Diocese in charge of two congregations in the south of the Diocese and support other Hispanic initiatives in the Diocese Parish Community Building Community as we share our joys, our woes, and fellowship with our own parishioners, friends, and neighbors In all the activities listed, the Hispanic Missioner is intentional in building community not just among Spanish speaking Episcopalians but also with the English-speaking Episcopalians in other congregations. Activities frequently include the active participation of English-speaking Episcopalians and others in the community—for instance one of the Posadas was hosted by a prominent Methodist family in their home.  Fellowship at coffee hours after weekly services at St. Nicholas and Grace Band and choir entertain residents at St. Luke’s Nursing Home in Carthage for special events Celebrated Las Posadas involving services and food in different homes and the church in both Carthage and Noel. Guadalupe festival in December hosted Spanish and English speakers. Kermess in Noel, a variant of street fair, raised the profile of the congregation in this small, almost entirely immigrant, town. Quinceaneras (large 15th birthday festivities) in Noel, Carthage and Kansas City. Our Reach Extend the Gospel to the entire Hispanic Community. Visits to hospitals in the area, including in NW Arkansas. Counseling with families troubled by recent changes in immigration and the ongoing debate in the nation over race. Help with parishioner going through naturalization process as a citizen.  Adoration, Evangelism, Leadership, Stewardship, Pastoral Service, Bible Studies and Parish Community. Ministry to the Wider Church and World Education and Spiritual Growth Looking beyond our walls to the needs of the greater world as we strive to live out our mission to serve others in Christ’s name. Support and contribute to the mission of the church for ERD, MDG,  apportionment, specified missions (local and world-wide). Care of Resources Maintaining our beautiful building in which we can gather for worship, celebration, and meetings Maintenance and janitorial work in Noel provided entirely by clergy and parishioner volunteers and supported by Bishop’s committee 2023 and Beyond What activities we plan for this next year and tasks we would like to accomplish in the future Conduct 2 Spiritual Retreat for Hispanic Churches in the South of the Diocese, La Iglesia de Todos los Santos and Bentonville, La Iglesia San Andres and Rogers Arkansas and Iglesia del Espiritu Santo and Tulsa Oklahoma. Conduct Guadalupe day, Las Posadas, El Dia de Los Tres Reyes, El Dia de St Nicolas, Cinco de Mayo at St. Lukes for Spanish and English speakers. Plan of Action of Latino Ministry and Kansas City. Conduct a 1-day Workshop for Leadership Training in Spanish. To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

Report — Stewardship Commission

Amy Amason, Chair What are the highlights of your ministry since the last Annual Convention? The Commission was established in late April.  We have spent the past several months on the following: We developed a survey to ascertain interest and need in the various areas of stewardship across the diocese.  The survey was distributed the week of September 12, 2022 via email and in the New Spirit.  To date, 27 responses have been received. We are collecting information about existing resources around the country that can be shared with our parishes. We have been in conversation with TENS (The Episcopal Network for Stewardship) about possible training opportunities in the diocese for 2023. We have begun the redraft of stewardship resources on the website. Describe how these activities have furthered the work of the diocese and strengthened parishes and congregations?  (Include the number of participants and/or people served.) As a new Commission, our work to date has been learning and planning to support stewardship in the diocese. What are your plans for ministry in the next year? Our plans for ministry will, in large part, be directed by the results of the survey and further conversations throughout the diocese. We plan to include a Stewardship Message in the New Spirit once a month. We will visit parishes who are interested in stewardship support How will you measure success in the next year? We will compile the results of the surveys and make a written plan to address the concerns.  This will serve as a guide for further planning. The number of stewardship messages in New Spirit in 2023. We will measure success based on the number of requests we receive for information, resources, and visits. The relative change in stewardship engagement at the congregational level as measured by a follow-up survey next year. To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

Report — Campus Ministry

Alisa Carmichael The Campus Ministry Commission supports outreach ministry to college students and partnerships with local parishes located near university campuses.  The Commission has started reorganizing and rebuilding campus ministry planning this year with the following steps: The Campus Ministry Commission meets by Zoom at 4:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. We are updating the campus ministry website to refer students to parishes located near university campuses. We have updated the campus ministry Facebook page and added a campus ministry Instagram page. Austin Boyland has served as Campus Missioner at Christ Church in Springfield.  He will be stepping down this fall due to other increased job responsibilities. Rev. David Kendrick is currently exploring partnership options with Ekklesia on Missouri State University’s campus.  Ekklesia is an ecumenical campus ministry program that incorporates representation from multiple denominations. Clare Stern-Burbano is developing programming for college students at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral.  One popular recent discussion series for this age group was entitled: “Does God have a Gender?”. The Campus Ministry Commission is currently exploring options for re-establishing peer ministers in our diocese.  We have also started the discernment process to apply for possible funding from the Episcopal Church Young Adult and Campus Ministry national grant program. We welcome the opportunity to promote local parish events that might appeal to college students.  Please let us know about these and/or other ways that our diocese can reach out to our local college campuses. To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

Report — Bishop Kemper School for Ministry

The Very Rev. Dr. Don H. Compier, Dean Highlights of the Previous Year BKSM is in its tenth year of operation. As we look back on the previous decade, we have much to celebrate. We now have five partnering dioceses (Missouri joined West Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and Western Kansas) and students from a sixth diocese (Iowa), as well as some students from other denominations. BKSM’s enrollment remains strong. 37 students are now pursuing a certificate of study in seven areas. 8 are from the Diocese of West Missouri: 3 pursuing presbyteral studies, 3 in diaconal studies, and 2 in lay curricula. We have returned to face-to-face instruction in Topeka, but our state-of-the-art technology permits students from anywhere to join via Zoom. We are ready to serve any distance cohorts. In spite of the recent disappointing performance of the stock market, BKSM’s investments continue to provide a solid financial base. We are deeply grateful for the constant annual support of our partnering dioceses and generous gifts from our alumni/ae and other friends. No student with financial need is turned away. BKSM truly is affordable for all. As an official sponsor of the Anti-Racism Covenant and an institution striving to be as green as possible, BKSM has modified its curriculum to put greater emphasis on the mission of the Episcopal Church: evangelism, racial justice and reconciliation, and care for the earth.   In the summer of 2022 BKSM offered two spiritual retreats led by Brother James Dowd of the Benedictine Way, one for new and one for returning students. Monthly group formation and invited speakers further promote the importance of disciplined prayer life. Thanks to many donations, and with the professional assistance of volunteer librarian LeRoy Dagg, we have a fine lending collection of books in Topeka, catalogued and available for online searches. Eight faculty members from West Missouri provide outstanding instruction at BKSM. We take delight in the collegial spirit that has characterized BKSM from the beginning. Our students form lasting friendships across diocesan lines and orders. Together we have developed a culture that cherishes all relationships and welcomes the gifts of each and every one. This ethos of partnership extends to other institutions similar to us across the Episcopal Church. Plans for the Coming Year BKSM is developing field education that works for bi-vocational students. We continue to have discussions that could lead to other dioceses becoming part of our partnership. A task force is taking a fresh look at continuing education for clergy and lay leaders. A survey distributed this fall will give us a better sense of needs and interests. We are developing an additional lay track in lay chaplaincy. We invite everyone to our 10th commencement and anniversary celebration at Grace Cathedral in Topeka on Saturday, May 20, 2023 (details will be widely shared later). Our celebrant and speaker will be the Right Reverend Scott Barker of Nebraska. Assessment and Evaluation Monitoring of results of ordination examinations. Regular feedback from dioceses, parishes, alumni/ae to determine success of our graduates in promoting the mission of the church. Ongoing analysis by the Board as strategic planning continues. As we approach our tenth anniversary, we are so grateful to God. And to the people of the diocese of West Missouri, who constantly support us so generously in multiple ways. Continuing in the pioneering spirit of Bishop Jackson Kemper, we greatly look forward to the surprising blessings of partnership in the next decade. The highlight of the year for every deanery was the picnics with Bishop Bruce. Not only did a wider swath of the diocese get to spend quality time getting to know our Bishop Provisional, but these events allowed for great fellowship between members of the various congregations who rarely have the opportunity to meet. Even high temperatures did not thwart the fun, thanks to giant waterslides, shelter from the sun, and wonderful food. Special thanks are extended to our diocesan events coordinator, Rachael Orth, for her great planning and execution of these events. Deanery clericuses and councils met to carry on the business of the deaneries and enhance fellowship and comradery among the clergy. The opportunity to break bread with fellow ministers of the Gospel and share advice and encouragement are important aspects of these gatherings. We look forward to more exciting activities in the new year – more picnics, celebrations, and gatherings with our brothers and sisters in Christ. For more information: www.bishopkemperschool.org To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

Report — Deans of the Diocese

The Very Rev. Robin James, The Very Rev. Chandler Jackson, The Very Rev. Isaac Petty Throughout the year 2022, the deaneries have expended the deanery grants to congregations for a variety of mission programs – feeding the hungry, improving communication, and assisting immigrant families, to name a few. In many cases, without these grants this important work would not happen. The highlight of the year for every deanery was the picnics with Bishop Bruce. Not only did a wider swath of the diocese get to spend quality time getting to know our Bishop Provisional, but these events allowed for great fellowship between members of the various congregations who rarely have the opportunity to meet. Even high temperatures did not thwart the fun, thanks to giant waterslides, shelter from the sun, and wonderful food. Special thanks are extended to our diocesan events coordinator, Rachael Orth, for her great planning and execution of these events. Deanery clericuses and councils met to carry on the business of the deaneries and enhance fellowship and comradery among the clergy. The opportunity to break bread with fellow ministers of the Gospel and share advice and encouragement are important aspects of these gatherings. We look forward to more exciting activities in the new year – more picnics, celebrations, and gatherings with our brothers and sisters in Christ. To print a copy of the above report, please use your browser’s print facility.

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