Diocesan Convention is November 13
Pre-Convention Hearing on November 6
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The 184th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis will be held in a hybrid format on Saturday, November 13 at the Embassy Suites in Plainfield from 9 a.m. Eastern/8 a.m. Central to 4 p.m. Eastern/3 p.m. Central.
Clergy and delegates are welcome to join in person or via Zoom. To participate in person, attendees will need to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test taken within the previous 48 hours. All in-person participants will be required to wear masks at all times during convention. A Zoom option is available for those wishing to participate remotely. Delegates who need to switch from in-person to Zoom participation: please email Erinna Vandever.
Alternates and guests are invited to watch a livestream via YouTube.
Pre-Convention Hearing on November 6
A pre-convention hearing will take place on November 6 at 10 a.m. Eastern/9 a.m. Central on Zoom.
Convention registration is now closed.
Hotel
The Embassy Suites Plainfield is now full for the night of November 12.
Rules of Order
Budget
The following documents will be reviewed and voted on at convention:
Constitution and Canons
Resolutions
View a resolution to be considered. Note this resolution was received after the deadline, and will need to be proposed from the floor during convention.
Nominations
Banners
Participants are invited to bring parish banners, signs or flags for the opening and closing worship services. Please make sure to bring the banner stand. Parishes are also invited to provide a photo or two for a slide show. Photos may be emailed to Joanna Benskin.
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Annual Benefits Enrollment 2022 |
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Annual enrollment in diocesan employee benefits plans concludes on November 17. This is your opportunity to change insurance plans, add beneficiaries, or participate in benefits plans for the first time, without having to demonstrate a qualifying event. For most employees, the process will be online. Instructions will be mailed to you in a pale green envelope by the Episcopal Church Medical Trust approximately one week before enrollment begins.
The diocese is not changing any of its plan offerings in 2022, but there are some important updates to the benefits within the plans themselves. These include an indefinite extension of the broad availability of telemedicine first offered in response to the COVID pandemic, expanding virtual behavioral health options within the employee assistance program (EAP) through TalkSpace, and adding coverage of Exparel, a non-narcotic pain management drug, to our dental plans.
Medical insurance premiums will rise approximately 5.5% in 2022, while dental premiums will remain level. At the recommendation of the Personnel Policy and Compensation Committee, the employee premium cost share will remain at 22% in 2022, and will resume its gradual increase toward 25% in 2023. The preventive care incentive, which provides a rebate to plan participants of 1% of the total annual premium, remains in place in 2022. This benefit is worth approximately $90-$300, depending on the cost of the participant’s specific plan.
An informational meeting was held via Zoom on Tuesday, October 19. View the recording. If you are not currently covered by diocesan plans, or if your employment date was on or after August 1, 2021, online enrollment will not be available to you. Please contact Kim Christopher at [email protected] for assistance. More information can be found on the Compensation & Benefits page of the diocesan website.
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Personnel Policy and Compensation Committee Recommends Cost of Living Increases |
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At its meetings in August and September, the Personnel Policy and Compensation Committee recommend a cost of living increase for lay and clergy employees of 3-5%. The top end of the range closely reflects actual inflation over the last twelve months, but a 3% floor is provided as an accommodation to the financial difficulties some congregations face. The committee continues to recommend a minimum $500 increase per year of experience in addition to the cost of living increase.
The minimum cash compensation package for full-time diocesan clergy rises to $65,804, not including pension benefits. The committee held the employee premium cost share for medical insurance at 22%. The cost share will resume its gradual increase to 25% in 2023. A summary of 2022 compensation policies is available on the diocesan website.
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Putting Ourselves Back Together:
A Sermon by Bishop Jennifer
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Bishop Jennifer preached at the clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas on October 26. Excerpts from the sermon follow; read it all on the website.
Friends as we inch our way, two steps forward, one step back, out of this pandemic, we may have found much solace in the writings of the prophets and others who knew what it was to mourn the losses, count and grieve the deaths, tire of the isolation and separation. In the Diocese of Indianapolis we’ve been talking a lot about what it means to come back together. We’ve studied and discussed Priya Parker’s work so much—since early 2019, in the before times—that her name has become a verb. We’ve been Priya Parkering our meetings, gatherings, and conferences left and right.
I’ve encouraged our clergy and lay leaders to reimagine our return to our buildings, to regular worship, to whatever the new normal would be, knowing that we have been forever changed. How could we not be changed? Those of us blessed enough to see the other side of this Covid-19 pandemic. I’ve asked that we plan anew for what it will be like to re-enter buildings and rejoin our assemblies with all of the anticipated cautions and awkwardness and hopes for being together after such a time apart. Pre-pandemic, we took so much for granted. Now more than ever, we try to reimagine a welcome that gathers with intention and honors the gift of presence we offer one another. It is the minimum we can do for those are willing, able, and hungry to return.
image: Bishop Jennifer preaches at the Episcopal Diocese of Texas clergy conference
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Spade, Spoon, Soul Podcast Out Now
Latest Episode Features St. Peter's, Lebanon
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The fourth episode of Bishop Jennifer's podcast, "Spade, Spoon, Soul," is now available. The podcast focuses on the intersections of food and faith and is co-hosted by Good News Gardens Coordinator Brian Sellers-Peterson and Episcopal Church Staff Officer for Evangelism Jerusalem Greer.
The newest episode features the Rev. Christopher Beasley, rector of St. Peter’s, Lebanon. He shares how an 8-acre parish farm, apiary, community teaching kitchen has brought abundance and hope to the church and community.
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Never Again Ask, “What Am I Going to Say?”
Online Preaching Workshop, November 16
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College for Congregational Development Session July 17-23 |
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The College for Congregational Development, a week-long intensive training designed for teams of lay and clergy leaders, can help churches of every size, location, and circumstance become more faithful, healthy, and effective. Registration for the next session, scheduled for July 17 to 23, 2022, at Waycross Camp and Conference Center, is now open. Register online.
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Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator
Christ Church Cathedral and the Diocese of Indianapolis
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Christ Church Cathedral and the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis are seeking a full-time youth ministry coordinator. The new coordinator will have a commitment to increasing the racial diversity of youth participating in our cathedral, congregations, and in diocesan life, with particular attention to serving youth of color within and in proximity to the cathedral and diocesan communities. Download the job description.
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Director of Operations
Trinity, Indianapolis
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Trinity, Indianapolis is seeking a director of operations. The director of operations will have primary responsibility for the business affairs of the parish, with oversight over all matters pertaining to facilities, finances, human resources, information technology, office administration and support of ministries. Read the job description and to apply, send a cover letter and resume to [email protected].
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COVID-19 Vaccinations in Indiana |
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In addition, the CDC now recommends that some groups should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 Vaccine.
Learn more at ourshot.in.gov, or call 211 (866-211-9966.) Walk-in appointments are also accepted at most vaccination sites.
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Welcoming Afghanistan Allies |
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Thousands of Afghans are at Camp Atterbury, located southeast of Indianapolis, while they await resettlement. To welcome them, please purchase items from this Amazon wish list and also this list of needed items. Please do not collect used clothing or other used items, which are not accepted for donation.
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CDC Guidelines, Regathering Guidance |
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As a reminder, Bishop Jennifer recommends that congregational regathering teams continue to meet regularly, monitor local conditions, and make changes when necessary. Read more.
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Bishop's Office Will Process Online Gifts to Congregations at No Cost |
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Although many congregations are now meeting in person, the bishop's office will continue to process online gifts on behalf of congregations, and will absorb all payment processing fees.
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November 7 – The Bishop and staff of the Diocese of Indianapolis: The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows; Canon Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale; The Rev. Canon Kristin White; Ms. Janet Brinkworth; Ms. Kim Christopher; Ms. Jen Phelps; The Rev. Mary Taflinger; Ms. Erinna Vandever; The Rev. Fatima Yakubu-Madus
November 14 – St. James, Vincennes | The Rev. John Gedrick; The Rev. Mary Becker
In November, pray for the Convention Delegates, the Neighborhoods of the Diocese, and all those involved in our Annual Convention.
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About the Leadership Newsletter |
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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 the newsletters, or want to send suggestions or questions about diocesan communications, please email [email protected]. The deadline for each week's issue is Monday at 5 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Central.
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