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Welcome to the Diocese of Indianapolis Newsletter! You may notice this edition has a different look from what was known as the Mailbag. While the format is not final, we hope this first step toward improved diocesan communications will make it easier to find and read the information you are looking for.
This weekly newsletter is intended for all members of the diocese, not just elected leaders, so please feel free to forward this e-mail to friends, and encourage members of your congregation to
subscribe.
If you would like to have something published in this newsletter, or want to send suggestions or questions about diocesan communications, please email
communication@indydio.org
. The deadline for each week's issue is Monday at 5 p.m.
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Called to "Wade in the Water": A Letter from Bishop Jennifer
Wade in the water, wade in the water children
Wade in the water. God's gonna trouble the water
I can't even count how many times I've joyfully sung this spiritual while processing to the font to baptize someone into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The lyrics came to mind again last week when I joined a couple of our congregations on a visit to the Underground Railroad and Freedom Center museum in Cincinnati. The story of the Ohio River and the history of Indiana and Ohio as border states speaks to our current moment. It was impossible for those of us visiting the museum to ignore the parallels between enslaved people crossing the shallow depths of the Ohio River seeking freedom and those seeking refuge on the southern border of the United States. Indeed, seeing images of enslaved children being separated from parents reminded us that much of what horrifies us today is deeply part of the history of our country. I must confess to you that I'm moving through these days feeling at turns angry, sad, and grasping for hope as I watch a policy of "zero tolerance," unequally distributed, compound the trauma of society's most vulnerable-our children.
Beloved, I used the word "our" quite intentionally because there is no way for us to disentangle ourselves from the people who come to the United States seeking refuge and asylum. They are our children too. When we marched in the Indianapolis Pride Parade earlier this month, proclaiming, "God loves you, no exceptions!" we really meant, "no exceptions." And so we must ask--how is God's love shown in policies that forcibly separate children from parents? How is God's love shown in "zero tolerance" policies? Those who seek to cross our border have myriad reasons for doing so. Our baptismal covenant commits us to respecting the dignity of every human being and our faith demands that we advocate for immigration policies that balance justice with compassion.
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Stop Family Separation at the Border
Virtual Vigil on Thursday, New Action Alert
The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) has
issued an action alert
asking Episcopalians to stop family separation at the border and defend access to asylum.
On Thursday, the longest day of the year, EPPN will hold an hour-long virtual vigil on Facebook Live from noon-1 p.m. Eastern. "This virtual vigil will happen while we host a vigil in person on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., on the longest day of the year, in recognition of the fact that any day children are separated from their parents is too long," says a new action alert from EPPN. "This virtual vigil will be a space for prayer, reflection, education and action on immigration issues and asylum." Find the action alert online, including a link to write to members of Congress expressing your support of asylum and denouncing the practice of separating families at the border.
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Aligning Budget with Mission
2019 Proposed Budget Released
 The budget formation committee of Executive Council has released a preliminary draft of the 2019 budget. The budget, which will be finalized over the summer and voted on at diocesan convention in November, is published in draft form each spring to allow for input from members of the diocese.
This year's budget draft represents the first step in what diocesan leaders expect to be a multi-year process of aligning the budget with the new mission strategy being developed by Bishop Jennifer and Executive Council. That plan includes concentrating resources on programs and initiatives that will promote congregational vitality and community engagement.
"In the past, our budget process has kind of been to take last year's budget and make little tweaks to it," says Laurel Cornell, a member of Executive Council who serves on the budget formation committee. "Our budget document has lots of categories that are mostly historical. We need a whole new set of budget categories, but we can't do that in one year."
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Union of Black Episcopalians Picnic Lunch
June 23 at St. John's, Speedway
 The Diocese of Indianapolis chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians will hold its first annual picnic lunch on June 23 from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at St. John's in Speedway.
The mission of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) is to unite the diverse cultures, concerns, and gifts of people of color by encouraging people to live out the Baptismal Covenant and participate fully in the mission and governance of The Episcopal Church.
This UBE chapter has been recently re-established, and everyone who is interested is invited to attend the picnic and bring a favorite dish to share family-style.
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Register Now: Evangelism With Integrity Training
June 30 in Zionsville
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Evangelism with Integrity: An Introduction
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Teams of laypeople and clergy who want to participate in Evangelism with Integrity training can do so on June 30 at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Zionsville.
The training is part of an evangelism initiative funded by a grant from the Episcopal Church and led by the Rev. Whitney Rice
.
Read more online
.
Additional trainings are being scheduled for September 8 and 22 at locations to be announced.
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Inquirers Gathering on June 23
People exploring a call to ordained ministry can attend an informational meeting with the Commission on Ministry on June 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
The meeting will explain the process of discerning a call and the steps for ordination to the diaconate or priesthood. Members of the Committee on Ministry, the bishop, and members of her staff will be present to answer your questions. It is recommended that inquirers attend with their priests.
Lunch will be served, so please RSVP to the Diocesan office by June 21st at 317-926-5454 or
vandever@indydio.org, and let us know if you or your priest have any dietary restrictions. The next inquirers gathering will be on September 8 at a location to be announced.
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2018-2019 Youth Ministry Events
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Waycross Summer Celebration on August 11
Save the date for the 2018 Waycross Summer Celebration on August 11 at 5 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis. The event includes a
Waycross-style Eucharist and a potluck picnic. Watch future issues of the newsletter for more details coming soon.
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Episcopal Women's Council to Meet August 25
All women of the diocese are invited to attend the Episcopal Women's Council on August 25 and to join the group. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 4000 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis. To learn more or RSVP, email Amy Paget or Burnie Wilkins, or respond on Facebook.
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Tickets Now Available: July 28 Episcopal Evening at the Ballpark
On July 28, members of the Diocese of Indianapolis will gather at Victory Field to watch the Indianapolis Indians take on the Buffalo Bisons. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
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Waycross News and Events
Amazon Wishlist
Summer Camp
Women's Week: July 15-19
While the June Women's Week session is sold out, there's still time to register for the July session, which will include worship, reflection and time to relax. The
Rev. Rebecca Nickel will serve as chaplain. Learn more and register on the Waycross website.
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Congregation and Community News and Events
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2019 Forma Conference in Indianapolis
 Forma, the network for Christian formation in the Episcopal Church, will hold its 2019 annual conference in Indianapolis from January 23-25. The theme is
"Formed to Proclaim: Conversations on Liturgy & Evangelism."
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Contemplative Prayer Workshop August 4
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Clergy Spouses Luncheon is on June 23
On June 23 at 11 a.m., Harrison Burrows will host a clergy spouses luncheon at the Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis. Registration for the luncheon may be made up until June 20 by contacting Janet Brinkworth at the Diocesan Office, 317-926-5454 or brinkworth@indydio.org.
The guest speaker at the event will be Amy Paget, a 30-year member of St. John's Lafayette who serves as co-chair of the diocese's Episcopal Women's Council. Paget, a former Waycross Board Member, owns a consulting firm that provides services including spiritual development workshops. At the luncheon, she will make a presentation titled "Growing in Wellness and Community."
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Calendar and Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
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Jun 23: Commission on Ministry Inquirers Gathering at St. Paul's, Columbus, 10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Aug 24-25: Youth Steering Committee Fall Planning Retreat at Waycross
Sep 8: Commission on Ministry Inquirer's Gathering, 10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Sep 11: Diocesan Regional Confirmation at
7 p.m. Central at St. Paul's Episcopal Church
, Evansville
Sep 12: Standing Committee meeting at diocesan office, 2 p.m.
Sep 15: Executive Council meeting
Sep 28-30: Episcopal Women's Ministries fall retreat at Waycross
New: The 2019 Spring Clergy Conference will be March 25-27 at Waycross.
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Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
June 24: St. Alban's, Indianapolis: The Rev. Debbie Dehler, The Rev. Mike Scime
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Something you wish to have published in next week's news?
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