51ST DIOCESAN CONVENTION BREAKOUT SESSION WORKSHOPS
October 21-22, 2011
This year we present a variety of workshop topics from many talented members of our
Diocesan Family. We will also continue to offer our informative pre-convention workshops.
On your registration form delegates and visitors are required to register in advance for the
sessions they wish to attend. The following workshops will be offered:
Pre-Convention Workshops:
PC-1: Canons, Resolutions and Budget – Overview of proposed canon changes, resolutions being
presented and the proposed 2011 budget.
PC-2: Candidate Forum – The workshop provides an opportunity to hear from the candidates for
General Convention Deputy, Diocesan Council, Standing Committee and Diocesan Officer positions.
Breakout Sessions:
Session 1 :
W-1: Bishop's Forum – Bishop Kirk Stevan Smith, Bishop of Arizona
W-2: The Catechumenal Church, continued – Bishop Jeffrey Lee, Bishop of Chicago & Keynote
speaker
What can we learn from the ancient church's way of preparing converts for baptism? What are the
"central matters" of the Christian way of life? How would a fiercely sacramental church witness to a
world like ours? Opportunities in the rising numbers of the spiritual AND religious. Where do we go
from here?
W-3: What can YOUR Episcopal Federal Credit Union Do For You – Janet Kaiser, Member
Service Specialist, Episcopal Federal Credit Union
How does being a credit union member benefit me? What is a credit union and how does it differ
from a bank? How safe is my money? Why is the rate of return on my money higher at a credit union?
Come meet Janet Kaiser our new Episcopal FCU Membership Development/Member Services
Specialist and learn how being a member of the Episcopal Federal Credit Union enhance your
personal and/or Church's financial life.
W-4: The Missionary Outpost – The Rev Cn Carmen Guerrero, Canon for Peace & Justice, & The
Very Rev Nicholas Knisely, Dean of Trinity Cathedral
It is time for congregations to transition away from being islands of faith to being missionary outposts
in their communities. For this to happen, the laity will need to reclaim their leadership as the primary
ministers of the Gospel in the community. This will be a workshop on making
disciples/evangelists. Perhaps said another way the workshop is about equipping the saints. When
the laity in a congregation fully understands and owns their primacy they began to put into action
their commitment to Christ. This commitment is under-girded by their study of God's word and
nurtured by prayer.
W-5: Where have all the young people gone? And how do we get new ones? - Cn Matt
Marino, Canon for Youth & Young Adults, & The Rev Channing Johnson, St Luke’s at the
Mountain in Phoenix
Young adults have left organized Christianity in general and the Episcopal Church in specific.
Channing will focus on why and Matt on how can we engage today's unchurched generation.
W-6: How To Implement A Year-round Stewardship Program – The Rev Canon Timothy
Dombek, Canon to the Ordinary
We hear a lot of talk about stewardship needing a year-round approach, but how do you do that?
How does my church move away from the annual fall "beg-a-thon" and adopt a method of
stewardship that is truly year round, while including an annual response (pledging) program? Come
to this workshop and find out how!
W-7: Denominational Health Plan – Cn Vicki Hohnbaum, Canon for Finance, & Garth Howe, The
Medical Trust
Find out more and get your questions answered about the Denominational Health Plan that
becomes mandatory on January 1, 2013.
W-8: Me? An Evangelist??– Jill Kyler, Licensed Evangelist, St Anthony’s in Scottsdale
Not many people feel they have the gift of evangelism. But there are as many ways of doing
evangelism as there are people. Leave behind any “baggage” you might have about the e-word
and find your inner evangelist!
W-9: Creating & Enhancing Planned Giving & Endowment Ministries for Your Congregation
– Dan Packard, Episcopal Church Foundation
Take the mystery out of planned giving and endowments for your congregation. Learn in easy to
understand terms how planned giving differs from annual stewardship and capital campaigns, and
how your congregation can build endowments through wills, life income and other planned gifts.
Along with a review of the planned giving instruments, you will learn about the importance of a parish
vision, protecting and growing your endowment, and how to invite others to remember your parish
through estate and financial planning. Participants will examine important documents to use for
structuring your endowment and for clarifying its purpose. Participants will also learn how
endowments can be used as to enhance your ministries and overall mission. You will leave the
workshop with a plan of action!
Session 2 :
W-1: Nurturing Family Spirituality at Home – Cn Nancy Shumaker, Canon for Children’s
Ministries
How do we as parents and grandparents fulfill the promise we made at our children’s baptism to
bring her/him up in the Christian faith and life? Worshipping together as a family in church, attending
Sunday morning Christian Formation classes is indeed an essential and fundamental practice. It is
however only one way of expressing our faith. Consistency of faith practices, developing sacred
spaces and saying “anytime prayers” in our homes is often the missing link in connecting the dots
between what we hear, see and do at church and how we live our daily lives. To assist the families
under our care, this workshop includes hands on resources and activities, open discussions, and
sharing of ideas and practices.
W-2: The Catechumenal Church, continued – Bishop Jeffrey Lee, Bishop of Chicago & Keynote
speaker
What can we learn from the ancient church's way of preparing converts for baptism? What are the
"central matters" of the Christian way of life? How would a fiercely sacramental church witness to a
world like ours? Opportunities in the rising numbers of the spiritual AND religious. Where do we go
from here?
W-3: Native American Spirituality & Urban Ministry – What does it mean to you? – The Rev
Dorothy Saucedo & Vivian WinterChaser, Native American Program Group Conveners
The greater Phoenix area has many Indigenous People from various nations living within its limits and
the question of the day is “Why do we not see them in the Episcopal churches?” We’ll use Bishop
Mark Mac Donald as an example of what he did when he accepted a position within the Episcopal
Church of Navajo Land back in the early 1980’s, based at Good Shepherd Mission in Fort Defiance,
Arizona. I have heard stories of him going from home to home, knocking on doors, introducing
himself and getting his ministry out to the people. Come to our session and find out what
happened???
W-4: Church Size & Its Implications – The Rev Cn Timothy Dombek, Canon to the Ordinary
This workshop introduces the Vestry, Bishop’s Committee and other lay leaders to the basics about
church size theory and the dynamics that surround each size. The purpose is to help the Vestry,
Bishop’s Committee and other lay leaders (and/or search committee) understand how the dynamics
of church size might impact the role of their rector/vicar/interim and to discuss how this information:
•Informs their vision of the future of the congregation; and
•Their thoughts about the type of priest they might call as rector/vicar.
A handout on Church Size and Its Implications is included for use with this session.
W-5: Woofs, Meows, and God: How Do Our Animal Companions Guide Our Spiritual
Growth? - The Rev Steve Keplinger, Rector of Grace St. Paul’ in Tucson; Chris Ledyard, TSSF,
Grace St Paul’s in Tucson; The Rev Nadine Martin, deacon, n/TSSF, Grace St. Paul’s in Tucson
Creation spirituality focuses on affirming the goodness of God’s creation and our role of being
responsible caretakers of God’s creation. The creatures with which we are most familiar are our
animal companions: our dogs, cats, birds, and all those creatures that share our homes and give us
joy and love. This workshop will focus on how we, individually and as a church community, can foster
that blessed relationship, provide care for our animal companions, and remain open to the love and
guidance that they so freely offer us during our spiritual growth.
W-6: General Convention Deputy Forum – Deputies to 2012 General Convention
The next General Convention of the Episcopal Church will be held this coming summer in
Indianapolis. While the actual topics to be discussed, and the final form of the legislation is not yet
known, there will likely be action taken on the Episcopal Church’s response to the Anglican
Covenant, issues that have arisen with the present governance and structure of the Episcopal
Church, and the changes that the new form of Title IV have brought. (Title IV is the disciplinary canons
for clergy.) The people who were elected to serve as deputies at last year’s convention will be lead a
conversation on these topics and would appreciate your input.
W-7: Communication & Etiquette with Persons with Disabilities – Dr Charlotte Shepard &
The Rev Anne Strong, Program Group on Disability Concerns
Unless you've known a number of persons with varying types of disabilities, you may never have had
reason to think about key points that make relationships with persons with disabilities easier and more
relaxed. For example, is it ok to tell a person who is blind "See you later," or ask someone who is deaf
"Have you heard about . . .?" Laugh and learn at the humorous vignettes in this session, from
watching the DVD (with captioning & audio description) -- Ten Commandments of Communicating
with People with Disabilities -- and from hearing anecdotes of Program Group members.
W-8: How to apply for a matching MDG Grant, What are the guidelines and requirements
to request and receive a grant – Diocesan Millennium Development Program Group
Churches and parishioners in the Diocese of Arizona are invited to apply for funding to support MDG
mission projects. The Diocesan MDG Committee encourages proposals that inspire the participation
of parishioners in the mission of God and in projects that contribute to the sustainability of the global
community served.